Illumination sources for multicore fiber endoscopes

Abstract

Endoscopes, multicore endoscope fibers and configuration and operation methods are provided. The fibers may have hundreds or thousands of cores and possibly incorporate working channel(s) and additional fibers. The fiber may be used at different optical configurations to capture images of tissue and objects at the distal tip and to enhance a wide range of optical characteristics of the images such as resolution, field of view, depth of field, wavelength ranges etc. Near-field imaging as well as far-field imaging may be implemented in the endoscopes and the respective optical features may be utilized to optimize imaging. Optical elements may be used at the distal fiber tip, or the distal fiber tip may be lens-less. Diagnostics and optical treatment feedback loops may be implemented and illumination may be adapted to yield full color images, depth estimation, enhanced field of views and/or depths of field, and additional diagnostic data.

1 . An endoscope comprising a fiber comprising a large plurality of at least one hundred cores and is made of at least one polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein a cladding surrounding the cores comprises nanoparticles having plasmonic resonances at wavelengths that are ±5 nm with respect to illumination wavelengths through the fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the cores are interspaced by intermediate elements having a different refractive index from the core. 
     
     
         4 . The endoscope of  claim 3 , wherein the intermediate elements are air holes. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the cores are air holes. 
     
     
         6 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber comprises at least one void configured as a working channel going through the fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The endoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the void is eccentrically positioned at a tip cross section of the fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The endoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the working channel is configured to introduce at a fiber tip at least one of: at least one illumination element, at least one treatment element and suction. 
     
     
         9 . The endoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the fiber comprises at least one treatment fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The endoscope of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one treatment fiber is within the endoscope. 
     
     
         11 . The endoscope of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one treatment fiber is located at a periphery of the endoscope. 
     
     
         12 . The endoscope of  claim 9 , wherein the fiber comprises at least one respective groove configured to receive said at least one treatment fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The endoscope of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one treatment fiber comprises a plurality of treatment fibers configured to apply a treatment collectively. 
     
     
         14 . The endoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the working channel is configured to introduce at a fiber tip at least one treatment element and suction, and the endoscope is configured to control at least one of a treatment and the suction according to imaging input during treatment. 
     
     
         15 . The endoscope of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one treatment element comprises a plurality of treatment fibers integrated within the fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The endoscope of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the treatment fibers are positioned at a periphery of the at least one working channel and are operated to apply the treatment collectively. 
     
     
         17 . The endoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the fiber further comprises at least one optical element at a proximal tip of the fiber, configured to generate an image of a region facing the tip which includes an area facing the at least one void. 
     
     
         18 . The endoscope of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one optical element is a lens having at least one blocked aperture corresponding to the at least one void. 
     
     
         19 . The endoscope of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a plurality of optical elements, each in optical communication with a respective core or group of cores. 
     
     
         20 . The endoscope of  claim 19 , wherein at least some of the optical elements are prisms configured to deliver radiation from the void-facing area to the cores.