Delivering Light Via Optical Waveguide and Multi-View Optical Probe Head

• US 20100201985A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tomophase Corporation
• Inventors: Vertikov, Andrey, Wang, Feiling
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/369
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/108 having one or more prisms as scanning elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2713 cascade of polarisation selective or adjusting operations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/274 based on light guide birefringence, e.g. due to coupling between light guides G02B6/105, G02B6/024 take precedence; mechanically induced birefringence G02F1/0134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2793 Controlling polarisation dependent loss, e.g. polarisation insensitivity, reducing the change in polarisation degree of the output light even if the input polarisation state fluctuates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends

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.

Claims

1. A method for delivering light via polarization-maintaining fiber to a target at two different trajectories, comprising:

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.

2. The method in claim 1, comprising:

selectively blocking one of the first and second beams from reaching a target while directing the other of the first and second beams to interact with the target; and

detecting returned light from the target to extract information of the target.

3. A method for optically interacting with a target, comprising:

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.

4. The method as in claim 3, comprising:

rotating the first beam to scan on a cone formed by the first deviation angle.

5. The method as in claim 3, comprising:

controlling polarization of the probe light entering the proximal terminal of the fiber to be at the second principal polarization of the fiber to maximize optical power, at the distal terminal of the fiber, in the second beam while suppressing optical power in the first beam; and

directing the second beam to reach the second region of the target while blocking the first beam from reaching the second region of the target.

6. The method as in claim 5, comprising:

rotating the second beam to scan on a cone formed by the second deviation angle.

7. The method as in claim 3, comprising:

prior to directing the probe light through the polarization-maintaining fiber to interact with the target,

using an imaging device to obtain images of the target; and

using the obtained images to position the distal terminal of the fiber at a desired location at or near the target.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein:

the imaging device is a CT scan imaging device.