FILTERED FIBER OPTIC PROBE

• US 20120236303A1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Captain Jrt LLC
• Original Assignee: Eric T. Marple, Kirk D. Urmey
• Inventors: Marple, Eric T., Urmey, Kirk D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02052 comprising optical elements other than gratings, e.g. filters comprising gratings G02B6/02057
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29368 Light guide comprising the filter, e.g. filter deposited on a fibre end G02B6/29359 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3624 Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination optical details of light guide terminations G02B6/241; reshaping of light guides G02B6/2552; optical details of coupling light into or out of fibre end G02B6/262

Abstract

The invention provides improved multi-fiber, fiber optic probe assemblies in which the component parts are adapted for rapid assembly with precise alignment. Some embodiments are adapted to illuminate and collect light from a sample at a particular depth while minimizing interference arising from within the probe assembly itself. Also provided are methods for manufacturing the probe assemblies and optical apparatuses including the probe assemblies.

Claims

1. A fiber optic probe assembly having a distal sampling end, a proximal end, a light delivery path therethrough and a light collection path therethrough, said probe comprising:

(a) a converging lens disposed at or near the distal sampling end of the probe, said converging lens having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis, a length, a transverse dimension and a focal length;

(b) at least one collection optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis and a transverse dimension,

the proximal end of the converging lens in optical communication with the distal end of the at least one collection optical fiber,

the central axis of the at least one collection optical fiber at its distal end being parallel to the central axis of the converging lens, and

the transverse dimension of the at least one collection optical fiber at its distal end being within the footprint of the converging lens;

(c) at least one light delivery optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end and a central axis, its central axis at its distal end being parallel to the central axis of the converging lens and its transverse dimension at its distal end being within the footprint of the converging lens; and

(d) optionally, an optical window having a proximal end face, a distal end face and a length, the proximal end face of the optical window in optical communication with the distal end of the converging lens,

wherein the proximal-distal orientation of the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the light delivery optical fiber, the probe assembly and optical window if present are codirectional,

wherein the collection optical fiber and the light delivery optical fiber are disposed in a side-by-side relationship at their distal ends,

wherein the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the at least one light delivery optical fiber are mutually sized and configured such that the light delivery path and the light collection path at least substantially do no intersect in the converging lens;

wherein the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the at least one light delivery optical fiber, and optical window if present are mutually configured such that the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting distally beyond the distal end of the probe assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the converging lens is a convex lens having a convex surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the converging lens is a single convex lens having a convex face and a flat face, the single convex lens oriented in the assembly such that its convex face is in optical communication with and faces the distal ends of the light delivery optical fiber and the light collection optical fiber and the flat face of the single convex lens faces in the distal direction.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alignment barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and at least two longitudinal holes having parallel central axes passing there-through,

wherein the distal end portion of at least one light collection optical fiber is disposed within one of the longitudinal holes,

wherein the distal end portion of at least one light delivery optical fiber is disposed within one of the longitudinal holes, and

wherein the central axes of the distal portions of the light collection optical fiber and the light delivery optical fiber are parallel to the central axes of the longitudinal holes in which they are disposed.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one filter selected from the group consisting of;

a filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light delivery optical fiber and the converging lens; and

a filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light collection optical fiber and the converging lens.

6. The assembly of claim 5, comprising:

a bandpass or shortpass filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light delivery optical fiber and the converging lens; and

a longpass or notch filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light collection optical fiber and the converging lens.

7. The assembly of claim 1, comprising the optical window.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the length of the optical window is greater than the length of the converging lens.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the optical window is composed of a different material than the converging lens.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the length of the optical window is greater than the length of the converging lens.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting within 200 microns beyond the optical window.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting within 200 microns beyond the distal sampling end of the assembly.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein there is no optical window and the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting within 200 microns beyond the distal surface of the converging lens.

14. An optical analysis apparatus, comprising:

an optical probe assembly according to claim 1;

at least one light analyzer optically coupled to the proximal end of the light collection optical fiber; and

at least one light source optically coupled to the proximal end of the light delivery optical fiber.

15. The optical analysis apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one light analyzer comprises a Raman spectrometer and the light source comprises a laser.

16. The optical analysis apparatus of claim 14, configured to perform more than one spectroscopic technique using the probe assembly.

17. A fiber optic probe assembly having a distal sampling end, a proximal end, a light delivery path therethrough and a light collection path therethrough, said probe comprising:

(a) a plano-convex converging lens formed of a first optical material and disposed at or near the distal sampling end of the probe, said converging lens having a distal end, a curved proximal end, a central axis, a length, a transverse dimension and a focal length;

(b) at least one collection optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end, a central axis and a transverse dimension,

the proximal end of the converging lens in optical communication with the distal end of the at least one collection optical fiber,

the central axis of the at least one collection optical fiber at its distal end being parallel to the central axis of the converging lens, and

the transverse dimension of the at least one collection optical fiber at its distal end being within the footprint of the converging lens;

(c) at least one light delivery optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end and a central axis, its central axis at its distal end being parallel to the central axis of the converging lens and its transverse dimension at its distal end being within the footprint of the converging lens; and

(d) an optical window formed of an optical material different than the first optical material, the optical window having a proximal end face, a distal end face and a length, the proximal end face of the optical window in juxtaposed relationship with the distal end of the converging lens and the length of the optical window greater than the length of the converging lens,

wherein the proximal-distal orientation of the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the light delivery optical fiber, the probe assembly and optical window are codirectional,

wherein the collection optical fiber and the light delivery optical fiber are disposed in a side-by-side relationship at their distal ends,

wherein the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the at least one light delivery optical fiber are mutually sized and configured such that the light delivery path and the light collection path at least substantially do no intersect in the converging lens; and

wherein the converging lens, the at least one collection optical fiber, the at least one light delivery optical fiber, and optical window are mutually configured such that the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting distally beyond the distal end of the optical window.

18. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising an alignment barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and at least two longitudinal holes having parallel central axes passing there-through,

wherein the distal end portion of at least one light collection optical fiber is disposed within one of the longitudinal holes,

wherein the distal end portion of at least one light delivery optical fiber is disposed within one of the longitudinal holes, and

wherein the central axes of the distal portions of the light collection optical fiber and the light delivery optical fiber are parallel to the central axes of the longitudinal holes in which they are disposed.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the light delivery path and light collection path are at least substantially intersecting within 200 microns beyond the optical window.

20. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a bandpass or shortpass filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light delivery optical fiber and the converging lens; and

a longpass or notch filter disposed between the distal end of at least one light collection optical fiber and the converging lens.