Stationary-fiber rotary probe with unobstructed 360° view for optical coherence tomography

A side-scanning fiber probe is a critical component for optical coherence tomography in medical imaging and diagnosis. We propose and fabricate an on-axis rotating probe that performs in situ, circumferential scanning that is shadow-free (not susceptible to shadow effects caused by the motor's wires). A miniature motor that incorporates a bored-out shaft for the optical fiber is located at the distal end of the probe, which results in a more stable and uniform circumferential scan, free from wire-shadow interference effects. More importantly, this design, novel to our knowledge, compared to other probes avoids the insertion losses introduced by optical coupling components and the multitude of optical interfaces, which is very important for sensing weak signals backscattered from structures deep in the tissue.     

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.     

基于拉锥结构的全光纤型内窥OCT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250 μm, 不锈钢保护管外径为325 μm, 硬端长度1 cm, 插入损耗约为0.3 dB, 空气中有效成像范围达800 μm. 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.     

Detection of non-paraxial optical fields by optical fiber tip probes

The optical response of a single-mode uncoated fiber tip to a 3D polarized field, including longitudinal components, is investigated. The 3D field is produced by an opportune superposition of TE and TM plane waves. The contribution of the different field components to the detected signals was discriminated by integrating the scanning probe microscope with a multi-heterodyne detection technique. A simple coupling model for the tip is introduced. The longitudinal field component was assumed to couple to the transverse fiber modes through complex coupling coefficients. Coupling coefficients were obtained by fitting the parameters of the model to the experimental data. These results demonstrate that the longitudinal components of the field are coupled by this probe with an efficiency approximately equal to that of the transverse polarization components.     

Laser-assisted magnetic recording light-delivery system with a coupling element and a laterally tapered vertically multistepped waveguide

In a light-delivery system for laser-assisted magnetic recording, which provides high-areal-density storage by heating the storage medium during the writing process, a laser diode light source and a near-field transducer must be efficiently coupled using inexpensive optical devices. We describe a light-delivery system using an element for end-fire coupling and a spot-size converter. To couple the light emitted from the end of an optical fiber to a spot-size converter inexpensively, a couple element requiring no other lens elements between the fiber and converter was developed. A vertically multistepped and laterally tapered waveguide suitable for fabrication by planar processing was also developed. These devices are well suited for practical use.     

基于单透镜的空间光-单模光纤耦合方法

将自由空间光耦合进单模光纤产生超连续谱的实验中,空间光与单模光纤的耦合效率是其中的一个关键问题。常采用的单透镜或显微物镜进行耦合存在耦合效率低、调整难度大、端面易损伤等问题。提出了先将自由空间的光耦合进纤芯尺寸较大的单模光纤,然后将纤芯较大的单模光纤和纤芯较小的单模光纤进行熔接。实验结果表明,改进的耦合系统耦合效率大大提高,达到60%以上,且调整难度降低,光纤端面的损伤概率降低,大大提高了超连续谱产生的效率。     

球形光纤端面效应及其应用

本文介绍了球形光纤端面的制作方法,采用射线理论和等效透镜法分析了圆球形端面多模光纤的端面效应,并给出了两个不同端面多模光纤之间耦合的实验结果。结果表明：圆球形端面光纤具有聚光特性,与平端面相比,使用圆球形端面光纤不仅可以提高光器件之间的耦合效率,而且增大了它们之间的耦合距离,利于光路调试;可广泛应用于光源与光纤、光纤与光纤、光纤与探测器之间的耦合。     

激光点火系统用高功率光纤光开关

 仿真和实验研究了一种控制Nd:YAG脉冲激光能量通断的光纤直接连接型光开关。建立光纤耦合模型,分析了光纤对准误差中对耦合效率的影响,其中横向偏移的影响最显著。采用微机电系统V型槽固定光纤,微小型凸轮作为制动器,步进电机驱动凸轮旋转,微小型凸轮与移动光纤相切,带动光纤移动,实现两光纤的错开和对准。制造了这种高功率直接连接型光纤光开关原理样机,并进行了主要性能测试。测试结果表明,这种光开关能够满足激光点火系统的大容量、高隔离度的要求。     

Endoscopic Optical Doppler Tomography Based on Two-Axis Scanning MEMS Mirror

We study the feasibility of endoscopic optical Doppler tomography with a micro-electro-mechanical system(MEMS) mirror based probe. The additional phase shifts introduced by the probe are tracked and formulated.The suppression method of the probe phase shifts is proposed and validated by fluid flow detection experiments.In vivo blood flow detection is also implemented on a hairless mouse. The velocities of the blood flow in two directions are obtained to be-8.1 mm/s and 6.6 mm/s, respectively.     

基于非球面透镜的空间光场光纤耦合系统研究

针对全光纤激光雷达中空间光场与单模光纤的耦合问题,设计了基于非球面透镜的望远镜光纤耦合系统.利用ZEMAX软件以单模光纤耦合效率为优化目标对其结构参量进行优化设计,然后分别用LED和激光器作为光源进行初步实验,比较直接耦合和非球面透镜耦合效果.实验结果表明,采用非球面透镜耦合可使多模光源的耦合效率比直接耦合增加约47％,与仿真结果45％非常接近,且不同芯径耦合光功率之比大略等于芯径比平方;而该耦合方式可使单模光源的耦合效率增加约20％,且耦合进不同小芯径光纤的耦合效率之比约为其芯径比平方的2.4倍,这对构建全光纤转动喇曼激光雷达系统具有重要意义.     

Theoretical Analyses on the Resolution of Collection Mode Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Numerical simulations have been carried out in the framework of waveguide theory to model collection mode scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The theoretical model includes the optical fiber end and describes the metal coated aperture on the probe tip. The developed formalism goes beyond the existing Bethe-Bouwkamp theories for electromagnetic transmission of subwavelength apertures. The finite coating and optical fiber end are now taken into account. The new features enable us to simulate the near-field probes that are widely used in the collection mode SNOM. The emphases of the numerical analyses have been mainly on the resolution mechanism of the microscopy. Influence on the resolution from important parameters of the probe tips, such as the size of the apertures and the probe-sample distance, is extensively studied. The resolution dependence has been analyzed in the light of the near-field coupling efficiency of the probe tip. An optimum tip size has been found which is balanced between the significant signal transmission and the resolution of the device.     

超小自聚焦光纤探头的研究进展

梯度折射率（Gradient-index,GRIN）光纤探头是一种全光纤型超小光学镜头,在心血管等狭小空间组织内窥影像检测中具有广阔的应用前景。但其发展一直缺少系统的理论体系。本文讨论探头设计、制作和性能测试等方面的关键问题。基于GRIN光纤探头聚焦性能的特征参数,对解析设计方法与数值仿真设计方法进行比较分析。针对超小GRIN光纤探头的制作难题,研究一种光纤熔接和切割的高精度一体化集成装置,描述GRIN光纤探头的制作方法。此外,分析了超小GRIN光纤探头聚焦性能检测的方法及装置。本文为超小GRIN光纤探头的设计、制作及性能测试提供了一个方法体系。     

便携式土壤重金属探测仪光学结构设计

当前土壤中的重金属污染日益严重,研究开发便携式土壤重金属快速、现场检测技术设备能为土壤重金属污染状况普查提供快速、有效的技术手段。系统中发射光路采用透镜对激光光束会聚并作用到样品;收集光路采用抛物面镜组对等离子体光信号收集并耦合至光纤。分析了激光光束经透镜汇聚后作用到样品时的功率密度,给出了等离子体光信号耦合至光纤端面的光斑大小,并得到整个光学系统的大小尺寸。结果表明,整个光学系统结构紧凑、体积小、光信号耦合效率高,非常适用于便携式土壤重金属快速、现场的探测系统应用。     

Investigation of gold-coated bare fiber probe for in situ intra-vitreous coherence domain optical imaging and sensing

We have investigated the usage of gold-plated bare fiber probes for in situ imaging of retinal layers and surrounding ocular tissues using time-domain common-path optical coherence tomography. The fabricated intra-vitreous gold-plated micro-fiber probe can be fully integrated with surgical tools working in close proximity to the tissue to provide subsurface images having a self-contained reference plane independent to the Fresnel reflection between the distal end of the probe and the following medium for achieving reference in typical common-path optical coherence tomography. We have fully characterized the probe in an aqueous medium equivalent to the vitreous humor in the eye and were able to differentiate various functional retinal tissue layers whose thickness is larger than the system’s resolution.     

光纤湿敏球腔传感采集校准组合装置的技术问题初探

本文研制了一种光纤耦合湿敏监测装置,此装置采用MEMS微位移传感器来进行湿敏微腔耦合位置的辅助校准,再用光强传感器对耦合输出的光波进行湿度感测和量化。这种基于MEMS位移传感器的耦合位置校准方法与现有的校准平台相比,无需外加太多繁琐、庞大的仪器装置,就可获得精准又便捷的校准效果。另外在传感系统后端可进行可编程控制程序开发,用加载的数据采集卡来实现湿度敏感单元敏感量的采集与显示。     

基于非球面透镜的空间光场光纤耦合系统研究

针对全光纤激光雷达中空间光场与单模光纤的耦合问题,设计了基于非球面透镜的望远镜光纤耦合系统.利用ZEMAX软件以单模光纤耦合效率为优化目标对其结构参量进行优化设计,然后分别用LED和激光器作为光源进行初步实验,比较直接耦合和非球面透镜耦合效果.实验结果表明,采用非球面透镜耦合可使多模光源的耦合效率比直接耦合增加约47%,与仿真结果45%非常接近,且不同芯径耦合光功率之比大略等于芯径比平方;而该耦合方式可使单模光源的耦合效率增加约20%,且耦合进不同小芯径光纤的耦合效率之比约为其芯径比平方的2.4倍,这对构建全光纤转动喇曼激光雷达系统具有重要意义.     

Optical fiber coupling to single-mode silica-based planar lightwave circuits with fiber-guiding grooves

To enable alignmentfree optical fiber coupling to single-mode silica-based waveguides, fiber-guiding grooves are fabricated in the same substrate as waveguide circuits.These grooves are used successfully to couple optical fiber to Waveguides. An average, fiber-to-waveguide coupling loss of 0.6 dB per interface is obtained with eight arrayedguiding grooves, and it is expected that this will further be reduced to 0.2 dB per interface. The coupling loss varies by ±0.3 dB during thermal cycling between -10°C and +60°C.     

Coaxial fiber-optic chemical-sensing excitation-emission matrix fluorometer

Great reductions in the overall size and complexity of high throughput multichannel UV-visible fluorometers were achieved by coupling a compact optical fiber array to compact dispersive transmission optics. The coaxial configuration centers on the insertion of a silica/silica optical fiber into the hollow region of a UV-fused silica capillary waveguide. The outer core delivers the maximum power of the narrow wavelength region of the excitation spectrum created by coupling a xenon arc discharge lamp to a compact spectrometer. The molecular fluorescence resulting from the interaction of light emitted at the distal end of the hollow waveguide and the sample matrix is received and transmitted to a CCD via a compact dispersive grating-prism (grism) optical assembly. A linear array of the coaxial optical fibers permits a full excitation-emission matrix spectrum of the analyte matrix to be projected onto the face of the CCD. The in situ identification and monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was carried out for the initial application testing for this prototype.     

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.     

Creating very slow optical gap solitons with a grating-assisted coupler

We show that optical gap solitons can be produced with velocities down to 4% of the group velocity of light using a grating-assisted coupler, i.e., a fiber Bragg grating that is linearly coupled to a non-Bragg fiber over a finite domain. Forward- and backward-moving light pulses in the non-Bragg fiber(s) that reach the coupling region simultaneously couple into the Bragg fiber and form a moving soliton, which then propagates beyond the coupling region. Two of these solitons can collide to create an even slower or stopped soliton.