Method for obtaining the image of an object, device for carrying out said method and device for delivering low coherent optical radiation
First Claim
1. A method for imaging an associated object, comprising the steps of:
- directing one part of a low coherence optical radiation towards an associated object through an optical system, which ensures focusing the low coherence optical radiation onto the object;
scanning the low coherence optical radiation being directed towards an associated object over a transverse scanning surface, that is approximately orthogonal to the direction of propagation of said optical radiation;
providing a first lens component with positive focal power after the transverse scanning surface and providing a second lens component with positive focal power after the first lens component, where the first lens component and the second lens component are positioned to provide a constant propagation time for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface to a corresponding conjugate point of an image plane, thereby eliminating a transverse scanning related aberration of an optical path length for the low coherence optical radiation directed towards an associated object;
directing another part of the low coherence optical radiation along a reference optical path, andcombining an optical radiation having returned from an associated object with an optical radiation that passed through the reference optical path;
visualizing an intensity of the optical radiation having returned from an associated object using for that an optical radiation that is a result of the combining.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to studies of internal structures of objects with the aid of optical means. According to the invention an optical system (15) of the delivering device for low coherence optical radiation, in a particular embodiment, an optical fiber probe (8), includes at least two lens components (19), (20), which have a positive focal power and are positioned substantionally confocally. This ensures a constant propagation time for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface (28) or (39) to a corresponding conjugate point of the image plane (22). That provides elimination of the transverse scanning related aberration of the optical path length for low coherence optical radiation directed towards the object (11) both for a flat transverse scanning surface (28) and for a transverse scanning surface (39) having a curvature. In another embodiment, together with the substantionally confocal arrangement of lens components (19), (20), the longitudinal scanning is performed by varying the optical path length for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from the transverse scanning surface (28) to the optical system (15), i.e., from the end face (17) of the distal part (18) of the optical fiber (14) to the optical system (15). To achieve this, a device for longitudinal scanning (10) is incorporated into the optical fiber probe (8). This ensures a corresponding shift of the focusing position of the low coherence optical radiation during longitudinal scanning, i.e., allows for alignment of the focusing position of the low coherence optical radiation with the position of the coherence gate and, consequently, their simultaneous movement.
31 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for imaging an associated object, comprising the steps of:
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directing one part of a low coherence optical radiation towards an associated object through an optical system, which ensures focusing the low coherence optical radiation onto the object; scanning the low coherence optical radiation being directed towards an associated object over a transverse scanning surface, that is approximately orthogonal to the direction of propagation of said optical radiation; providing a first lens component with positive focal power after the transverse scanning surface and providing a second lens component with positive focal power after the first lens component, where the first lens component and the second lens component are positioned to provide a constant propagation time for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface to a corresponding conjugate point of an image plane, thereby eliminating a transverse scanning related aberration of an optical path length for the low coherence optical radiation directed towards an associated object; directing another part of the low coherence optical radiation along a reference optical path, and combining an optical radiation having returned from an associated object with an optical radiation that passed through the reference optical path; visualizing an intensity of the optical radiation having returned from an associated object using for that an optical radiation that is a result of the combining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for imaging an associated object comprising:
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a source of low coherence optical radiation; an interferometer optically coupled to the source, the interferometer including a beam splitter optically coupled with a measuring arm and a reference arm; at least one photodetector connected with a data processing and displaying unit;
the measuring arm being provided with a delivering device for low coherence optical radiation;the delivering device comprising an optical fiber optically coupled with an optical system, and a transverse scanning system for the low coherence optical radiation, the optical fiber being positioned to allow for the low coherence optical radiation to pass from the proximal end of the delivering device to its distal end, wherein the optical fiber is incorporated into the transverse scanning system, which is configured to move the end face of the distal part of the optical fiber over the transverse scanning surface in a direction approximately perpendicular to an axis of the optical fiber; wherein the optical system of the delivering device is configured to provide focusing of the low coherence optical radiation onto the associated object, said optical system including at least a first lens component with positive focal power and at least a second lens component with positive focal power, which is positioned after the first lens component, wherein the first lens component and the second lens component are positioned to provide constant propagation time for low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface to a corresponding conjugate point of an image plane, thereby eliminating the transverse scanning related aberration of the optical length of the measuring arm. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A delivering device for low coherence optical radiation, comprising:
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an optical fiber optically coupled with an optical system, and a transverse scanning system for the low coherence optical radiation; the optical fiber being incorporated into the transverse scanning system and positioned to allow for low coherence optical radiation to pass from the proximal end of the delivering device to its distal end; the transverse scanning system being configured to move an end face of the distal end of the optical fiber over a transverse scanning surface in a direction approximately perpendicular to an axis of the optical fiber, wherein the optical system includes at least a first lens component with positive focal power and at least a second lens component with positive focal power, which is positioned after the first lens component, said optical system providing focusing the low coherence optical radiation onto an object, wherein the first lens component and the second lens component are positioned to provide constant propagation time for low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface to a corresponding conjugate point of an image plane, thereby eliminating the transverse scanning related aberration of the optical length for the low coherence optical radiation passing through the delivering device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification