Apparatus for obtaining information for a structure using spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques and methods for producing one or more optical arrangements

• US 8,145,018 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bouma, Brett Eugene, Yelin, Dvir, Iftimia, Nicusor, Shishkov, Milen, Tearney, Guillermo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/623,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 385/31, 385/33, 385/34, 385/37, 385/39, 385/117, 385/118, 385/119
• US Class Current: 385/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00167 Details of optical fibre bundles, e.g. shape or fibre distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/002 having rod-lens arrangements A61B1/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/14 of optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms control of the position of the tool for bevelling optical work B24B47/225
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2453 of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 : using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/18 : Diffraction gratings holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44

Abstract

Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, first optical fiber arrangement(s) can be provided which transceives at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. Second focusing arrangement(s) can be provided in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation. Third dispersive arrangement(s) can receive a particular radiation which is the first electro-magnetic radiation and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation, and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure. At least one end of the fiber can be directly connected to the second focusing arrangement and/or the third dispersive arrangement.

Claims

1. An apparatus obtaining information for a structure, comprising:

at least one first optical fiber arrangement configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and including at least one fiber;

at least one focusing second arrangement in optical communication with the at least one first optical fiber arrangement, the at least one second arrangement being configured to focus and provide there through the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to generate a focused electro-magnetic radiation; and

at least one dispersive third arrangement including a balloon, and configured to (i) receive a particular radiation which is at least one of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation or the focused electro-magnetic radiation, and (ii) forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure,

wherein at least one end of the at least one fiber is directly connected to at least one of the at least one focusing second arrangement or the at least one dispersive third arrangement.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one end is directly connected to the at least one dispersive arrangement.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one section is directly connected to the at least one dispersive arrangement.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement comprises at least one optical element which is directly connected to the at least one end.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement includes an optical component with a numerical aperture of at most 0.2, and wherein the at least one optical element is directly connected to the optical component.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement includes an optical component with a numerical aperture of at most 0.2.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one end is directly connected to the optical component.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particular radiation comprises at least one of a plurality of wavelengths or a single wavelength that changes over time.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispersive arrangement is configured to spatially separate the particular radiation into a plurality of signals having differing center wavelengths.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third arrangements are provided in a monolithic configuration.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispersive arrangement is at least one of a fiber grating, a blazed grating, a grism, a dual prism, a binary prism or a holographic lens grating.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement contains at least one of a gradient index lens, a reflective mirror lens grating combination or a diffractive lens.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fourth arrangement which is configured to control a focal distance of the at least one focusing arrangement.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement and the at least one dispersive arrangement are provided in an enclosure.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the enclosure is part of at least one of a holographic arrangement or a diffractive arrangement.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure is an anatomical structure, and the at least one dispersive arrangement forwards the dispersed radiation to the anatomical structure.