Birefringence insensitive optical coherence domain reflectometry system
First Claim
1. An optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) system, comprising:
- a source arm that introduces polarized light into a sample arm and a reference arm;
a sample arm having a path length and comprising optical fiber that transmits the polarized light to a sample and collects light reflected from the sample, wherein the optical fiber comprises at least a section of non-polarization maintaining (non-PM) fiber, a reference arm having a path length and comprising optical fiber that transmits the polarized light to a reference mirror and collects light reflected from the mirror, wherein the optical fiber comprises at least a section of non-polarization maintaining non-PM fiber, an optical rotator element situated in the reference arm between the non-PM fiber and the reference mirror that rotates the polarization of the light; and
a detector system that collects the reflected light from the sample arm and the reference arm and measures the power of the light collected from the sample arm as a function of a propagation distance, independent of the polarization state of the light collected from the sample arm, and wherein the reflected light from the reference arm enters the detector system having a defined polarization state that is independent of changes in birefringence in the non-PM fiber in the reference arm.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A birefringence insensitive fiber optic optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) system is provided containing non-polarization maintaining (non-PM) fiber in the sample arm and the reference arm without suffering from signal degradation caused by birefringence. The use of non-PM fiber significantly reduces the cost of the OCDR system and provides a disposable or multiplexed section of the sample arm. The dispersion in the reference arm and sample arm of the OCDR system are matched to achieve high resolution imaging. This system is useful in medical applications or for non-medical in situ probes. The disposable section of non-PM fiber in the sample arm can be conveniently replaced when contaminated by a sample or a patient.
74 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. An optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) system, comprising:
-
a source arm that introduces polarized light into a sample arm and a reference arm;
a sample arm having a path length and comprising optical fiber that transmits the polarized light to a sample and collects light reflected from the sample, wherein the optical fiber comprises at least a section of non-polarization maintaining (non-PM) fiber, a reference arm having a path length and comprising optical fiber that transmits the polarized light to a reference mirror and collects light reflected from the mirror, wherein the optical fiber comprises at least a section of non-polarization maintaining non-PM fiber, an optical rotator element situated in the reference arm between the non-PM fiber and the reference mirror that rotates the polarization of the light; and
a detector system that collects the reflected light from the sample arm and the reference arm and measures the power of the light collected from the sample arm as a function of a propagation distance, independent of the polarization state of the light collected from the sample arm, and wherein the reflected light from the reference arm enters the detector system having a defined polarization state that is independent of changes in birefringence in the non-PM fiber in the reference arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method for imaging at least a single point in a sample using an optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) system, comprising:
-
introducing polarized light into a sample arm and a reference arm;
transmitting the polarized light to the sample through at least a section of non-polarization maintaining (non-PM) optical fiber;
collecting light reflected from the sample and from the reference mirror;
splitting the collected light into two polarization modes, wherein each mode is detected by at least one detector;
detecting the collected light using a plurality of detectors, and wherein the reflected light from the reference arm enters the detector system having a defined polarization state that is independent of changes in birefringence in the non-PM fiber in the reference arm; and
processing the detected light to generate a measurement of the sample at a point. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification