Imaging system and related techniques

• US 8,369,669 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• 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 E., Tearney, Guillermo J., Yelin, Dvir
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen Chau N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prince, Kajli
• Application Number:
  US13/084,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 385/116
• US Class Current: 385/116
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• 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 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02 Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02042 Multicore optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/036 core or cladding comprising multiple layers multicore optical fibres G02B6/02042; microstructured properties G02B6/02295; omniguide fibres G02B6/023
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/03605 Highest refractive index not on central axis
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/03622 having 2 layers only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/03638 having 3 layers only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for imaging using a double-clad fiber is described.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one arrangement which includes at least one of an optical fiber or an optical waveguide, and which is provided to illuminate a structure with at least one electro-magnetic radiation, the at least one arrangement including;

a. at least one cladding region through which a first radiation of at least one electromagnetic radiation is transmitted to the structure,

b. at least one core through which a second radiation of the at least one electromagnetic radiation is received from the structure, wherein the first and second radiations are at least partially different from one another, and

c. at least one wavelength dispersive arrangement which is configured to disperse at least one of the first radiation or the second radiation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a tissue.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arrangement in a confocal arrangement.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one further arrangement which is configured to receive signals from the at least one core, and generate at least one image of the structure based on the signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wavelength dispersive arrangement is provided in a radiation path between the structure and at least one of the core or the cladding.