Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5867268?dq=6,970,917
Timestamp: 2017-01-24 20:07:56
Document Index: 793260620

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n7', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'arts 15', 'arts 15', 'art 15', 'art 16', 'arts 15', 'arts 15', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'arts 15']

Patent US5867268 - Optical fiber interferometer with PZT scanning of interferometer arm optical ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThe invention is related to technical physics, in particular to devices for investigating the internal structure of objects and can be used in medicine for diagnostics of human organs and systems, in particular for optical coherence tomography and in technical diagnostics, for example technological process...http://www.google.com/patents/US5867268?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5867268 - Optical fiber interferometer with PZT scanning of interferometer arm optical lengthAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS5867268 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/943,739Publication dateFeb 2, 1999Filing dateOct 3, 1997Priority dateMar 1, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE69616049D1, DE69616049T2, EP0831312A1, EP0831312A4, EP0831312B1, US5835642, WO1996027121A1Publication number08943739, 943739, US 5867268 A, US 5867268A, US-A-5867268, US5867268 A, US5867268AInventorsValentin M. Gelikonov, Grigory V. Gelikonov, Natalia D. Gladkova, Vladimir I. Leonov, Felix I. Feldchtein, Alexander M. Sergeev, Yakov I. KhaninOriginal AssigneeOptical Coherence Technologies, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (13), Non-Patent Citations (22), Referenced by (226), Classifications (14), Legal Events (9) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetOptical fiber interferometer with PZT scanning of interferometer arm optical length
US 5867268 AAbstract
The invention is related to technical physics, in particular to devices for investigating the internal structure of objects and can be used in medicine for diagnostics of human organs and systems, in particular for optical coherence tomography and in technical diagnostics, for example technological process control. The invention relates to the creation of an optical-fiber interferometer, which, being used in a device for optical coherence tomography, allows one to investigate media with short time of changing of optical characteristics or its position relative to the optical probe, for example biotissues in vivo. The invention also relates to the creation of a piezoelectric modulator, suitable for use in the interferometer and for providing the necessary scanning depth in the mentioned media. In the described optical fiber interferometer the piezoelectric modulator, constructed as a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line, performs a function of the fiber part of the interferometer arm which allows one to change practically inertialess the optical path in the interferometer arm and consequently an optical path difference at least to several tens of the working wavelenghts.
1. An optical fiber interferometer comprising a coupler optically connected with a sampling arm and a reference arm, each of said arms including an optical fiber part, one of said arms comprising a first optical fiber piezoelectric transducer, said sampling arm having an optical probe, said first transducer comprising at least one body (a) having piezoelectric properties and (b) exhibiting a perpendicular inverse piezoeffect, said first transducer having electrodes, said first transducer having an electric field vector when an electric field is applied to said electrodes, said body having a thickness in a direction substantially aligned with said electric field vector and having a width in a direction substantially perpendicular to said electric field vector, said thickness being substantially smaller than said width, an optical fiber being mechanically connected with said body effective to allow changing of the optical length of the interferometer arm comprising said first transducer by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the interferometer, said first transducer serving as a scanning element, wherein said first optical fiber piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric plate with electrodes located on first and second opposite surfaces of said plate, a first optical fiber part of said interferometer arm comprising said first transducer being mechanically connected to said first surface of said piezoelectric plate so that the optical length of said arm comprising said first transducer can be varied.
2. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other of said arms comprises a second optical fiber piezoelectric transducer in order to allow antiphase scanning of the optical lengths of said sampling and reference arms.
3. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other of said arms comprises a second optical fiber piezoelectric transducer, said second transducer comprising a second body (a) having piezoelectric properties and (b) exhibiting a perpendicular inverse piezoeffect, said second transducer having second electrodes, said second transducer having a second electric field vector when an electric field is applied to said second electrodes, said second body having a second thickness in a direction substantially aligned with said second electric field vector and having a second width in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second electric field vector, said second thickness being substantially smaller than said second width, an optical fiber being mechanically connected with said second body effective to allow changing of the optical length of the interferometer arm comprising said second transducer by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the interferometer.
4. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 3, said optical fiber part being included in each of said arms being anisotropic fiber part, said optical fiber connected with said second body being anisotropic fiber.
5. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said optical fiber being mechanically connected with said body being anisotropic fiber.
6. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said optical fiber part being included in each of said arms being anisotropic fiber part.
7. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said piezoelectric plate having a diameter, the length of said first fiber part of said interferometer arm comprising said first transducer substantially exceeding said diameter of said piezoelectric plate.
8. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first fiber part is arranged in a form of a coil.
9. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first fiber part is coiled at least 13 times.
10. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 7, said first fiber part having an entire length, said first fiber part being; mechanically connected over said entire length to said first surface of said piezoelectric plate.
11. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second optical fiber part of said interferometer arm comprising said first transducer is mechanically connected to said second surface of said piezoelectric plate.
12. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the length of said second fiber part substantially exceeds said diameter of said piezoelectric plate.
13. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second fiber part is arranged in a form of a coil.
14. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second fiber part is arranged in a form of a coil.
15. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 14, said piezoelectric plate being a piezoceramic plate, said first fiber part being arranged in a form of a coil, said plate having the shape of a disc, a first electrode being located on said first surface of said plate, said first electrode being positioned between said first fiber part and said plate, a second electrode being located on said second surface of said plate, said second electrode being positioned between said second fiber part and said plate, said width being at least several times said thickness.
16. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 11, said second fiber part having an entire length, said second fiber part being mechanically connected over said entire length to said second surface of said piezoelectric plate.
17. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 11, a second electrode being located on said second surface of said plate, said second fiber part being fastened to said second electrode.
18. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 17, said second electrode being positioned between said second fiber part and said plate.
19. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said piezoelectric plate is formed as a disc.
20. An optic fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 7, the length of said first fiber part substantially exceeding said width of said body.
21. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said body being a piezoceramic plate.
22. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, a first electrode being located on said first surface of said plate, said first fiber part being fastened to said first electrode.
23. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 22, said first electrode being positioned between said first fiber part and said plate.
24. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said width being at least several times said thickness.
25. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said width being at least about 8 times said thickness.
26. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, each of said electrodes being flat.
27. An optical fiber interferometer as claimed in claim 1, said optical fiber being mechanically connected with said body having a length of at least 15 meters.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/602,589, filed Feb. 16, 1996, now abandoned.
The present invention relates to engineering physics, in particular, the class of devices used in the study of internal structure of objects, and can be applied for medical diagnostics of individual organs and systems of human body, as well as for industrial diagnostics, for example, control of technological processes.
Optical fiber interferometers also find application in apparatuses designed for studies of scattering media, in particular, optical coherence tomography of biological tissues (see J. A. Izatt, J. G. Fijimoto et al., Optical coherence microscopy in scattering media, OPTICS LETTERS, vol. 19, No. 8/Apr. 15, 1994, p. 590-592, and also X. Clivaz et al., High resolution reflectometry in biological tissues, OPTICS LETTERS, vol. 17, No. 1/Jan. 1, 1992). Both the said papers offer a description of the Michelson, optical fiber interferometer commonly comprising a coupler, a sampling arm provided with an optical probe at the end, and a reference arm incorporating an optical fiber piezoelectric phase modulator with a reference mirror installed at its end. Optical length of the reference arm can be varied within a fairly wide range by means of mechanical step-by-step alteration of the reference mirror position. Incorporation of a piezoelectric modulator of phase in the interferometer arm to suit the said interferometer for optical coherence tomography applications allows for lock-in detection of the information-carrying signal, thus providing a fairly high sensitivity of measurements, and by moving the reference mirror it is possible to perform the in-depth scanning of an object under study.
Among the known optical fiber interferometers comprising two couplers, the sampling and the reference arms is the device (Patent EPO N 0 362 474 B1, 17.03.93, Patentblatt 93/11) in which an optical fiber delay line in the form of an optical fiber loop serves as reference arm, and the sampling arm comprises a phase modulator. However, the reference arm of the said interferometer has a fixed optical length, which makes it unfit for optical coherence tomography devices.
Another known optical fiber interferometer suited for the optical coherence tomography is designed as Mach-Zender interferometer (see J. A. Izatt, J. G. Fujimoto, et al., Micron-resolution biomedical imaging with optical coherence tomography, Optics & Photonic News, October 1993, vol. 4, No. 10, p. 14-19) comprising the sampling and reference arms and two beam-splitters. This interferometer is used for measurements of scattered radiation in the plane parallel to the surface of tested sample, without scanning the sample in depth, hence it does not comprise a reference mirror. Modulation of interference signal is achieved by incorporating a fiber optic piezoelectric modulator into the reference arm of the interferometer.
Another available optical fiber interferometer is designed as the Michelson interferometer having a coupler, sampling and reference arms either of which comprises an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator. The sampling arm at the end has a measuring probe, the reference arm end being provided with a reference mirror (X. J. Wang et al., Characterization of human scalp hairs by optical low coherence reflectometry, OPTICS LETTERS, vol. 20, No. 5, 1995, pp. 524-526). The signals are modulated in both arms of the said interferometer, a relative phase shift is provided by both optical fiber piezoelectric modulators. The optical length of the sampling arm is changed by moving the reference mirror.
Major disadvantage inherent in all of the above-described fiber optic interferometers is the mechanical step-by-step moving of reference mirror in order to scan a test object in depth, which does not allow to study media that typically change their properties or position to the optical probe faster than the time required to take measurements that would ensure adequate reconstruction of the profile under study. It is clear, therefore, that the in vivo investigation of tissues is quite problematic, since they have to be rigidly fixed, which is impossible in some cases like, for example, with tissues of human eye.
The above paper by J. A. Izatt, J. G. Fujimoto et al. gives a description of a fiber interferometer for optical coherence tomography, designed as the Michelson interferometer comprising a coupler, a sampling arm with a measuring probe at the end, and a reference arm whose end is provided with a reference mirror movable at a constant speed. This arrangement allows for an in-depth scanning of objects, shorter sampling time than as with the step-by-step mechanism of mirror movement, and obviates the necessity for using a piezoelectric modulator, since the information-carrying signal is received in this case using a Doppler frequency shift induced in the reference arm by the constant speed movement of the reference mirror.
The closest analog of the present invention is the optical fiber interferometer incorporated in a device for optical coherence tomography (In vivo optical coherence tomography of human skin microstructure, A. Sergeev et al., Proc. SPIE, v. 2328, 1994, p. 144). The said interferometer comprises a coupler, sampling and reference arms, the sampling arm having an optical probe at the end, the reference arm incorporating a unit for changing the optical length of the said arm. This unit can be devised in the form of both an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator and a reference mirror installed at the end of the reference arm and having a capability of moving at a constant speed along the optical axis of the interferometer.
The disadvantage of the said interferometer, as of the one described by J. A. Izatt, J. G. Fujimoto et al., is that in optical coherence tomography applications for investigating internal structure of objects the mechanical system of constant speed moving of reference mirror in both these interferometers requires higher precision of mechanical scanning. Besides, in the in vivo studies of tissues the mechanical scanning system inertia sets the same limitations as the step-by-step reference mirror moving mechanism and, therefore, it is impossible to investigate the objects whose properties or position to the optical probe change in a shorter time than is required for measurements reliable enough to recover the test profile with sufficient accuracy. Varying the optical length of the fiber section of the reference arm by means of an optical piezoelectric modulator allows for faster scanning but at the expense of the scanning depth.
There is known an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator comprising a cylindrical body of plastic material having piezoelectric properties, with a coil of optical fiber embedded therein, the fiber coil axis being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The said modulator has electrodes deposited on the opposite ends of the cylinder (Patent application EPO N 0 356 056 A1 published 28.02.90 bul. 90/09).
Yet, since an increase in the coil diameter is directly proportional to the transverse-to-longitudinal size ratio of the cylinder, which is small for the said modulator, the optical fiber length within the cylinder can vary but by a small value (the order of units of operating wavelengths). Besides, a relatively large mass of the cylindrical body conditions its inertia. All these factors make the said fiber optic piezoelectric modulator unsuitable as means to ensure both desired depth of scanning and fast sampling rate in fiber optic interferometers.
The closest analog to the present invention is an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator according to patent application EPO N 0 460 635 A2 (published 11.12.91 bul. 91/50). The said modulator comprises a piezoceramic plate with electrodes located on the first and second opposite surfaces of the plate, and an optical fiber one part of which is fastened to one surface of the said piezoceramic plate so as to allow variation of the fiber length. This system has much less inertia and provides larger specific lengthening of optical fiber than the arrangement described above, owing to the piezoelectric part being formed as a thin disc. A large absolute lengthening of optical fiber is achieved by means of an in-series connection of a large number of piezoelectric elements.
However, this optical fiber piezoelectric modulator, being a one-plate structure, fails to provide sufficient absolute lengthening of optical fiber within the arm of interferometer used in the device for optical coherent tomography of biological tissues in vivo, and with the large quantity of the in-series-connected piezoelectric elements the modulator overall dimensions have to be increased, which essentially complicates the control system.
Thus, the present invention was devised in an attempt to construct an optical fiber interferometer providing, in the optical coherent tomography applications, a capability for investigating to sufficient depth of the media that quickly change their properties or position to the optical probe, as, for example, in the in vivo study of tissues.
Another problem to be solved by the present invention is the development of an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator suited for a fiber optic interferometer to provide a desired depth of scanning the media in which the characteristic time of changing their properties or position to an optical probe is small, as, for example, is the case of in vivo studies of tissues.
Essentially, the said fiber optic interferometer, similarly to its closest analog, comprises a coupler optically connected with the sampling and reference arms, either of which including a fiber section. The sampling arm is provided with an optical probe, and one of the arms of the said interferometer, for example, the reference one, comprises the first optical fiber piezoelectric modulator arranged so as to allow for varying the optical path of this arm.
The novelty offered by the present invention is that the first fiber optic piezoelectric modulator functions as the fiber part of the interferometer arm and is formed as a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line allowing for changing the optical path of the interferometer arm by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the interferometer.
In one embodiment, the sampling and reference arms of interferometer are designed so that their optical paths can be changed in anti-phase and, besides, one of the arms, for example, the sampling one, comprises a second (additional) piezoelectric modulator.
In a different embodiment the fiber part of the interferometer sampling arm is constructed similarly to the fiber part of the reference arm.
In the particular embodiment the optical fiber interferometer is based on anisotropic fiber.
Essentially, the developed optical fiber piezoelectric modulator, as its closest analog, comprises a piezoceramic plate having electrodes arranged on its first and second opposite surfaces, and an optical fiber whose first part is fastened to the first surface of the piezoceramic plate to allow variation of the fiber length.
The novelty of the present fiber optic piezoelectric modulator is that it is constructed in the form of a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line, with the length of the first part of the optical fiber exceeding diameter of the said piezoceramic plate.
In one embodiment the first part of the optical fiber is arranged in the form of a coil on the first surface of the piezoceramic plate.
In a different embodiment the first part of the optical fiber is arranged so that its entire length is fastened to the first surface of the piezoceramic plate.
In another embodiment the second part of the optical fiber is fastened to the second surface of the piezoceramic plate.
In a different embodiment the length of the second part of optical fiber exceeds the diameter of the piezoceramic plate.
In the particular embodiment the second part of optical fiber is arranged in the form of a coil.
In another particular embodiment the second part of the optical fiber is fastened over the entire length to the second surface of the piezoceramic plate.
In a different particular embodiment a piezoceramic plate is formed as disc.
In particular embodiments the modulator is made with or using anisotropic fiber.
In the present fiber optic interferometer an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator in the form of an optical fiber delay line serves as the fiber part of the interferometer arm, which ensures a desired technical result, i.e., possibility to provide a practically inertialess, high-rate alteration of the interferometer optical path thus changing the difference in the optical paths of the arms by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the said interferometer. This effect allows to apply the said fiber optic interferometer in the studies of media that typically change their characteristics or position to the optical probe in a very short time (about a second). Having the sampling and reference arms designed so as to provide anti-phase variation of their optical paths, and having the other arm's function also performed by an optical fiber piezoelectric modulator in the form of fiber optic controllable delay line enhances the technical result. Similar fib arrangements in the sampling and the reference arms of the interferometer allows to double the scan depth of an object under study without incorporating precise mechanical elements in the interferometer, the scanning control being made easier thereby.
The optical fiber piezoelectric modulator of the invention has been constructed as optical fiber piezoelectric controllable delay line, the optical fiber length exceeding diameter of the plate, the said fiber being fastened to two surfaces of the plate formed as disc, the fiber being arranged in the form of a coil and fastened over the entire length to the plate surface. This arrangement ensures a desired technical objective, i.e., possibility for changing the length of optical fiber within a wide range given absence of inertia and low overall dimensions of the modulator. This capability allows application of the said modulator in a fiber optic interferometer to provide a desired depth of scanning in media having small characteristic time of change in their properties and position to optical probe, like, for example, in the in vivo studies of tissues.
Some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1, 2 are schematic designs of the optical fiber single-mode interferometer of the invention as defined in claims 1 and 3 as filed.
FIG. 3, 4, 5 depict particular embodiments of the developed optical fiber piezoelectric modulator (FIG. 3 is a top and cross-sectional view of the modulator as claimed in claim 7 as filed, FIG. 4 is a top view of the modulator as claimed in claim 8 as filed, FIG. 5 is a top and cross-sectional view of one particular embodiment of the modulator as claimed in claim 15 as filed).
As depicted in FIG. 1, the optical fiber interferometer is constructed in the form of Michelson interferometer comprising optically coupled coupler 1 and sampling and reference arms 2, 3, respectively, incorporating fibers 4, 5, respectively. The sampling arm 2 is provided at the end with optical probe 6, and the reference arm 3 comprises optical fiber piezoelectric modulator 7. The optical fiber piezoelectric modulator 7 functions as the fiber 5 of the interferometer arm 3 and is arranged in the form of the optical fiber delay line in which a capability is provided for varying the optical length of arm 3 by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the said interferometer. The reference arm 3 is ended with a stationary reference mirror 8. The interferometer also comprises a source of control voltage applied to the optical fiber piezoelectric modulator 7 (it is not depicted in the drawing).
FIG. 2 shows an optical fiber Michelson-type interferometer having a coupler 1 optically connected with sampling and reference arms 2, 3, respectively, which comprise fibers 4, 5, respectively. The sampling arm 2 is provided at the end with optical probe 6, the reference arm 3 incorporates a stationary reference mirror 8. The sampling and reference arms 2, 3 have fiber optic piezoelectric modulators 9, 7, respectively, which perform the function of the fibers 4, 5, respectively, either of the said modulators being constructed in the form of optical fiber controllable delay line, which allows for changing the optical length of the respective arm by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the interferometer (for example, as claimed in original claims 7-16).
The said interferometer also comprises a control voltage source to which the optical fiber piezoelectric modulators 7, 9 are connected in antiphase (this is not shown in the drawing).
The fiber optic piezoelectric modulator as shown in FIG. 3 comprises a piezoceramic plate 10 with the electrodes 13 located on the opposite surfaces 11, 12 of the said plate. The modulator also comprises an optical fiber 14, its first part 15 being arranged on the first surface 11 of the piezoceramic plate 10 so as to allow variation of the fiber length. The length of the first part 15 of the optical fiber 14 is larger than diameter of the piezoceramic plate 10.
As depicted in FIG. 4, the first part 15 of the optical fiber 14 is arranged in the form of a coil within the optical piezoelectric modulator.
The optical piezoelectric modulator as shown in FIG. 5 has the optical fiber 14 fastened to the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the piezoceramic plate 10. The length of the first and second parts 15, 16, respectively, of the optical fiber 14, exceeds diameter of the piezoceramic plate 10. The first and the second parts 15, 16, respectively, are arranged in the form of a coil. The piezoceramic plate 10 is a disc in the optical fiber piezoelectric modulator in FIG. 5.
In a particular embodiment the first part 15 of the optical fiber 14 is fastened over the entire length on the first surface 11 of the piezoelectric plate 10 (not shown in the drawing).
A another particular embodiment the second part 16 of the optical fiber 14 is fastened over the entire length on the second surface 12 of the piezoceramic plate 10 (not shown in the drawing).
The optical fiber 14 as well as the fibers 4, 5 of the arms 2, 3, respectively, in the optical fiber interferometer of the invention may be a PANDA-type optical fiber.
The piezoelectric plate 10 may be made of a piezoelectric material exhibiting a strong perpendicular inverse piezoeffect, for example, of PZT-5 type.
The ratio of the plate 10 diameter to its thickness has to be chosen so as to provide a desired lengthening of the first and/or second parts 15, 16 of the optical fiber 14, with account of the particular configuration of the first and/or the second parts 15, 16 of the optical fiber 14.
The electrodes 12, 13 are metal, for example, silver. The optical probe 6 is essentially a lens system that serves for radiation focusing onto a test object and for guiding the scattered radiation back into the sampling arm 2, and must be optically connected with the fiber part 4 of the sampling arm 2.
The optical fiber interferometer of the invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, operates as follows.
The input radiation passes to coupler 1, the coupler 1 provides coupling of the radiation to both arms 2, 3 of the interferometer. The radiation is transmitted through the fiber part 4 of the sampling arm 2 to the optical probe 6, and through the fiber 5 of the reference arm 3 to the reference mirror 8. The optical probe 6 focuses the radiation on the test object and simultaneously guides back into the fiber 4 of the sampling arm 2 of the interferometer, while the reference mirror 8 reflects the incident radiation backward into the fiber 5 of the reference arm 3. The radiation scattered from the test object is transmitted through the fiber 4 of the sampling arm 2 to the coupler 1 where it interferes with the radiation arriving on the coupler 1 after being reflected by the reference mirror 8, via the fiber 5 of the reference arm 3. The function of the fiber 5 of the reference arm 3 is performed by the optical fiber piezoelectric modulator 7. Since the said modulator 7 is constructed in the form of an optical fiber controllable delay line to provide for variation of the optical path of the reference arm 3 by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the interferometer, then, driven by the control voltage (not shown in the drawing), the said modulator 7 provides a change in the optical path of the reference arm 3 of the interferometer and, hence, a change in the difference of optical paths of the sampling and reference arms 2, 3 of the said interferometer by the rule of the control voltage, within the limits required for scanning a test object in depth. When the optical fiber interferometer as depicted in FIG. 1 is used in the device for optical coherence tomography, the information parameter will be the dependence of the interference signal intensity on the difference between optical lengths of the interferometer arms.
The optical fiber interferometer as shown in FIG. 2 operates similarly to that in FIG. 1. In this embodiment the function of the fiber part 4 of the sampling arm 2 is performed by the second optical fiber piezoelectric modulator 9, arranged in the form of optical fiber controllable delay line which allows for varying the optical length of the sampling arm 2 by at least several tens of operating wavelengths of the said interferometer. Therefore, under the control voltage (not shown in the drawing) both the piezoelectric modulators 9, 7 connected to the control voltage source in antiphase provide, in compliance with the rule of control voltage variation, a change in the difference between optical paths of the sampling and reference arms 2, 3 of the interferometer, within the range twice that for the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.
The optical fiber piezoelectric modulator depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 operates as follows.
The optical fiber piezoelectric modulator is constructed in the form of an optical fiber piezoelectric controllable delay line. The control voltage from the source (not shown in the drawing) is applied to electrodes 13 which produce a difference in the potentials (φ) on the first and second surfaces 11, 12 of the piezoelectric plate 10, causing a perpendicular inverse piezoelectric effect in the plate 10. The absolute variation (ΔR) of diameter of the first surface 11 of plate 10 is defined by the following expression: ##EQU1##
where R is the half-diameter of the first surface 11 of the plate 10; h is the thickness of plate 10; d33 is the piezoelectric modulus.
An increase in the area of the first surface 11 of plate 10 according to the rule of control voltage variation causes stretching the first part 15 of the optical fiber 14 arranged on the said surface. Since the length of the first part 15 of optical fiber 14 exceeds diameter of the first surface 11 of the piezoceramic plate 10, the absolute lengthening of the first part 15 of optical fiber 14 is greater than AR and depends on the form the fiber is arranged on the first surface. According to the above expression, for an absolute lengthening of fiber by a value close to 1.5 mm it, about 15 m of optical fiber have to be arranged on the first surface 11 of the plate 10.
In the optical fiber piezoelectric modulator as shown in FIG. 4 the first part 15 of optical fiber 14 is arranged in the form of a coil. Therefore, absolute lengthening of the first part 15 of optical fiber 14 and, hence, its optical length may vary within the limits of at least several tens of radiation wavelengths in compliance with the rule of control voltage variation. This allows application of the optical fiber piezoelectric modulator in the optical fiber interferometer of the invention for providing a desired depth of scanning the media that change their properties and position to optical probe in a very short time, as, for example, is the case of the in vivo studies of tissues. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 the coil-like form of arranging the first and the second parts 15, 16, of optical fiber 14 on both surfaces 11, 12 of plate 10 allows to-extend the scanning area into the depth of a test object.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4703287 *Aug 22, 1985Oct 27, 1987United Technologies CorporationPhase modulator for fiber-optic sensorsUS5056885 *May 10, 1990Oct 15, 1991General Electric CompanyFiber optic switchUS5202745 *Mar 2, 1992Apr 13, 1993Hewlett-Packard CompanyPolarization independent optical coherence-domain reflectometryUS5313266 *Aug 17, 1992May 17, 1994Keolian Robert MDemodulators for optical fiber interferometers with [3×3] outputsUS5321501 *Apr 29, 1992Jun 14, 1994Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyMethod and apparatus for optical imaging with means for controlling the longitudinal range of the sampleUS5459570 *Mar 16, 1993Oct 17, 1995Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyMethod and apparatus for performing optical measurements *DE4204521A Title not availableEP0356056A1 *Aug 4, 1989Feb 28, 1990Gec-Marconi LimitedOptical phase modulatorEP0362474B1 *Jun 16, 1989Mar 17, 1993Deutsche Aerospace AGLaser warning detectorEP0460635A2 *Jun 5, 1991Dec 11, 1991Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Optical phase modulatorGB2191596A * Title not availableGB2221999A * Title not availableGB2234828A * Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1A. Sergeev, et al., "High-spatial-resolution optical-coherence tomography of human skin and mucous membranes", Cleo '95 Technical Digest, 1995, p. 349.2A. Sergeev, et al., "In vivo optical coherence tomography of human skin microstructure", Proc. SPIE, v. 2823, 1994, pp. 144-150.3 *A. Sergeev, et al., High spatial resolution optical coherence tomography of human skin and mucous membranes , Cleo 95 Technical Digest , 1995, p. 349.4 *A. Sergeev, et al., In vivo optical coherence tomography of human skin microstructure , Proc. SPIE , v. 2823, 1994, pp. 144 150.5C. Hitzenberger, "Optical Measurement of the Axial Eye Length by Laser Doppler Interferometry", Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, vol. 32, No. 3 (Mar. 1991) pp. 616-624.6 *C. Hitzenberger, Optical Measurement of the Axial Eye Length by Laser Doppler Interferometry , Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science , vol. 32, No. 3 (Mar. 1991) pp. 616 624.7E. A. Swanson, et al, "In vivo retinal imaging by optical coherence tomography", Optics Letters, vol. 18, No. 21, Nov. 1, 1993, pp. 1864-1866.8 *E. A. Swanson, et al, In vivo retinal imaging by optical coherence tomography , Optics Letters , vol. 18, No. 21, Nov. 1, 1993, pp. 1864 1866.9J. A. Izatt, et al., "Optical coherence microscopy in scattering media", Optics Letters, vol. 19, No. 8, Apr. 15, 1994, pp. 590-592.10 *J. A. Izatt, et al., Optical coherence microscopy in scattering media , Optics Letters , vol. 19, No. 8, Apr. 15, 1994, pp. 590 592.11J.A. Izatt, et al., "Micron-resolution biomedical imaging with optical coherence tomography", Optics & Photonics News, vol. 4, No. 10, Oct. 1993, pp. 14-19.12 *J.A. Izatt, et al., Micron resolution biomedical imaging with optical coherence tomography , Optics & Photonics News , vol. 4, No. 10, Oct. 1993, pp. 14 19.13K. Takada, et al., "New measurement system for fault location in optical waveguide devices based on an interferometric technique", Applied Optics, vol. 26, No. 9 (May 1, 1987) pp. 1603-1606.14 *K. Takada, et al., New measurement system for fault location in optical waveguide devices based on an interferometric technique , Applied Optics , vol. 26, No. 9 (May 1, 1987) pp. 1603 1606.15Spravochnik VOLS. "Volokonnye opticheskie linu soyazi", 1988, Tekhnika, (Kiev), pp. 34-35.16 *Spravochnik VOLS. Volokonnye opticheskie linu soyazi , 1988, Tekhnika, (Kiev), pp. 34 35.17V. M. Gelikonov, et al., "Coherent optical tomography of microscopic inhomogeneities in biological tissues", JETP Lett., vol. 61, No. 2, Jan. 25, 1995, pp. 158-162.18 *V. M. Gelikonov, et al., Coherent optical tomography of microscopic inhomogeneities in biological tissues , JETP Lett. , vol. 61, No. 2, Jan. 25, 1995, pp. 158 162.19X. Clivaz, et al. "High-resolution reflectometry in biological tissues", Optics Letters, vol. 17, No. 1, Jan. 1, 1992, pp. 4-6.20 *X. Clivaz, et al. High resolution reflectometry in biological tissues , Optics Letters , vol. 17, No. 1, Jan. 1, 1992, pp. 4 6.21X. J. Wang, et al., "Characterization of human scalp hairs by optical low-coherence reflectometry", Optics Letters, vol. 20, No. 6, Mar. 15, 1995, pp. 524-526.22 *X. J. Wang, et al., Characterization of human scalp hairs by optical low coherence reflectometry , Optics Letters , vol. 20, No. 6, Mar. 15, 1995, pp. 524 526.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6193676 *Apr 15, 1998Feb 27, 2001Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc.Guide wire assemblyUS6546272Jun 22, 2000Apr 8, 2003Mackinnon Nicholas B.Apparatus for in vivo imaging of the respiratory tract and other internal organsUS6608684 *Feb 9, 1999Aug 19, 2003Imalux CorporationOptical coherent tomography apparatus, fiberoptic lateral scanner and method for studying biological tissues in vivoUS6638144Mar 26, 2001Oct 28, 20033M Innovative Properties CompanyMethod of cleaning glassUS6738144Dec 17, 1999May 18, 2004University Of Central FloridaNon-invasive method and low-coherence apparatus system analysis and process controlUS6748128 *Jul 20, 2001Jun 8, 2004Medizinisches Laserzentrum Lübeck GmbHDevice for changing the length of the running path of an electromagnetic waveUS6847453 *Nov 5, 2001Jan 25, 2005Optiphase, Inc.All fiber autocorrelatorUS6903854Apr 18, 2003Jun 7, 2005Imalux CorporationOptical coherence tomography apparatus, optical fiber lateral scanner and a method for studying biological tissues in vivoUS6950692Apr 18, 2003Sep 27, 2005Imalux CorporationOptical coherence tomography apparatus, optical fiber lateral scanner and a method for studying biological tissues in vivoUS7136167Mar 10, 2004Nov 14, 2006Michael FailesFiber optic scanning interferometer using a polarization splitting couplerUS7184148May 14, 2004Feb 27, 2007Medeikon CorporationLow coherence interferometry utilizing phaseUS7190464Jan 21, 2005Mar 13, 2007Medeikon CorporationLow coherence interferometry for detecting and characterizing plaquesUS7242480Jan 21, 2005Jul 10, 2007Medeikon CorporationLow coherence interferometry for detecting and characterizing plaquesUS7251040 *Jan 21, 2005Jul 31, 2007Uchicago Argonne LlcSingle metal nanoparticle scattering interferometerUS7327463May 14, 2004Feb 5, 2008Medrikon CorporationLow coherence interferometry utilizing magnitudeUS7355716Jan 24, 2003Apr 8, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry LCI and optical coherence tomography OCT signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS7365859Sep 12, 2005Apr 29, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUS7366376Sep 29, 2005Apr 29, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUS7382949Nov 2, 2005Jun 3, 2008The General Hospital CorporationFiber-optic rotational device, optical system and method for imaging a sampleUS7418169Feb 1, 2007Aug 26, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for controlling at least one of at least two sections of at least one fiberUS7447408Jul 1, 2005Nov 4, 2008The General Hospital CorproationImaging system and related techniquesUS7474407Feb 17, 2004Jan 6, 2009Applied Science InnovationsOptical coherence tomography with 3d coherence scanningUS7474408Oct 25, 2006Jan 6, 2009Medeikon CorporationLow coherence interferometry utilizing phaseUS7488930Jun 2, 2006Feb 10, 2009Medeikon CorporationMulti-channel low coherence interferometerUS7538859Feb 1, 2007May 26, 2009The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for monitoring and obtaining information of at least one portion of a sample using conformal laser therapy procedures, and providing electromagnetic radiation theretoUS7551293Nov 24, 2004Jun 23, 2009The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for three-dimensional spectrally encoded imagingUS7557929Jun 18, 2004Jul 7, 2009Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologySystems and methods for phase measurementsUS7643153Dec 13, 2007Jan 5, 2010The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry LCI and optical coherence tomography OCT signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS7724786Apr 11, 2008May 25, 2010The General Hospital CorporationProcess and apparatus for a wavelength tuning sourceUS7733497Sep 8, 2004Jun 8, 2010The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS7742173Apr 5, 2007Jun 22, 2010The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and systems for polarization-sensitive optical frequency domain imaging of a sampleUS7761139Jan 26, 2004Jul 20, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for identifying tissue using low-coherence interferometryUS7782464May 4, 2007Aug 24, 2010The General Hospital CorporationProcesses, arrangements and systems for providing a fiber layer thickness map based on optical coherence tomography imagesUS7796270Jan 10, 2007Sep 14, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for generating data based on one or more spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniquesUS7797119 *Dec 13, 2007Sep 14, 2010The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for rangings and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry LCI and optical coherence tomography OCT signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS7809225Sep 5, 2008Oct 5, 2010The General Hospital CorporationImaging system and related techniquesUS7809226Sep 5, 2008Oct 5, 2010The General Hospital CorporationImaging system and related techniquesUS7843572Sep 29, 2006Nov 30, 2010The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS7847949Sep 29, 2006Dec 7, 2010The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS7859679May 31, 2006Dec 28, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and arrangement which can use spectral encoding heterodyne interferometry techniques for imagingUS7865231May 1, 2002Jan 4, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical propertiesUS7872757Sep 30, 2009Jan 18, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry LCI and optical coherence tomography OCT signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS7872759Sep 29, 2006Jan 18, 2011The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for providing multimodality microscopic imaging of one or more biological structuresUS7889348Oct 13, 2006Feb 15, 2011The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for facilitating photoluminescence imagingUS7903257Dec 12, 2007Mar 8, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry (LCI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS7911621Jan 18, 2008Mar 22, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for controlling ranging depth in optical frequency domain imagingUS7920271Aug 24, 2007Apr 5, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and methods for enhancing optical coherence tomography imaging using volumetric filtering techniquesUS7925133Sep 5, 2008Apr 12, 2011The General Hospital CorporationImaging system and related techniquesUS7933021Oct 30, 2008Apr 26, 2011The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for cladding mode detectionUS7949019Jan 17, 2008May 24, 2011The General HospitalWavelength tuning source based on a rotatable reflectorUS7969578Jun 13, 2008Jun 28, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS7982879Feb 21, 2007Jul 19, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for performing angle-resolved fourier-domain optical coherence tomographyUS7995210Nov 21, 2005Aug 9, 2011The General Hospital CorporationDevices and arrangements for performing coherence range imaging using a common path interferometerUS7995627Nov 30, 2009Aug 9, 2011The General Hospital CorporationProcess and apparatus for a wavelength tuning sourceUS8018598Jul 23, 2004Sep 13, 2011The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for a chromatic dispersion compensation using reflective layers in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imagingUS8032200Sep 21, 2006Oct 4, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for tissue analysisUS8040608Aug 29, 2008Oct 18, 2011The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for self-interference fluorescence microscopy, and computer-accessible medium associated therewithUS8045177Apr 17, 2008Oct 25, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and methods for measuring vibrations using spectrally-encoded endoscopyUS8050747Aug 8, 2008Nov 1, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical propertiesUS8054468Dec 13, 2007Nov 8, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry LCI and optical coherence tomography OCT signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS8081316Aug 8, 2005Dec 20, 2011The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for determining at least one location in a sample using an optical coherence tomographyUS8097864Jan 26, 2010Jan 17, 2012The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and computer-accessible medium for providing wide-field superresolution microscopyUS8115919May 2, 2008Feb 14, 2012The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and systems for obtaining information associated with a sample using optical microscopyUS8145018Jan 17, 2007Mar 27, 2012The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for obtaining information for a structure using spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques and methods for producing one or more optical arrangementsUS8149418Oct 22, 2010Apr 3, 2012The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS8150496Aug 8, 2008Apr 3, 2012The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical propertiesUS8159677 *Aug 4, 2005Apr 17, 2012Imalux CorporationOptical coherence tomography device and method having improved boundary control and distortion correctionUS8174702Jul 27, 2009May 8, 2012The General Hospital CorporationSpeckle reduction in optical coherence tomography by path length encoded angular compoundingUS8175685May 4, 2007May 8, 2012The General Hospital CorporationProcess, arrangements and systems for providing frequency domain imaging of a sampleUS8208995Aug 24, 2005Jun 26, 2012The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for imaging of vessel segmentsUS8289522Nov 10, 2010Oct 16, 2012The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for providing multimodality microscopic imaging of one or more biological structuresUS8334982Jun 30, 2009Dec 18, 2012Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologySystems and methods for phase measurementsUS8351665Apr 28, 2006Jan 8, 2013The General Hospital CorporationSystems, processes and software arrangements for evaluating information associated with an anatomical structure by an optical coherence ranging techniqueUS8355138Jul 27, 2011Jan 15, 2013The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS8369669Apr 11, 2011Feb 5, 2013The General Hospital CorporationImaging system and related techniquesUS8384907Nov 15, 2010Feb 26, 2013The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS8384909Jun 7, 2010Feb 26, 2013The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS8416818Jun 14, 2011Apr 9, 2013The General Hospital CorporationProcess and apparatus for a wavelength tuning sourceUS8559012May 7, 2012Oct 15, 2013The General Hospital CorporationSpeckle reduction in optical coherence tomography by path length encoded angular compoundingUS8593619May 7, 2009Nov 26, 2013The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and computer-accessible medium for tracking vessel motion during three-dimensional coronary artery microscopyUS8676013Feb 4, 2013Mar 18, 2014The General Hospital CorporationImaging system using and related techniquesUS8705046Dec 19, 2012Apr 22, 2014The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS8721077Apr 26, 2012May 13, 2014The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-readable medium for determining depth-resolved physical and/or optical properties of scattering media by analyzing measured data over a range of depthsUS8760663Apr 2, 2012Jun 24, 2014The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS8804126Mar 7, 2011Aug 12, 2014The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolutionUS8818149Mar 22, 2012Aug 26, 2014The General Hospital CorporationSpectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques, apparatus and methodsUS8838213Oct 19, 2007Sep 16, 2014The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for obtaining and providing imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample, and effecting such portion(s)US8861910Jun 19, 2009Oct 14, 2014The General Hospital CorporationFused fiber optic coupler arrangement and method for use thereofUS8896838Mar 7, 2011Nov 25, 2014The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolutionUS8922781Nov 29, 2005Dec 30, 2014The General Hospital CorporationArrangements, devices, endoscopes, catheters and methods for performing optical imaging by simultaneously illuminating and detecting multiple points on a sampleUS8928889Oct 8, 2012Jan 6, 2015The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for providing multimodality microscopic imaging of one or more biological structuresUS8937724Dec 10, 2009Jan 20, 2015The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for extending imaging depth range of optical coherence tomography through optical sub-samplingUS8965487Aug 24, 2005Feb 24, 2015The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for measuring a mechanical strain and elastic properties of a sampleUS9069130May 3, 2010Jun 30, 2015The General Hospital CorporationApparatus, method and system for generating optical radiation from biological gain mediaUS9081148Mar 7, 2011Jul 14, 2015The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolutionUS9087368Jan 19, 2007Jul 21, 2015The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for optical imaging or epithelial luminal organs by beam scanning thereofUS9173572Nov 25, 2013Nov 3, 2015The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and computer-accessible medium for tracking vessel motion during three-dimensional coronary artery microscopyUS9176319Mar 21, 2008Nov 3, 2015The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and apparatus for utilizing a wavelength-swept laser using angular scanning and dispersion proceduresUS9178330Feb 4, 2010Nov 3, 2015The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for utilization of a high-speed optical wavelength tuning sourceUS9186066Feb 1, 2007Nov 17, 2015The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for applying a plurality of electro-magnetic radiations to a sampleUS9186067May 24, 2013Nov 17, 2015The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for applying a plurality of electro-magnetic radiations to a sampleUS9226660Nov 16, 2011Jan 5, 2016The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for determining at least one location in a sample using an optical coherence tomographyUS9226665May 23, 2013Jan 5, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSpeckle reduction in optical coherence tomography by path length encoded angular compoundingUS9254089Jul 14, 2009Feb 9, 2016The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and methods for facilitating at least partial overlap of dispersed ration on at least one sampleUS9282931Oct 3, 2011Mar 15, 2016The General Hospital CorporationMethods for tissue analysisUS9295391Nov 10, 2000Mar 29, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSpectrally encoded miniature endoscopic imaging probeUS9304121Feb 22, 2013Apr 5, 2016The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS9326682Jan 7, 2013May 3, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystems, processes and software arrangements for evaluating information associated with an anatomical structure by an optical coherence ranging techniqueUS9330092Jul 19, 2012May 3, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods, apparatus and computer-accessible-medium for providing polarization-mode dispersion compensation in optical coherence tomographyUS9332942Jan 28, 2008May 10, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystems, processes and computer-accessible medium for providing hybrid flourescence and optical coherence tomography imagingUS9341783Oct 18, 2012May 17, 2016The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and methods for producing and/or providing recirculating optical delay(s)US9351642Mar 12, 2010May 31, 2016The General Hospital CorporationNon-contact optical system, computer-accessible medium and method for measurement at least one mechanical property of tissue using coherent speckle technique(s)US9364143May 7, 2012Jun 14, 2016The General Hospital CorporationProcess, arrangements and systems for providing frequency domain imaging of a sampleUS9365013Jul 7, 2011Jun 14, 2016Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyMultimaterial thermally drawn piezoelectric fibersUS9375158Jul 31, 2008Jun 28, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for providing beam scan patterns for high speed doppler optical frequency domain imagingUS9377290Apr 18, 2014Jun 28, 2016The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS9408539Mar 6, 2015Aug 9, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolutionUS9415550Aug 21, 2013Aug 16, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method, and computer-accessible medium for fabrication miniature endoscope using soft lithographyUS9441948Aug 9, 2006Sep 13, 2016The General Hospital CorporationApparatus, methods and storage medium for performing polarization-based quadrature demodulation in optical coherence tomographyUS9448058Oct 31, 2014Sep 20, 2016Lumetrics, Inc.Associated interferometers using multi-fiber optic delay linesUS9510758Oct 27, 2011Dec 6, 2016The General Hospital CorporationApparatus, systems and methods for measuring blood pressure within at least one vesselUS9513276Jun 23, 2014Dec 6, 2016The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS9516997Aug 22, 2014Dec 13, 2016The General Hospital CorporationSpectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques, apparatus and methodsUS9528817Dec 14, 2012Dec 27, 2016Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologySystems and methods for phase measurementsUS20020126979 *Jul 20, 2001Sep 12, 2002Medizinisches Laserzentrum Lubeck GmbhDevice for changing the length of the running path of an electromagnetic waveUS20020183601 *Oct 30, 2001Dec 5, 2002Tearney Guillermo J.Optical methods and systems for tissue analysisUS20030028100 *May 1, 2002Feb 6, 2003Tearney Guillermo J.Method and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical propertiesUS20030206321 *Apr 18, 2003Nov 6, 2003Gelikonov Valentin M.Optical coherence tomography apparatus, optical fiber lateral scanner and a method for studying biological tissues in vivoUS20050035295 *Jun 4, 2004Feb 17, 2005Brett BoumaProcess and apparatus for a wavelength tuning sourceUS20050073691 *Apr 18, 2003Apr 7, 2005Gelikonov Valentin M.Optical coherence tomography apparatus, opticalfiber lateral scanner and a method for studying biological tissues in vivoUS20050099633 *Mar 10, 2004May 12, 2005Michael FailesFiber optic scanning interferometer using a polarization splitting couplerUS20050128488 *Nov 24, 2004Jun 16, 2005Dvir YelinMethod and apparatus for three-dimensional spectrally encoded imagingUS20050254059 *May 14, 2004Nov 17, 2005Alphonse Gerard ALow coherence interferometric system for optical metrologyUS20050254060 *Jan 21, 2005Nov 17, 2005Alphonse Gerard ALow coherence interferometry for detecting and characterizing plaquesUS20050254061 *Jan 21, 2005Nov 17, 2005Alphonse Gerard ALow coherence interferometry for detecting and characterizing plaquesUS20060013544 *Jul 1, 2005Jan 19, 2006Bouma Brett EImaging system and related techniquesUS20060039004 *Aug 8, 2005Feb 23, 2006The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for determining at least one location in a sample using an optical coherence tomographyUS20060055936 *Sep 12, 2005Mar 16, 2006The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUS20060058592 *Aug 24, 2005Mar 16, 2006The General Hospital CorporationProcess, system and software arrangement for measuring a mechanical strain and elastic properties of a sampleUS20060058622 *Aug 24, 2005Mar 16, 2006The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for imaging of vessel segmentsUS20060067620 *Sep 29, 2005Mar 30, 2006The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUS20060132790 *Feb 17, 2004Jun 22, 2006Applied Science Innovations, Inc.Optical coherence tomography with 3d coherence scanningUS20060164654 *Jan 21, 2005Jul 27, 2006The University Of ChicagoSingle metal nanoparticle scattering interferometerUS20060270929 *May 31, 2006Nov 30, 2006The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and arrangement which can use spectral encoding heterodyne interferometry techniques for imagingUS20070009935 *May 15, 2006Jan 11, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangements, systems and methods capable of providing spectral-domain optical coherence reflectometry for a sensitive detection of chemical and biological sampleUS20070012886 *Apr 28, 2006Jan 18, 2007The General Hospital CorporationSystems. processes and software arrangements for evaluating information associated with an anatomical structure by an optical coherence ranging techniqueUS20070035743 *Aug 9, 2006Feb 15, 2007The General Hospital CorporationApparatus, methods and storage medium for performing polarization-based quadrature demodulation in optical coherence tomographyUS20070038040 *Apr 24, 2006Feb 15, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangements, systems and methods capable of providing spectral-domain polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomographyUS20070049833 *Aug 16, 2006Mar 1, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for imaging in vesselsUS20070055117 *Oct 25, 2006Mar 8, 2007Alphonse Gerard ALow coherence interferometry utilizing phaseUS20070073162 *Sep 21, 2006Mar 29, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for tissue analysisUS20070087445 *Oct 13, 2006Apr 19, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for facilitating photoluminescence imagingUS20070121196 *Sep 29, 2006May 31, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for method for viewing and analyzing of one or more biological samples with progressively increasing resolutionsUS20070171430 *Jan 18, 2007Jul 26, 2007The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for providing mirror tunnel micropscopyUS20070171433 *Jan 18, 2007Jul 26, 2007The General Hospital CorporationSystems and processes for providing endogenous molecular imaging with mid-infrared lightUS20070177152 *Feb 1, 2007Aug 2, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for monitoring and obtaining information of at least one portion of a sample using conformal laser therapy procedures, and providing electromagnetic radiation theretoUS20070179487 *Feb 1, 2007Aug 2, 2007The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for applying a plurality of electro-magnetic radiations to a sampleUS20070188855 *Jan 17, 2007Aug 16, 2007The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for obtaining information for a structure using spectrally-encoded endoscopy teachniques and methods for producing one or more optical arrangementsUS20070201033 *Feb 21, 2007Aug 30, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for performing angle-resolved fourier-domain optical coherence tomographyUS20070208400 *Mar 1, 2007Sep 6, 2007The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for providing cell specific laser therapy of atherosclerotic plaques by targeting light absorbers in macrophagesUS20070223006 *Jan 18, 2007Sep 27, 2007The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for performing rapid fluorescence lifetime, excitation and emission spectral measurementsUS20070229801 *Sep 29, 2006Oct 4, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for providing multimodality microscopic imaging of one or more biological structuresUS20070233396 *Sep 29, 2006Oct 4, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS20070236700 *Apr 5, 2007Oct 11, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and systems for polarization-sensitive optical frequency domain imaging of a sampleUS20070239033 *Mar 16, 2007Oct 11, 2007The General Hospital CorporationArrangement, method and computer-accessible medium for identifying characteristics of at least a portion of a blood vessel contained within a tissue using spectral domain low coherence interferometryUS20070263227 *May 4, 2007Nov 15, 2007The General Hospital CorporationProcesses, arrangements and systems for providing a fiber layer thickness map based on optical coherence tomography imagesUS20070274650 *Feb 1, 2007Nov 29, 2007The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for controlling at least one of at least two sections of at least one fiberUS20070276269 *May 4, 2007Nov 29, 2007The General Hospital CorporationProcess, arrangements and systems for providing frequency domain imaging of a sampleUS20070278389 *Jun 2, 2006Dec 6, 2007Mahesh AjgaonkarMulti-channel low coherence interferometerUS20070282403 *Feb 1, 2007Dec 6, 2007The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for providing electromagnetic radiation to at least one portion of a sample using conformal laser therapy proceduresUS20080002211 *Jan 18, 2007Jan 3, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem, arrangement and process for providing speckle reductions using a wave front modulation for optical coherence tomographyUS20080007734 *Oct 31, 2005Jan 10, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for providing Jones matrix-based analysis to determine non-depolarizing polarization parameters using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomographyUS20080021275 *Jan 19, 2007Jan 24, 2008The General Hospital CorporationMethods and systems for optical imaging or epithelial luminal organs by beam scanning thereofUS20080049232 *Aug 24, 2007Feb 28, 2008The General Hospital CoporationApparatus and methods for enhancing optical coherence tomography imaging using volumetric filtering techniquesUS20080094637 *Dec 13, 2007Apr 24, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry lci and optical coherence tomography oct signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS20080097225 *Oct 19, 2007Apr 24, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for obtaining and providing imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample, and effecting such portion(s)US20080097709 *Dec 13, 2007Apr 24, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for rangings and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry lci and optical coherence tomography oct signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS20080170225 *Dec 12, 2007Jul 17, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry lci and optical coherence tomography oct signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS20080175280 *Jan 17, 2008Jul 24, 2008The General Hospital CorporationWavelength tuning source based on a rotatable reflectorUS20080181263 *Apr 11, 2008Jul 31, 2008The General Hospital CorporationProcess and apparatus for a wavelength tuning sourceUS20080206804 *Jan 17, 2008Aug 28, 2008The General Hospital CorporationArrangements and methods for multidimensional multiplexed luminescence imaging and diagnosisUS20080232410 *Mar 21, 2008Sep 25, 2008The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and apparatus for utilizing a wavelength-swept laser using angular scanning and dispersion proceduresUS20080234567 *Mar 19, 2008Sep 25, 2008The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for providing a noninvasive diagnosis of internal bleedingUS20080234586 *Mar 19, 2008Sep 25, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for providing noninvasive diagnosis of compartment syndrome using exemplary laser speckle imaging procedureUS20080262359 *Mar 28, 2008Oct 23, 2008The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method providing intracoronary laser speckle imaging for the detection of vulnerable plaqueUS20090003765 *Sep 5, 2008Jan 1, 2009The General Hospital CorporationImaging system and related techniquesUS20090036770 *Aug 8, 2008Feb 5, 2009The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical propertiesUS20090036782 *Jul 31, 2008Feb 5, 2009The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for providing beam scan patterns for high speed doppler optical frequency domain imagingUS20090059360 *Aug 29, 2008Mar 5, 2009The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for self-interference fluorescence microscopy, and computer-accessible medium associated therewithUS20090073439 *Sep 15, 2008Mar 19, 2009The General Hospital CorporationApparatus, computer-accessible medium and method for measuring chemical and/or molecular compositions of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in anatomical structuresUS20090122302 *Oct 30, 2008May 14, 2009The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for cladding mode detectionUS20090131801 *Oct 13, 2008May 21, 2009The General Hospital CorporationSystems and processes for optical imaging of luminal anatomic structuresUS20090192358 *Jan 28, 2008Jul 30, 2009The General Hospital CorporationSystems, processes and computer-accessible medium for providing hybrid flourescence and optical coherence tomography imagingUS20090225324 *Jan 20, 2009Sep 10, 2009The General Hospital CorporationApparatus for providing endoscopic high-speed optical coherence tomographyUS20090323056 *May 2, 2008Dec 31, 2009The General Hospital CorporationMethods, arrangements and systems for obtaining information associated with a sample using optical microscopyUS20090325470 *Jun 15, 2009Dec 31, 2009Petersen John GSandpaper with non-slip coating layerUS20100039651 *Aug 4, 2005Feb 18, 2010Gelikonov Valentin MInterferometric device (variants)US20100094576 *Sep 30, 2009Apr 15, 2010The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and method for ranging and noise reduction of low coherence interferometry lci and optical coherence tomography oct signals by parallel detection of spectral bandsUS20100110414 *May 7, 2009May 6, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and computer-accessible medium for tracking vessel motion during three-dimensional coronary artery microscopyUS20100157309 *Jul 27, 2009Jun 24, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSpeckle reduction in optical coherence tomography by path length encoded angular compoundingUS20100165335 *Jul 31, 2007Jul 1, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystems and methods for receiving and/or analyzing information associated with electro-magnetic radiationUS20100207037 *Jan 26, 2010Aug 19, 2010The General Hospital CorporationSystem, method and computer-accessible medium for providing wide-field superresolution microscopyUS20100309477 *Jun 7, 2010Dec 9, 2010The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometryUS20100309750 *Sep 8, 2009Dec 9, 2010Dominic BradySensor AssemblyUS20110092823 *Jul 19, 2010Apr 21, 2011The General Hospital CorporationSystem and Method for Identifying Tissue Using Low-Coherence InterferometryUS20110137178 *Oct 6, 2010Jun 9, 2011The General Hospital CorporationDevices and methods for imaging particular cells including eosinophilsUS20110144504 *Nov 15, 2010Jun 16, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS20110149296 *Oct 22, 2010Jun 23, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encodingUS20110201924 *Jul 28, 2010Aug 18, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethod and Apparatus for Improving Image Clarity and Sensitivity in Optical Tomography Using Dynamic Feedback to Control Focal Properties and Coherence GatingUS20110218403 *Mar 7, 2011Sep 8, 2011The General Hospital CorporationSystems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolutionUS20110222563 *May 20, 2011Sep 15, 2011The General Hospital CorporationWavelength tuning source based on a rotatable reflectorUS20110224541 *Dec 8, 2010Sep 15, 2011The General Hospital CorporationMethods and arrangements for analysis, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring of vocal folds by optical coherence tomographyUS20110226940 *Jun 19, 2009Sep 22, 2011The General Hospital CorporationFused fiber optic coupler arrangement and method for use thereofUS20110237892 *Jul 14, 2009Sep 29, 2011The General Hospital CorporationApparatus and methods for color endoscopyUSRE43875Nov 25, 2008Dec 25, 2012The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUSRE44042Nov 24, 2008Mar 5, 2013The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingUSRE45512Sep 12, 2012May 12, 2015The General Hospital CorporationSystem and method for optical coherence imagingCN102012561A *Sep 20, 2010Apr 13, 2011长春理工大学Method and system for realizing phase shift in laser interference lithographyCN102012561B *Sep 20, 2010Mar 30, 2016长春理工大学一种在激光干涉光刻中实现相移的方法和系统CN102565949A *Jan 11, 2012Jul 11, 2012复旦大学White light interference method based on echo free feedback delaying structure and achieving system of white light interference methodDE10035833A1 *Jul 21, 2000Feb 7, 2002Med Laserzentrum Luebeck GmbhVorrichtung zur Veränderung der Länge der Laufstrecke einer elektromagnetischen WelleWO2001074249A1 *Mar 28, 2001Oct 11, 2001Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc.Methods and apparatus for guiding a guide wireWO2005001445A2 *Jun 18, 2004Jan 6, 2005Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologySystems and methods for phase measurementsWO2005001445A3 *Jun 18, 2004Dec 15, 2005Massachusetts Inst TechnologySystems and methods for phase measurementsWO2012047344A2 *Jul 7, 2011Apr 12, 2012Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyMultimaterial thermally drawn piezoelectric fibersWO2012047344A3 *Jul 7, 2011Jul 26, 2012Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyMultimaterial thermally drawn piezoelectric fibers* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification356/477, 385/12, 356/73.1International ClassificationG01J9/02, G02F1/225, G01B9/02, G02F1/01Cooperative ClassificationG02F1/2252, G02F1/0134, G01B2290/35, G01B9/02091European ClassificationG01B9/02, G02F1/225B, G02F1/01M2CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 30, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: OPTICAL COHERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., OHIOFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GELIKONOV, VALENTIN M.;GELIKONOV, GRIGORY V.;GLADKOVA, NATALIA D.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:008999/0818;SIGNING DATES FROM 19980103 TO 19980109Jul 27, 1999CCCertificate of correctionJun 7, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: CAPITAL ONE PARTNERS, LLC, OHIOFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OPTICAL COHERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:011871/0209Effective date: 20010522Owner name: BIOMEC INC., OHIOFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OPTICAL COHERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:011871/0209Effective date: 20010522Owner name: SYMARK LLC, OHIOFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OPTICAL COHERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:011871/0209Effective date: 20010522Feb 12, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: IMALUX CORPORATION, OHIOFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:OPTICAL COHERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:012607/0267Effective date: 20011010Jul 19, 2002FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 27, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jan 31, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: EARLY STAGE PARTNERS, L.P., OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: TEAGUE, JOSEPH, OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: RESERVOIR VENTURE PARNERS L.P., OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: BIOMEC, INC., OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: PAUL AMAZEEN, OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: SYMARK LLC, FLORIDAFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: SCHWARZ, RICHARD, OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: BIOMEC, INC.,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: EARLY STAGE PARTNERS, L.P.,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: RESERVOIR VENTURE PARNERS L.P.,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: PAUL AMAZEEN,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: SYMARK LLC,FLORIDAFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: TEAGUE, JOSEPH,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Owner name: SCHWARZ, RICHARD,OHIOFree format text: SECURITY AGREMENT;ASSIGNOR:IMALUX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018837/0922Effective date: 20061120Dec 5, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: IMALUX CORPORATION, OHIOFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:SCHWARZ, RICHARD;RESERVOIR VENTURE PARTNERS, L.P.;SYMARK, LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020196/0436;SIGNING DATES FROM 20071010 TO 20071105Owner name: IMALUX CORPORATION,OHIOFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:SCHWARZ, RICHARD;RESERVOIR VENTURE PARTNERS, L.P.;SYMARK, LLC;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20071010 TO 20071105;REEL/FRAME:020196/0436Jul 14, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services