Microprobe for 3D bio-imaging, method for fabricating the same and use thereof

• US 20060195019A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research, National University of Singapore
• Original Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research, National University of Singapore
• Inventors: Singh, Janak, Premachandran, Chirayarikathuveedu Sankarapillai, Ramana, Pamidighantam Venkata, Sheppard, Colin James Richard, Paul, Joseph Suresh
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue

Abstract

A microprobe that is capable of using an incident and reflected radiation ray for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging. The microprobe comprises a hollow body closed at one end and having an aperture at an opposite end, at least one 3-D free space micromirror, at least one focusing lens, and a beam director or a beam coupler or other kind of device for beam coupling or splitting. The beam director is arranged at the aperture end of the hollow body and is adapted to direct the incident ray into the hollow body via the aperture. Within said hollow body is the at least one focusing lens and the at least one micromirror arranged respectively from the aperture, such that the distance between the focusing lens and the micromirror allows for the incident light ray to be directed onto the micromirror.

Claims

1. A microprobe that is capable of using an incident and reflected radiation ray for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging, said microprobe comprising:

a hollow body closed at one end and having an aperture at an opposite end;

a 3-D free space micromirror;

a focusing lens; and

a beam director;

wherein the beam director is arranged at the aperture end of the hollow body and is adapted to direct the at least a part of the incident ray into the hollow body via the aperture, and

wherein within said hollow body is the focusing lens and the micromirror arranged respectively from the aperture, such that the distance between the focusing lens and the micromirror allows for the incident ray to be directed onto the micromirror.

2. The microprobe of claim 1, wherein the focusing lens is selected from the group consisting of a gradient index (GRIN) lens, a convex lens and a concave lens.

3. The microprobe of claim 2 comprising a GRIN lens, wherein the GRIN lens is arranged between a second focusing lens and the micromirror and wherein the GRIN lens allows for the incident ray to be directed onto the micromirror.

4. The microprobe of claim 3, further comprising an RF device, wherein said RF device is selected from the group consisting of a transmitter, a receiver or a transceiver device.

5. The microprobe of claim 1, wherein the hollow body comprises at least two patterned substrates bonded together.

6. The microprobe of claim 5, wherein the patterned substrates have an inner surface with grooves formed thereon.

7. The microprobe of claim 6, wherein the grooves on the inner surface of the hollow body have the focusing lens, the GRIN lens, or any combination thereof, and the micromirror affixed therein and arranged respectively from the aperture.

8. The microprobe of claim 1, wherein the at least one 3-D free space micromirror comprises:

a crystal silicon micromirror,

a crystal silicon actuator, and

a crystal silicon flexible spring connecting said crystal silicon actuator to said

crystal silicon micromirror.

9. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the actuation of the one silicon actuator is carried out by a means selected from the group consisting of thermal variation, electrostatic charging and piezoelectric transduction.

10. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the 3-D free space micromirror comprises four silicon actuators.

11. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the 3-D free space micromirror is adapted to direct and collect light rays in at least one plane, wherein the at least one plane is tilted to the radial axis of the probe.

12. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the 3-D free space micromirror is adapted to direct the incident ray onto a surface and to collect back scattered light from said surface t about the radial axis or the vertical axis of the microprobe.

13. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the 3-D free space micromirror has a diameter that ranges between about 50 micrometers to about 1000 micrometers.

14. The microprobe according to claim 8, wherein the micromirror is affixed to the groove of the hollow probe by high precision bonding means.

15. The microprobe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing lens is spherical or aspherical in shape.

16. The microprobe according claim 1, wherein the beam director is a beam splitter, a beam coupler, a fiber optic coupler, or other type of device, which can combine or split rays and is capable of directing at least a part of the incident ray into the aperture and at least a part of the reflected ray to the image processing and visualization device.

17. The microprobe of claim 5, wherein the two patterned substrates having grooves thereon are made from silicon (Si) or glass.

18. The microprobe of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is about 1-100 millimeters in length and less then about 10 millimeter in diameter.

19. A microprobe that is capable of using an incident and reflected light ray for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging, said microprobe comprising:

a hollow body closed at one end and having an aperture at an opposite end;

a 3-D free space micromirror;

a GRIN lens;

a plurality of focusing lenses; and

a beam director;

wherein the beam director is arranged at the aperture end of the hollow body and is adapted to direct the incident light ray into the hollow body via the aperture; and

wherein within said hollow body are the at least one focusing lens, GRIN lens and micromirror arranged respectively from the aperture, such that the distance between the focusing lens, GRIN lens and the micromirror allows for the incident light ray to be directed onto the micromirror.

20. A system for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging comprising:

a microprobe,

a radiation source optically coupled to the microprobe, and an image processing and visualization device, optically coupled to the microprobe such that the ray reflected by the micromirror is directed, via the aperture, to the image processing and visualization device by the focusing lens and beam director.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the radiation source produces an incident ray in the infrared spectrum having a wavelength between visible light to far infra red(5 mm).

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the image processing and visualization device is a charge coupled device (CCD).

23. A method of fabricating a microprobe that is capable of using an incident and reflected light ray for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging, said method comprising:

(a) Providing a first substrate;

(b) Micro machining grooves on the surface of the first substrate for at least one focusing lens and at least one 3-D free space micromirror;

(c) Affixing the at least one focusing lens and micromirror in the respective grooves of the first substrate;

(d) Providing a second substrate;

(e) Micro machining an aperture and corresponding grooves on the surface of the second substrate to accommodate the affixed at least one focusing lens and a 3-D free space micromirror;

(f) Bonding the first and second substrates together to form the microprobe such that a hollow body closed at one end and having the aperture at an opposite end is enclosed within the first and second substrate.

24. A method of creating a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a biological sample, comprising:

(a) Inserting a microprobe into a biological sample to be analyzed;

(b) Providing a radiation source, which is capable of emitting a radiation ray;

(c) Introducing the radiation ray emitted by the radiation source into the probe; and

(d) Processing the outgoing ray to generate an image.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the biological sample is a part of a body of an animal.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of dental tissue, bone tissue, neural tissue, cardiovascular tissue, cancerous tissue and circulatory tissue.

27. The method of claim 24, where in the processing of the outgoing ray is carried out using a Optical Coherent Topography (OCT) method for imaging.

28. The method claim 27, wherein the (OCT) method for imaging is carried out in vivo or ex vivo.

29. The method claim 26, wherein the bone tissue is selected from the group consisting of a chord, a spinal chord, a finger bone, a femur or any other bone in the body.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the processing of the outgoing ray is used in an optical biopsy application by in vivo or ex vivo methods

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the microprobe is used as a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) device.