Delivering light via optical waveguide and multi-view optical probe head
First Claim
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1. A device for delivering light to and collecting light from a target, comprising:
- a sheath structured to include a hollow channel along a sheath longitudinal direction, the sheath having a proximal end configured to receive input polarized light and a distal end configured to export the input polarized light as probe light outside the sheath to a target;
a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber movably placed inside the hollow channel of the sheath and structured to exhibit a first principal polarization direction and a second, orthogonal principal polarization direction, both perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the PM fiber;
an optical probe head located inside the sheath and engaged to a distal end of the PM fiber with a fixed orientation relative to the first principal polarization axis of the PM fiber to receive the input polarized light from the PM fiber, the optical probe head operable to direct the probe light polarized in the first principal polarization direction to exit the optical probe head at a first exit angle with respect to the sheath longitudinal direction and the probe light polarized in the second principal polarization direction to exit the optical probe head at a second, different exit angle with respect to the sheath longitudinal direction, respectively; and
a rotation mechanism coupled to the optical head and operable to rotate the optical head inside the sheath about the sheath longitudinal direction to change a direction of light existing the optical probe head at the first exit angle and at the second exit angle.
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Abstract
Techniques, apparatus and systems that use an optical probe head to deliver light to a target and to collect light from the target for imaging, monitoring, medical diagnostics and medical treatment applications.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for delivering light to and collecting light from a target, comprising:
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a sheath structured to include a hollow channel along a sheath longitudinal direction, the sheath having a proximal end configured to receive input polarized light and a distal end configured to export the input polarized light as probe light outside the sheath to a target; a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber movably placed inside the hollow channel of the sheath and structured to exhibit a first principal polarization direction and a second, orthogonal principal polarization direction, both perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the PM fiber; an optical probe head located inside the sheath and engaged to a distal end of the PM fiber with a fixed orientation relative to the first principal polarization axis of the PM fiber to receive the input polarized light from the PM fiber, the optical probe head operable to direct the probe light polarized in the first principal polarization direction to exit the optical probe head at a first exit angle with respect to the sheath longitudinal direction and the probe light polarized in the second principal polarization direction to exit the optical probe head at a second, different exit angle with respect to the sheath longitudinal direction, respectively; and a rotation mechanism coupled to the optical head and operable to rotate the optical head inside the sheath about the sheath longitudinal direction to change a direction of light existing the optical probe head at the first exit angle and at the second exit angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for delivering light via polarization-maintaining fiber to a target at two different trajectories, comprising:
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controlling a state of polarization of light that is transmitted from a proximal end of a polarization-maintaining fiber to a distal terminal of the fiber; using polarization deflecting optics engaged to the distal end of the fiber to separate the light into a first beam in a first polarization by a first deflection angle and a second beam in a second polarization by a second deflection angle that is different from the first deflection angle; and rotating the polarization deflecting optics and the fiber together about a longitudinal axis of the fiber to cause the first beam in the first polarization to scan in a cone formed by the first deflection angle and the second beam in the second polarization to scan in a cone formed by the second deflection angle. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for optically interacting with a target, comprising:
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directing probe light from a proximal terminal of a polarization-maintaining fiber to a distal terminal of the fiber to interact with a target at or near the distal terminal of the fiber; splitting the probe light at the distal terminal of the fiber into a first beam in a first principal polarization of the fiber propagating at a first deviation angle with respect to the fiber and a second beam in a second principal polarization of the fiber propagating at a second deviation angle that is different from the first deviation angle; controlling polarization of the probe light entering the proximal terminal of the fiber to be at the first principal polarization of the fiber to maximize optical power, at the distal terminal of the fiber, in the first beam while suppressing optical power in the second beam; and directing the first beam to reach a first region of the target while blocking the second beam from reaching a second region of the target that is different from the first region. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification