基于拉锥结构的全光纤型内窥光学相干层析成像探针研究

本文报道了一种基于拉锥结构的全光纤型内窥光学相干层析成像探针.基于大纤芯多模光纤的低光束发散特性,使用大纤芯多模光纤代替透镜作为成像元件,并在单模光纤与大纤芯多模光纤之间引入过渡拉锥段以减少插入损耗.首先利用光学仿真软件(Rsoft)确定探针的最佳结构,然后通过拉锥、切割以及熔接工艺实现探针制作,并对探针的出射光束特性与插入损耗进行测量,最后将该探针与扫频光学相干层析成像主系统联机,对人体指尖皮肤及鸡气管壁组织进行成像.该探针直径为250μm,不锈钢保护管外径为325μm,硬端长度1 cm,插入损耗约为0.3 d B,空气中有效成像范围达800μm.该探针为内窥光学相干层析成像技术在心血管疾病的应用提供了高紧凑度、高传输效率与高灵活性的选择.     

锥台光纤的功率转换效率研究

 锥台光纤在激光束到单模光纤以及多模光纤到单模光纤的耦合中,在一些需要质量很高光束的同时有较高功率要求的场合有广泛应用。在这些应用中,锥台光纤的功率转换效率是很重要的一个参数。介绍了锥台光纤的熔拉研磨制作方法,分析了锥台光纤的传输特性。建立了高斯近似模型,采用模场耦合理论,计算了锥台光纤的功率转换效率。在以下参数条件下对细端半径分别为（4±1）μm,(5±1)μm,(6±1)μm,(7±1)μm和(8±1)μm的锥台光纤的功率转换效率进行了实验测定,激光器输出光波长532 nm;多模光纤NA＝0.11,纤芯半径a=12.5 μm;得到了与理论计算吻合的结果。     

适合于内窥成像的共路型光学相干层析成像系统

提出了一种采用光纤型迈克耳孙干涉仪进行光程补偿的菲佐型光学相干层析成像(OCT)系统.该系统的传感探头为共路干涉结构,以解决现有内窥光学相干层析成像系统中存在的探头运动导致图像失真、以及更换使用不同探头时需进行色散和偏振态调节等问题.光程补偿和振动干扰实验结果表明,光程补偿方法正确可行,系统对环境干扰不敏感.利用研制的系统对反射镜和近红外卡进行了成像实验,验证了系统的有效性.提出的方法非常适合于内窥成像,并给出了把系统扩展为内窥光学相干层析成像系统的具体实现过程.     

内窥式扫频光源光学相干层析系统的探头设计

利用自聚焦透镜和单模光纤搭建了基于光纤旋转连接器的内窥式扫频光源光学相干层析成像系统.利用Zemax模拟了内窥探头的光学性能,分析了光纤到自聚焦透镜的距离和自聚焦透镜节距对探头性能参量的影响.在综合考虑元器件成本以及成像要求后,选择无需定制,节距为0.24Pitch的自聚焦透镜,确定光纤与自聚焦透镜之间的距离为0.7mm.经实验测得该系统的横向分辨率约为19.5μm,纵向分辨率约为9μm,工作距离约为7mm,成像深度为6.2mm(空气中),与理论值接近.为了验证该系统对生物组织的成像性能,利用该系统对猪食道进行离体成像,重建后的层析图中可以明显地观察到猪肠道的表皮层和固有层.测量系统的各项成像性能参量以及对生物组织的成像性能表明该探头在内窥成像中是可行的.     

激光束的锥台光纤传输

 分析了锥台光纤的传输特性,建立了高斯近似模型,采用模场耦合理论,计算了锥台光纤的功率转换效率。并在激光器的输出光波长为532 nm,多模光纤的数值孔径为0.11,纤芯半径为12.5 μm条件下对细端半径分别为（4±1）,（5±1）,（6±1）,（7±1）和（8±1） μm的锥台光纤的转换效率进行了实验测定。提出利用锥台光纤的圆柱形多模光纤部分传输光功率,锥台部分保证光束质量的传输方案,在保证光束质量的同时能传输较高的光功率。     

光学相干层析成像系统的蒙特卡罗模拟

将光学相干层析成像系统采样臂的光纤与聚焦系统和被测样品作为一个整体来模拟光学相干层析成像信号的形成机理.通过追迹采样光束中每一光子在聚焦系统和被测样品中的随机传输轨迹,来决定该光子对光学相干层析成像信号是否有贡献及贡献大小.对样品IntralipidTM的模拟结果与实验结果表明：1）高散射系数和弱前向散射是引起光学相干层析成像信号随测量深度增加迅速减弱的主要原因;2）对于确定的聚焦系统,光纤的数值孔径有一最佳取值范围.数值孔径太小,则光学相干层析成像信号很弱;数值孔径超出这一范围继续增大,光学相干层析成像信号变化很小.3）当光纤的光轴偏离聚焦系统的光轴h距离时,光学相干层析成像信号随h的增加而减弱.     

多孔芯光子晶体光纤及其偏振特性

强激光与气体的长距离相互作用能产生许多新奇的物理效应,而自由空间光束的自聚焦、衍射、散射等问题限制了该科技领域的发展。本文提出了一种新型多孔芯光子晶体光纤,纤芯亚波长、低折射率空气孔可以传光,具有宽带、低损耗、单模传输特性。利用倏逝波耦合效应,研究了纤芯亚波长空气孔束缚光的原理。根据光波传输的电磁场理论,分析了低折射率空气孔中的光强增大效应。强光在空气孔中长距离传输,为光与物质的相互作用提供了新条件,可以用于气体传感、非线性光学、高集成光子技术、原子操控等。由于纤芯空气孔可以传光,改变空气孔的大小,直接影响模场分布,进而可以获得很高的结构双折射。通过光纤结构参数的合理设计,分别获得了B=4×10^-2的高双折射、纤芯直径5 μm的大模场高双折射、大模面积单偏振单模特性,在光纤偏振器、光纤滤波器、光开关及光纤传感等领域有广泛的应用前景,为新型光场调控提供了新方法。     

光纤型光学相干层析成像系统的研制

光学相干层析(OCT)成像技术是一新近发展的高分辨力生物医学成像手段,能非侵入性地对活体内部的结构与生理功能进行可视化观察。采用宽带近红外光源,基于迈克耳孙干涉原理和外差探测方法,建立了单模光纤型光学相干层析成像系统,相干地提取从生物体内部返回的深度分辨的弹性散射光信息,并依此构筑了自然状态下活体组织的二维光学相干层析成像图像和三维光学相干层析成像图像。光纤化设计的光学相干层析成像系统紧凑、灵活,便于与光纤导管、内窥镜和其它成像装置的有机结合,以拓展其观察范围和应用领域。     

基于多模光纤的高斯光束平顶化整形技术

高功率平顶光束在激光加工领域具有广泛的应用。针对光束平顶化的问题,提出利用大芯径多模光纤对高斯光束整形的方法。采用RP Fiber Power建立高斯光束传输模型,仿真分析光纤内光束的传输及强度分布特性。研究结果表明,多模光纤对高斯光束具有整形作用。高斯光束经多模光纤传输后,传导模数量增加,能量由中心向径向移动,光束质量下降,能量分布趋于均匀化。光纤的芯径越大,传输长度越长,匀化效果越明显。采用D型纤芯结构,或凹面折射率分布光纤,均可快速匀化光束。     

纤芯圆对称分布多芯光纤的耦合特性

通过将标准单芯单模光纤与纤芯圆对称分布的多芯光纤的一个纤芯对准熔接后,再在多芯光纤任意位置进行热熔融拉锥,实现多芯光纤光功率的高效耦合注入和光功率在各个纤芯中分布比例的控制,解决了由于多芯光纤结构的特殊性引起的光源光功率难于直接注入的问题。基于光纤耦合模理论建立多芯光纤各纤芯之间的耦合模方程,得到各个纤芯中光功率与耦合长度之间的关系曲线,并与实际耦合实验结果对比,验证该方法可行。研究结果可为多芯光纤光学器件的发展提供潜在的应用价值。     

Combined system of optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy based on double-cladding fiber

We report the development of an all-fiber multimodal system, based on a double-cladding fiber (DCF) and related devices, suitable for simultaneous measurements of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). The DCF together with a DCF coupler and a single-body DCF lens has assisted in the realization of a multimodal but single-unit probe for the combined system. The DCF lens allowed simultaneous focusing of input beams for OCT and FS and also the effective collection of both signal beams from a sample. The DCF coupler could extract the OCT signal via the core channel and the FS signal through the cladding channel. The OCT image and the fluorescence spectra of a plant tissue were then simultaneously measured to validate the performance of the proposed multimodal system.     

All-fiber ring-cavity based frequency swept laser source for frequency domain OCT

<正>We develop a high-speed tunable,quasi-continuous-wave laser source for frequency domain(FD) optical coherence tomography(OCT).The laser resonance is realized within a unidirectional all-fiber ring cavity consisting of a fiber coupler,two fiber isolators,a semiconductor optical amplifier(SOA),and a fiber FabryPerot tunable filter(FFP-TF) for frequency tuning.Light output from the coupler is further amplified and spectral shaped by a booster SOA terminated at both ends with two isolators.The developed laser source provides up to 8000 sweeps per second over a full-width wavelength tuning range of 120 nm at center wavelength of 1320 nm with an average power of 9 mW,yielding an axial resolution of 13.6μm in air and a maximum sensitivity of about 112 dB for OCT imaging.The instantaneous linewidth is about 0.08 nm,enabling OCT imaging over an axial range of 3.4 mm in air.For optimization consideration based on this custom-built swept laser,experimental study on imaging quality relevant parameters of the swept laser with sine and ramp driving waveforms to the FFP-TF is conducted,and investigation of the swept laser on the cavity length is done.Implementing the laser source in our established swept source based OCT(SS-OCT) system,real-time structural imaging of biological tissue is demonstrated.     

Fiber-optic-bundle-based optical coherence tomography

A fiber-optic-bundle-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe method is presented. The experimental results demonstrate this multimode optical fiber-bundle-based OCT system can achieve a lateral resolution of 12 microm and an axial resolution of 10 microm with a superluminescent diode source. This novel OCT imaging approach eliminates any moving parts in the probe and has a primary advantage for use in extremely compact and safe OCT endoscopes for imaging internal organs and great potential to be combined with confocal endoscopic microscopy.     

Micromotor endoscope catheter for in vivo, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography

A distally actuated, rotational-scanning micromotor endoscope catheter probe is demonstrated for ultrahigh-resolution in vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The probe permits focus adjustment for visualization of tissue morphology at varying depths with improved transverse resolution compared with standard OCT imaging probes. The distal actuation avoids nonuniform scanning motion artifacts that are present with other probe designs and can permit a wider range of imaging speeds. Ultrahigh-resolution endoscopic imaging is demonstrated in a rabbit with <4-microm axial resolution by use of a femtosecond Cr:forsterite laser light source. The micromotor endoscope catheter probe promises to improve OCT imaging performance in future endoscopic imaging applications.     

Ultrathin side-viewing needle probe for optical coherence tomography

We present the smallest reported side-viewing needle probe for optical coherence tomography (OCT). Design, fabrication, optical characterization, and initial application of a 30-gauge (outer diameter 0.31 mm) needle probe are demonstrated. Extreme miniaturization is achieved by using a simple all-fiber probe design incorporating an angle-polished and reflection-coated fiber-tip beam deflector. When inserted into biological tissue, aqueous interstitial fluids reduce the probe's inherent astigmatism ratio to 1.8, resulting in a working distance of 300 μm and a depth-of-field of 550 μm with beam diameters below 30 μm. The needle probe was interfaced with an 840 nm spectral-domain OCT system and the measured sensitivity was shown to be only 7 dB lower than that of a comparable galvo-scanning sample arm configuration. 3D OCT images of lamb lungs were acquired over a depth range of ~600 μm, showing individual alveoli and bronchioles.     

Electrostatic forward-viewing scanning probe for Doppler optical coherence tomography using a dissipative polymer catheter

A novel flexible scanning optical probe is constructed with a finely etched optical fiber strung through a platinum coil in the lumen of a dissipative polymer. The packaged probe is 2.2 mm in diameter with a rigid length of 6mm when using a ball lens or 12 mm when scanning the fiber proximal to a gradient-index (GRIN) lens. Driven by constant high voltage (1-3 kV) at low current (< 5 microA), the probe oscillates to provide wide forward-viewing angle (13 degrees and 33 degrees with ball and GRIN lens designs, respectively) and high-frame-rate (10-140 fps) operation. Motion of the probe tip is observed with a high-speed camera and compared with theory. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging with the probe is demonstrated with a wavelength-swept source laser. Images of an IR card as well as in vivo Doppler OCT images of a tadpole heart are presented. This optomechanical design offers a simple, inexpensive method to obtain a high-frame-rate forward-viewing scanning probe.     

Optical Coherence Tomography Implemented by Photonic Crystal Fiber

We report a photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, in which conventional single-mode fiber for the transmission line and the fiber coupler for the beam splitter/combiner are replaced with PCF and PCF coupler. The PCF coupler fabricated using the fused biconical tapered (FBT) method showed a nearly flat coupling ratio over a broad spectral bandwidth of 400 nm, which provided an axial resolution of 3-μm for OCT imaging. With a white-light source, the 8-μm thick air gap between two stacked cover glasses was measured, and with a conventional superluminecent diode (SLD) source, the in vitro images of rat eye and Misgurnus mizolepis skin were successfully obtained. The PCF and PCF coupler might enable a white-light as the source for the cost effective and high-resolution OCT system.     

Forward-imaging instruments for optical coherence tomography

We discuss the design and implementation of forward-imaging instruments for optical coherence tomography (OCT), which require the delivery, scanning, and collection of single-spatial-mode optical radiation. A hand-held surgical probe for use in open surgery can provide cross-sectional images of subsurface tissue before surgical incisions are made. A rigid laparoscope for minimally invasive surgical OCT imaging provides a simultaneous enface view of the area being imaged. OCT imaging is demonstrated on in vitro human specimens.     

Novel Optical Delay Line for Optical Coherence Tomography System

A novel all-fiber optical delay line for an advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is proposed. Using the distributed reflectance characteristic of a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG), the optical delay can be obtained without leaving the fiber that forms the system. The proposed delay line consists of a pair of identical CFBGs. The gratings are cascaded in reverse order to cancel the inherent wavelength dependency of CFBGs. Tunable optical delay is obtained by applying small strain on one of the CFBGs through an attached piezo actuator. The small displacement induced by the piezo actuator is amplified by a factor of up to 100 due to the distributed reflectance characteristic of the CFBGs. This principle and characteristics of the proposed optical delay line are analyzed in detail.     

Forward imaging OCT endoscopic catheter based on MEMS lens scanning

This Letter reports a fully packaged microelectromechanical system (MEMS) endoscopic catheter for forward imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT). Two-dimensional optical scanning of Lissajous patterns was realized by the orthogonal movement of two commercial aspherical glass lenses laterally mounted on two resonating electrostatic MEMS microstages at low operating voltages. The MEMS lens scanner was integrated on a printed circuit board and packaged with an aluminum housing, a gradient index fiber collimator, and an objective lens. A home-built spectral-domain OCT system with 60 kHz A-line acquisition rate was combined with the endoscopic MEMS catheter. Three-dimensional images of 256×256×995 voxels were directly reconstructed by mapping the A-line datasets along the Lissajous patterns. The endoscopic catheter can provide a new direction for forward endoscopic OCT imaging.