Fiber-optic imaging probe
First Claim
1. A dynamic light scattering apparatus for analyzing a scattering volume, the apparatus comprising:
- a probe body;
an optical arrangement for transmitting coherent light to and receiving scattered light from a scattering volume, the optical arrangement having a first optical fiber and a first lens, the first optical fiber having a first optical fiber end face at a first end portion and a second optical fiber end face, the first optical fiber end face being secured to the probe body, the first lens being optically connected to the first optical fiber and located a first selected distance from the first optical end face to minimize the scattering volume, the lens being secured to the probe body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber-optic imaging probe is disclosed for use in dynamic light scattering applications. The probe includes two monomode optical fibers and two GRIN lenses to form a pair of identical fiber-lens combinations. Each fiber is positioned off the optical axis of its associated lens. Further, the optical fibers are placed at an image plane of the lenses. The fiber-lens combinations are parallel to and mirror images of each other. The first fiber-lens combination projects a tightly focused spot of light into a scattering volume containing suspended or dispersed microscopic particles, or biological or live tissues. The second fiber-lens combination collects the light which is scattered from the particles in the scattering volume and conveys it to a photo detector and autocorrelator for analysis. The probe minimizes the scattering volume by advantageously using imaging principles of lenses. Further, the probe optimizes sensitivity and spatial coherence. The probe provides rapid determination of particle diffusivities and their respective size distributions in the scattering volume. The probe can be combined with a video and/or microscopic imaging system for visual monitoring of the scattering volume in real time. The probe may be used in a wide variety of optical diagnostic applications. Further, the probe is easy to manufacture and use.
143 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A dynamic light scattering apparatus for analyzing a scattering volume, the apparatus comprising:
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a probe body; an optical arrangement for transmitting coherent light to and receiving scattered light from a scattering volume, the optical arrangement having a first optical fiber and a first lens, the first optical fiber having a first optical fiber end face at a first end portion and a second optical fiber end face, the first optical fiber end face being secured to the probe body, the first lens being optically connected to the first optical fiber and located a first selected distance from the first optical end face to minimize the scattering volume, the lens being secured to the probe body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fiber-optic imaging probe for determining a characteristic of a target, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of coherent light; a probe body; a transmitting lens secured to the probe body; a receiving lens secured to the probe body; a transmitting optical fiber for transmitting light to the target, the transmitting optical fiber having first and second end portions, the first end portion secured within the probe body such that it lies off the optical axis of the transmitting lens, the first end portion having an end face, the second end portion connected to the source of coherent light; a receiving optical fiber for collecting light from the target, the receiving optical fiber having first and second end portions, the first end portion secured substantially parallel to the first end portion of the transmitting optical fiber such that first end portion of the receiving optical fiber lies off the optical axis of the receiving lens, the first end portion of the receiving optical fiber having an end face secured to the probe body, the second end portion of the receiving optical fiber connected to detector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for examining a scattering volume, the method comprising:
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(a) transmitting laser light non linearly from a first optical fiber end face to the scattering volume, the laser light undergoing Gaussian propagation; (d) receiving back-scattered laser light nonlinearly from the scattering volume to an end face of a second optical fiber; (e) detecting the scattered light; (f) converting the detected light into data characteristic of the scattering volume. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A dynamic light scattering (DLS) probe comprising:
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means to coherently transmit input light; means to coherently transmit scattered light; means to produce a tightly focused scattering volume in a sample with desired scattering angle and penetration depth by utilizing the principles of imaging; and means to visually monitor the sample in real time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification