Patent ID: 8323183
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: A61B,G01B

Abstract:
1. A device adapted for use as a forward-looking, optical coherence endoscopic probe to collect images of a sample; wherein said device comprises a tube, a lens, an optical fiber, a fixed mirror, and a scanning mirror; wherein: (a) the interior of said tube is adapted to hold said lens, said optical fiber, said fixed mirror, and said scanning mirror; (b) said lens is affixed to the interior of said tube, at or near the distal end of said tube; and the index of refraction of said lens may be constant or may vary as a function of position within said lens; (c) said optical fiber is affixed to or near the bottom of the interior of said tube, or is affixed to or near the bottom of the proximal side of said lens, or both; and said optical fiber is optically coupled to said lens, at or near the bottom of the proximal side of said lens, wherein the orientation of said optical fiber is adapted to deliver light to the lens, so that light will travel from said fiber through the bottom of said lens in a direction approximately proximal-to-distal, towards said fixed mirror; (d) said fixed mirror is affixed to or near the bottom of the interior of said tube, or is affixed to or near the bottom of the distal side of said lens, or both, wherein the orientation and position of said fixed mirror are adapted to reflect light traveling from said fiber back through said lens, in a direction approximately distal-to-proximal, towards said scanning mirror; (e) said scanning mirror is affixed to or near the top of the interior of said tube, proximal to the proximal side of said lens; wherein the orientation and position of said scanning mirror are adapted to reflect light traveling from said fixed mirror back through said lens, in a direction approximately proximal-to-distal, towards the top of the distal side of said lens; and wherein said device additionally comprises an actuator to vary the orientation, position, or both of light reflected by said scanning mirror; (f) the size, index of refraction, and shape of said lens; and the positions and orientations of said optical fiber, said lens, said fixed mirror, and said scanning mirror are adapted to cause light from said optical fiber to traverse said lens three times: first, from said fiber through said lens in a direction approximately proximal-to-distal, to said fixed mirror; second, from said fixed mirror through said lens and exiting said lens in a direction approximately distal-to-proximal, to said scanning mirror; and third, from said scanning mirror to said lens, through said lens in a direction approximately proximal-to-distal, exiting said lens, and continuing to a focal plane that is coincident or approximately coincident with the sample or a portion of the sample; wherein the refraction of the light during the three passes through the lens brings the light to a focus or to an approximate focus at the focal plane; and (g) said device is adapted also to collect and focus light that is thereby backscattered from the sample in the focal plane, in the reverse direction from the direction of the incident light: first, from the focal plane to said lens and through said lens to said scanning mirror in a direction approximately distal-to-proximal; second, from said scanning mirror through said lens to said fixed mirror in a direction approximately proximal-to-distal; and third, from said fixed mirror through said lens to said fiber in a direction approximately distal-to-proximal, and coming to a focus or to an approximate focus at the distal end of said fiber; whereby said fiber collects light scattered by the sample.