Method and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometry

• US 9,812,846 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yun, Seok-Hyun, Bouma, Brett Eugene, Tearney, Guillermo J., De Boer, Johannes Fitzgerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Kinam
• Application Number:
  US15/140,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/45 Multiple detectors for detecting interferometer signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/70 Using polarization in the interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02002 using two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02004 using frequency scans
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02043 Imaging of the Fourier or pupil or back focal plane, i.e. angle resolved imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02075 of particular errors
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02081 simultaneous quadrature detection, e.g. by spatial phase shifting
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02083 characterised by particular signal processing and presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02084 Processing in the Fourier or frequency domain when not imaged in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0209 Low-coherence interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/021 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 9/0215 : by shearing interferometric methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 : spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/12 : using multifaceted mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 : Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 : Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/093 : used as non-reciprocal devices, e.g. optical isolators, circulators G02F1/0955 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/11 : based on acousto-optical elements, e.g. using variable diffraction by sound or like mechanical waves acousto-optical deflection G02F1/33
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0071 : Beam steering, e.g. whereby a mirror outside the cavity is present to change the beam direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0078 : Frequency filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08009 : using a diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08063 : Graded reflectivity, e.g. variable reflectivity mirror
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/105 : by controlling the mutual position or the reflecting properties of the reflectors of the cavity , e.g. by controlling the cavity lengthH01S3/10076, H01S3/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1068 : using an acousto-optical device
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0071 : for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0078 : for frequency filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/1025 : Extended cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/14 : External cavity lasers H01S5/18 takes precedence; mode locking H01S5/065
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/141 : using a wavelength selective device, e.g. a grating or etalon H01S5/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/146 : using a fiber as external cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/5045 : the arrangement having a frequency filtering function

Abstract

Exemplary apparatus and method are provided. In particular, an electromagnetic radiation can be emitted with, e.g. a light source arrangement. For example, the light source arrangement can include a cavity and a filter, and a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation can be controlled, e.g., with such cavity and filter, to have a mean frequency that changes (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz. Additionally or alternatively, the light source arrangement can include a frequency shifting device which can shift the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a light source arrangement configured to emit an electromagnetic radiation, wherein the light source arrangement includes a cavity and a filter which cause a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation to have a mean frequency that changes (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mean frequency changes repeatedly at a repetition rate that is greater than 5 kilohertz.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spectrum has a tuning range whose center is approximately centered at 1300 nm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spectrum has a tuning range whose center is approximately centered at 850 nm.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spectrum has a tuning range whose center is approximately centered at 1700 nm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spectrum has an instantaneous line width that is smaller than 100 gigahertz.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source arrangement further comprises a polygon arrangement which is adapted to receive at least one signal that is associated with the emitted electromagnetic radiation, and at least one of reflect and deflect the at least one signal to a further location.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source arrangement further comprises a laser resonating system forming an optical circuit and configured to control a spatial mode of the electromagnetic radiation.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light source arrangement causes the electromagnetic radiation to propagate substantially unidirectionally within at least one portion of the resonating arrangement.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an optical circulator which is configured to control a direction of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation within the resonating arrangement.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the filter is configured to at least one of transmit or reflect at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the at least one portion has a full-width-at-half-maximum frequency distribution which is less than about 100 GHz.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source arrangement further comprises a gain medium.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a light source arrangement configured to emit an electromagnetic radiation, wherein the light source arrangement includes a cavity and a filter which cause a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation to have a mean frequency that changes at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, wherein the light source arrangement further includes a frequency shifting device which shifts the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cavity and the filter cause the mean frequency to change over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cavity and the filter cause the mean frequency to repeatedly change at a repetition rate that is greater than 5 kilohertz.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the spectrum has an instantaneous line width that is smaller than 100 gigahertz.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light source arrangement further comprises a laser resonating system forming an optical circuit and configured to control a spatial mode of the electromagnetic radiation.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the light source arrangement causes the electromagnetic radiation to propagate substantially unidirectionally within at least one portion of the resonating arrangement.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the filter is configured to at least one of transmit or reflect at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the at least one portion has a full-width-at-half-maximum frequency distribution which is less than about 100 GHz.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light source arrangement further comprises a gain medium.

21. A method comprising:

causing an emission of an electromagnetic radiation; and

causing a change of a mean frequency of a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mean frequency changes over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mean frequency repeatedly changes at a repetition rate that is greater than 5 kilohertz.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the spectrum has an instantaneous line width that is smaller than 100 gigahertz.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising providing a laser resonating system forming an optical circuit and configured to control a spatial mode of the electromagnetic radiation.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising propagating the electromagnetic radiation substantially unidirectionally within at least one portion of the resonating arrangement.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation is propagated based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the at least one portion has a full-width-at-half-maximum frequency distribution which is less than about 100 GHz.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the emission of the electromagnetic radiation is performed by a light source arrangement which includes a gain medium.

29. A method comprising:

causing an emission of an electromagnetic radiation with a spectrum whose mean frequency changes at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond; and

shifting the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the mean frequency changes over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the mean frequency repeatedly changes at a repetition rate that is greater than 5 kilohertz.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the spectrum has an instantaneous line width that is smaller than 100 gigahertz.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation is propagated based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the at least one portion has a full-width-at-half-maximum frequency distribution which is less than about 100 GHz.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein the emission of the electromagnetic radiation is performed by a light source arrangement which includes a gain medium.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a light source arrangement configured to emit an electromagnetic radiation, wherein the light source arrangement including a configuration comprising an optical filter arrangement, a laser gain medium, and a frequency selector, wherein a combination of the optical filter arrangement and the frequency selector causes a modification of a mean frequency of a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation in a particular direction over time, and wherein the configuration shifts a mean frequency of an intra-cavity electromagnetic radiation in the particular direction; and

a laser cavity which receives the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the optical filter arrangement is provided within the laser cavity.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the combination of the optical filter arrangement and the frequency selector causes the modification of the mean frequency over time at a wavelength tuning speed that is greater than 500 nm per millisecond.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the laser gain medium is provided within the laser cavity, and wherein the laser gain medium causes a self-frequency downshift in an optical spectrum of the intra-cavity electromagnetic radiation.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the optical filter arrangement is a wavelength scanning filter arrangement which is operated in a positive wavelength sweep direction.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the configuration causes the mean frequency to change over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz.