Optical probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10809750-B2
Application number	US-201916524135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2018
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

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) a multicore optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end, a multimode core, and at least one single mode core, the multicore optical fiber configured to propagate light collected from a sample positioned at the distal end of the multicore optical fiber to the proximal end of the multicore fiber; and
b) a processing system comprising an optical receiver with an input optically coupled to the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver generating electrical signals corresponding to optical signals received at the input,
wherein the processing system compensates for an optical transfer function of the multicore optical fiber using electrical signals generated by the optical receiver such that a corruption of the propagated collected light is corrected, and wherein the optical transfer function is determined by at least two of an initial calibration, a shape measurement of the multicore optical fiber, a temperature measurement, or a strain measurement, and wherein the processing system further produces information about properties of the sample utilizing the optical transfer function.

2. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the at least one single mode core is configured to perform the shape measurement of the multicore optical fiber.

3. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the processing system compensates for the optical transfer function of the multicore optical fiber by calculating the optical transfer function.

4. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the multimode core comprises a few mode optical fiber.

5. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the information about properties of the sample includes an optical image of the sample using interferometry.

6. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the information about properties of the sample includes an optical image of the sample using a fluorescence image.

7. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the information about properties of the sample includes an optical image of the sample using a multi-photon image.

8. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the information about properties of the sample includes an optical image of the sample using a spectroscopic image.

9. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the information about properties of the sample includes an optical image of the sample using a reflectance image.

10. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber is configured to provide heat induced bending.

11. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber is configured to provide pneumatic induced bending.

12. The optical probe of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber is configured to provide piezoelectric induced bending.

13. An optical probe comprising:
a) a multicore optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end, a multimode core, and a single mode core, the multicore optical fiber configured to propagate light collected from a sample positioned at the distal end of the multicore optical fiber to the proximal end of the multicore fiber;
b) a processing system comprising an optical receiver with an input optically coupled to the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver generating electrical signals corresponding to optical signals received at the input; and
c) an articulation mechanism that provides bending to the multicore optical fiber;
wherein the processing system compensates for an optical transfer function of the multicore optical fiber using electrical signals generated by the optical receiver such that a corruption of the propagated collected light is corrected and produces information about properties of the sample based on the optical transfer function.

14. The optical probe of claim 13 wherein the articulation mechanism provides heat induced bending.

15. An optical probe comprising:
a) a multicore optical fiber having a distal end, a proximal end, a multimode core configured to propagate light collected from a sample positioned at the distal end of the multicore optical fiber, and a plurality of single mode cores configured to obtain a shape measurement of the multicore optical fiber, a temperature measurement of the multicore optical fiber, or a strain measurement of the multicore optical fiber;
b) a processing system comprising an optical receiver with an input optically coupled to the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver generating electrical signals corresponding to optical signals received at the input,
wherein the processing system actively compensates an optical transfer function of the multicore optical fiber, the optical transfer function being determined based on two of more of the following: an initial calibration, the shape measurement of the multicore optical fiber, the temperature measurement of the multicore optical fiber, or the strain measurement of the multicore optical fiber, and produces information about properties an optical image of the sample.

16. An optical probe comprising:
a) an optical source that generates light;
b) a multicore optical fiber comprising a multimode core and a plurality of single mode cores, the multicore optical fiber having a proximal end with an input optically coupled to the optical source and configured to deliver the generated light to a sample positioned distal to a distal end of the multicore optical fiber;
c) an optical receiver having an input optically coupled to the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver configured to receive light that is propagated from the distal end to the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber; and
d) a processor electrically coupled to the optical receiver and the optical source, the processor configured to control the optical source such that the generated light is transmitted to the sample, the processor further configured to compensate for an optical transfer function of the multicore optical fiber utilizing two or more of the following: an initial calibration, a shape measurement of the multicore optical fiber, a temperature measurement of the multicore optical fiber, or a strain measurement of the multicore optical fiber, and the processor further configured to produce information about properties of the sample based on the received light that is propagated from the distal end to the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber.

17. The optical probe of claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of single mode cores is configured for shape sensing and comprises a distal optical source.

18. An imaging probe comprising:
a) an optical source that generates light at an output;
b) a multicore optical fiber comprising a multimode core and a single mode core, the multicore optical fiber having a proximal end with an input optically coupled to the optical source and configured to deliver the generated light to a sample positioned at a distal end of the multicore optical fiber;
c) an articulation mechanism that provides bending to the multicore optical fiber;
d) an optical receiver having an input optically coupled to the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver configured to receive light that is propagated from the distal end to the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber: and
e) a processor electrically coupled to the optical receiver and the optical source, the processor configured to:
i) control the optical source such that the generated light delivered to the sample is scanned across the sample,
ii) compensate for a transfer function of the multicore optical fiber, and
iii) produce an image of the sample based on the received light that is pro

Assignees

• Swanson Eric
• Ofs Fitel Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61B1/0605

  for spatially modulated illumination · CPC title

• G05D25/02 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• G02B6/02042 Primary

  Multicore optical fibres · CPC title

• G02B6/0288

  Multimode fibre, e.g. graded index core for compensating modal dispersion · CPC title

• A61B2560/0223

  of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors · CPC title