Optical probe using multimode optical waveguide and proximal processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401883-B2
Application number	US-201815868521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2018
Priority date	Jan 11, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

An optical probe includes an optical source that generates an optical beam that propagates from a proximal end to a distal end of an optical fiber that imparts a transformation of a spatial profile of the optical beam. An optical control device imparts a compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the transformation of the spatial profile of the optical beam imparted by the optical fiber in response to a control signal from a signal processor. A distal optical source generates a calibration light that propagates through the one or more optical waveguides from the distal end to the proximal end of the optical fiber. An optical detector detects the calibration light and generates electrical signals in response to the detected calibration light. The signal processor generates the control signal to instruct the optical control device to impart the compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the transformation of the spatial profile of the optical beam imparted by the optical fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical probe comprising:
a) an optical source that generates an optical beam;
b) an optical fiber positioned in an optical path of the optical beam, the optical fiber comprising one or more optical waveguides that propagate the optical beam from a proximal end to a distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber imparts a transformation of a spatial profile of the optical beam;
c) an optical control device having an optical input positioned in the optical path of the optical beam and having an electrical control input, the optical control device imparting a compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the transformation of the spatial profile of the optical beam imparted by the optical fiber in response to a control signal received by the electrical control input;
d) a distal optical source having an output that is positioned close to the distal end of the optical fiber, the distal optical source generating a calibration light, the one or more optical waveguides propagating at least a portion of the calibration light from the distal end to the proximal end of the optical fiber;
e) an optical detector positioned at the proximal end of the optical fiber, the optical detector detecting at least a portion of the calibration light and generating electrical signals at an output in response to the detected calibration light; and
f) a signal processor comprising an electrical input connected to the output of the optical detector and an electrical output connected to the electrical control input of the optical control device, the signal processor generating the control signal that instructs the optical control device to impart the compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the transformation of the spatial profile of the optical beam imparted by the optical fiber.

2. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical waveguides comprises a multicore optical fiber.

3. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical waveguides comprises a multimode optical fiber.

4. The optical probe of claim 3 wherein the distal optical source comprises a plurality of single mode cores positioned around the optical waveguide comprising the multimode optical fiber.

5. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device that imparts a compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the transformation of the spatial profile of the optical beam imparted by the optical fiber comprises a spatial light modulator.

6. The optical probe of claim 5 wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a MEMs device.

7. The optical probe of claim 5 wherein the spatial light modulator comprises an LCOS device.

8. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device imparts a spatial profile on the optical beam wherein the spatial profile comprises a controlled amplitude profile.

9. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device imparts a spatial profile on the optical beam wherein the spatial profile comprises a controlled phase profile.

10. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device imparts a spatial profile on the optical beam wherein the spatial profile comprises a controlled amplitude and a controlled phase profile.

11. The optical probe of claim 1 further comprising an optical source that is coupled to the distal optical source by a single mode core.

12. The optical probe of claim 1 further comprising an optical source that is coupled to the distal optical source by a polarization maintaining optical fiber.

13. The optical probe of claim 1 further comprising an optical source that is coupled to the distal optical source by a polarizing single mode optical fiber.

14. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the distal optical source comprise a plurality of distal sources.

15. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the distal optical source comprise a fluorescent material.

16. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is configured to perform shape sensing of the optical fiber.

17. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device is configured to generate a focused optical beam at the distal end of the optical fiber.

18. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical control device is configured to generate an optical beam that translates a location of a focused optical beam beyond the distal end of the optical fiber.

19. The remote optical probe of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber is housed in an endoscope.

20. A method of optical probing with an optical fiber transmitting multiple spatial modes from a proximal end to a distal end of the optical fiber, the method comprising:
a) generating an optical beam with an optical source;
b) coupling the optical beam to a proximal end of the optical fiber transmitting multiple spatial modes so that the optical beam propagates from the proximal end to a distal end of the optical fiber thereby producing a spatial transformation of the optical beam;
c) imparting a compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the spatial transformation produced by the optical fiber;
d) generating a calibration light with a distal source having an output positioned proximate to the distal end of the optical fiber;
e) detecting at least a portion of the calibration light with an optical detector; and
f) processing the detected calibration light to generate a calibration signal that determines the imparted compensating spatial profile on the optical beam that at least partially compensates for the spatial transformation produced by the optical fiber.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the imparting the compensating spatial transformation on the optical beam comprises imparting the compensating spatial transformation on the optical beam with an optical control device positioned in the path of the optical beam.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the imparting the compensating spatial transformation on the optical beam comprises imparting the compensating spatial transformation on the optical beam by applying a mathematical transformation that was, at least in part, determined during the processing of the detected calibration light.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising positioning a sample at the distal end of the optical fiber in the path of the optical beam.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising collecting measurement light from a sample.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising collecting measurement light from Raman scattered light from a sample.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising collecting measurement light generated by fluorescence emitted from a sample.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising positioning a sample proximate to the distal end of the optical fiber, collecting light from the sample, and processing the collected light to produce an image of the optical properties of the sample.

28. A method of optical probing with an optical fiber propagating multiple spatial modes from a distal end to a proximal end of the optical fiber, the method comprising:
a) collecting an optical beam comprising a spatial profile from a sample proximate to the distal end of the optical fiber propagating multipl

Assignees

• Swanson Eric
• Ofs Fitel Llc

Inventors

• Swanson Eric
• Kremp Tristan
• Westbrook Paul S
• Digiovanni David

Classifications

• G01J3/0218

  using optical fibers · CPC title

• G02B6/34

  utilising prism or grating {(G02B6/293 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61B1/00172

  with means for scanning · CPC title

• A61B1/00057

  provided with means for testing or calibration · CPC title

• G02B6/262

  Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements · CPC title