Forward scanning imaging optical fiber probe
First Claim
1. An optical apparatus, comprising:
- an optical fiber including a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, wherein the proximal end of the optical fiber is proximate a light source, and wherein the distal end comprises a first angled surface; and
a refractive lens element proximate the distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the lens element and the optical fiber are both configured to rotate about said axis, and wherein the optical fiber and the lens are configured to rotate relative to each other about said axis;
a motor adapted to cause the optical fiber to rotate about said axis; and
a coupling mechanism that couples the motor to the lens element such that the motor also causes the lens element to rotate about said axis, wherein the coupling mechanism is adapted to rotate the lens element about said axis at a different rate than a rate of rotation of the optical fiber about said axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Probes, and systems and methods for optically scanning a conical volume in front of a probe, for use with an imaging modality, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). A probe includes an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, with the proximal end of the optical fiber being proximate a light source, and the distal end having a first angled surface. A refractive lens element is positioned proximate the distal end of the optical fiber. The lens element and the fiber end are both configured to separately rotate about the axis so as to image a conical scan volume when light is provided by the source. Reflected light from a sample under investigation is collected by the fiber and analyzed by an imaging system. Such probes may be very compact, e.g., having a diameter 1 mm or less, and are advantageous for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, wherein the proximal end of the optical fiber is proximate a light source, and wherein the distal end comprises a first angled surface; and a refractive lens element proximate the distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the lens element and the optical fiber are both configured to rotate about said axis, and wherein the optical fiber and the lens are configured to rotate relative to each other about said axis; a motor adapted to cause the optical fiber to rotate about said axis; and a coupling mechanism that couples the motor to the lens element such that the motor also causes the lens element to rotate about said axis, wherein the coupling mechanism is adapted to rotate the lens element about said axis at a different rate than a rate of rotation of the optical fiber about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, wherein the proximal end of the optical fiber is proximate a light source, and wherein the distal end is proximal a first refractive lens element; and a second refractive lens element proximate the first lens element, wherein the second lens element is configured to rotate about said axis, and wherein the first lens element is configured to rotate about said axis separate from the second lens element, and wherein the first lens element rotates at a different rate of rotation than a rate of rotation of the second lens element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of imaging a forward scan volume of a tissue sample using a forward scanning probe that includes an optical fiber including a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, wherein the proximal end of the optical fiber is proximate a light source, and wherein the distal end is proximal a first refractive lens element, wherein the probe further includes an imaging end having a second refractive lens element positioned proximate the first lens element, wherein the second lens element is configured to rotate about the axis, and wherein the first lens element is configured to rotate about the axis separate from the second lens element, the method comprising:
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positioning the imaging end of the probe proximal a tissue sample to be imaged; providing a light beam to the proximal fiber end from the light source; rotating the first lens element at a first rate; and simultaneously rotating the second lens element at a second rate different from the first rate. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, wherein the proximal end of the optical fiber is proximate a light source, and wherein the distal end comprises a first angled surface; and a refractive lens element proximate the distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the lens element and the optical fiber are both configured to rotate about said axis, and wherein the optical fiber and the lens are configured to rotate relative to each other about said axis; a first motor adapted to cause the optical fiber to rotate about said axis; and a second motor adapted to cause the lens element to rotate about said axis in a different or same rotational direction as the optical fiber, wherein the second motor rotates the lens element about said axis at a different rate than a rate of rotation of the optical fiber about said axis.
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Specification