Ultrathin single-channel fiberscopes for biomedical imaging

Angelique Kano, Andrew R. Rouse, Arthur F. Gmitro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultrathin flexible fiberscopes typically have separate illumination and imaging channels and are available in diameters ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. Diameters can potentially be reduced by combining the illumination and imaging paths into a single fiberoptic channel. Single-channel fiberscopes must incorporate a system to minimize Fresnel reflections from air-glass interfaces within the common illumination and detection path. The Fresnel reflection at the proximal surface of the fiber bundle is particularly problematic. This paper describes and compares methods to reduce the background signal from the proximal surface of the fiber bundle. Three techniques are evaluated: (1) antireflective (AR)-coating the proximal face of the fiber, (2) incorporating crossed polarizers into the light path, and (3) a novel technique called numerical aperture sharing, whereby a portion of the image numerical aperture is devoted to illumination and a portion to detection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number016013
JournalJournal of biomedical optics
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Antireflective coating
  • Background
  • Catheter
  • Endoscopy
  • Fiber bundle
  • Fiberscope
  • Fresnel
  • Numerical aperture
  • Polarization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomedical Engineering

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