Systems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolution

• US 9,081,148 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.), The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: Tearney, Guillermo J., Bouma, Brett E., Gardecki, Joseph A., Liu, Linbo, McLeod, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/042,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 385/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods can be provided for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample. For example, a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements can be provided which are configured to (i) provide the electro-magnetic radiation(s), and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each of the electro-magnetic radiation(s) to have a predetermined value. The exemplary apparatus can be part of a probe. Further the exemplary apparatus can include an interferometric arrangement provided in communication with the probe and/or be part of the probe.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample, comprising:

a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide the at least one electro-magnetic radiation along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each of the at least one electro-magnetic radiation to have a predetermined value; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guiding arrangements provide the at least one radiation in at least partially a circular pattern.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lens arrangement is configured to cause the further focus-spot radiation to have an extended focal depth.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction limited spot is a three-dimensional spot.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lens arrangement includes a grin lens.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wave-guiding arrangements is a single-mode wave-guide.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wave-guiding arrangements is composed of a photo-polymer.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a further wave-guiding arrangement is configured to provide a further electro-magnetic radiation to the sample, wherein the at least one electro-magnetic radiation and the further electro-magnetic radiation are provided to at least partially overlapping portions of the sample.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing which at least partially encloses the wave-guiding arrangements.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a sheath enclosing the housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a control arrangement which is configured to at least one of rotate or translate the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lens arrangement includes at least one optical element which is at least one formed by or subjected to a photopolymer processing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the photopolymer processing includes irradiating a photopolymer so as to form the at least one optical element.

14. A probe for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample, comprising:

a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide the at least one electro-magnetic radiation along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each electro-magnetic radiations to have a predetermined value; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

15. A system for imaging at least one sample, comprising:

a probe comprising a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide at least one electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one sample along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each electro-magnetic radiations to have a predetermined value;

an interferometric arrangement provided in communication with the probe; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the interferometric arrangement is part of the probe.