Multicore Fiber with Distal Motor

Abstract

An optical probe imaging system includes an optical probe with a multicore optical fiber positioned therein. Distal optics are optically coupled to the distal end of the multicore fiber that image light propagating in the multicore fiber so as to generate a light pattern on a sample that is based on a relative position of at least two cores at a distal facet of the multicore fiber. A distal motor is mechanically coupled to the optical probe so that a motion of the distal motor causes the light pattern to traverse a path across the sample. An optical receiver is coupled to the proximal end of the multicore fiber and receives light that has traversed the path across the sample and then generates an electrical signal corresponding to the received light. A processor maps the electrical signal to a representation of information about the sample, wherein the mapping is based on the relative position of at least two cores at the distal facet of the multicore fiber and on the motion of the distal motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical probe imaging system comprising:
 a) an optical probe;   b) a multicore optical fiber positioned in the optical probe and having a proximal and a distal end;   c) distal optics that are optically coupled to the distal end of the multicore optical fiber, the distal optics imaging light propagating in the multicore optical fiber so as to generate a light pattern on a sample that is based on a relative position of at least two cores at a distal facet of the multicore optical fiber;   d) a distal motor mechanically coupled to the optical probe so that a motion of the distal motor causes the light pattern to traverse a path across the sample;   e) an optical receiver having an input that is optically coupled to the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber, the optical receiver receiving light that has traversed the path across the sample and generating an electrical signal corresponding to the received light; and   f) a processor having an input coupled to an output of the optical receiver, the processor mapping the electrical signal to a representation of information about the sample, wherein the mapping is based on the relative position of at least two cores at the distal facet of the multicore fiber and on the motion of the distal motor.   
     
     
         2 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the mapping is further based on a rotation rate of the distal motor. 
     
     
         3 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the mapping is further based on a pullback speed of the optical probe. 
     
     
         4 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the relative position of at least two cores is such that a spot from one of at least two cores and a spot from the other of at least two cores visits a nominally same position at the sample at different times. 
     
     
         5 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the relative position of at least two cores is such that a spot from one of the at least two cores traverses a circular loop path pattern across the sample and a spot from the other of the at least two cores traverses a circular loop path pattern across the sample. 
     
     
         6 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 5  wherein the circular loop path pattern of the one of the at least two cores and the circular loop path pattern of the other one of the at least two cores overlap. 
     
     
         7 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 5  wherein the circular loop path pattern of the one of the at least two cores and the circular loop path pattern of the other one of the at least two cores do not overlap. 
     
     
         8 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the distal motor includes a galvanometer. 
     
     
         9 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the distal motor is a hollow motor. 
     
     
         10 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the distal motor is an X-Y scanner. 
     
     
         11 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 10  wherein the X-Y scanner is configured such that light impinges on a sample at two different locations. 
     
     
         12 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 10  wherein the X-Y scanner is configured such that the light pattern overlaps least in part across the sample. 
     
     
         13 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the optical probe imaging system is an optical coherence tomography system. 
     
     
         14 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the optical receiver includes a photonic integrated circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 14  wherein the photonic integrated circuit comprises a plurality of optical receivers on a single photonic integrated circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  further comprising an optical switch optically coupled to the proximal end of the multicore fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 16  wherein a switching rate of the optical switch is synchronized to a collection rate of received light by the receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 16  wherein the optical switch includes a photonic integrated circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a folding element positioned adjacent to the distal optics, the folding element directing light propagating in the multicore optical fiber to the sample. 
     
     
         20 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 19  wherein the mapping is further based on an angle of a perpendicular vector of a surface of the folding element with respect to a center of the optical probe. 
     
     
         21 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 19  wherein the folding element includes a non-planar surface. 
     
     
         22 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 19  wherein the distal motor is mechanically coupled to the folding element. 
     
     
         23 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a wavelength dispersive device positioned adjacent to the distal optics at the distal end of the multicore optical fiber, the wavelength dispersive device separating wavelengths of light propagating in the multicore optical fiber. 
     
     
         24 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the optical probe is configured to translate so that it advances towards the sample and pull backs from the sample. 
     
     
         25 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 24  further comprising a motor that translates the optical probe. 
     
     
         26 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 24  wherein the mapping is further based on a speed that the optical probe translates. 
     
     
         27 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a motor mechanically coupled to the optical probe that translates the optical probe to advance the optical probe towards the sample and to pull back the optical probe from the sample. 
     
     
         28 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  further comprising an optical source having an output that is coupled to the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber. 
     
     
         29 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 28  wherein the optical source is a swept optical source and the optical receiver is a swept source domain optical coherence tomography receiver. 
     
     
         30 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the multicore fiber is formed with an angled distal facet that reduces back reflection. 
     
     
         31 . An optical probe imaging system comprising:
 a) an optical probe;   b) a singlecore optical fiber positioned in the optical probe and having a proximal end and a distal end comprising an angled facet;   c) a rotatable non-planar folding element optically coupled to the distal end of the singlecore optical fiber, the rotatable non-planar folding element redirecting and focusing light propagating in the singlecore optical fiber so as to generate a light pattern on a sample;   d) a distal motor mechanically coupled to the rotatable non-planar folding element so that a motion of the distal motor causes the light pattern to traverse a path across the sample;   e) an optical receiver having an input that is optically coupled to the proximal end of the singlecore optical fiber, the optical receiver receiving light that has traversed the path across the sample and generating an electrical signal corresponding to the received light; and   f) a processor having an input coupled to an output of the optical receiver, the processor mapping the electrical signal to a representation of information about the sample, wherein the mapping is based on the motion of the distal motor.   
     
     
         32 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 31  wherein the rotatable non-planar folding element comprises a concave surface. 
     
     
         33 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 31  wherein the rotatable non-planar folding element comprises a refraction element. 
     
     
         34 . The optical probe imaging system of  claim 31  further comprising distal optics positioned between the singlecore optical fiber and the rotatable non-planer folder element. 
     
     
         35 . A method of imaging a retina, the method comprising:
 a) propagating a plurality of light beams through a multicore optical fiber from a proximal end to a distal end;   b) projecting the plurality of light beams emerging from the distal end of the multicore optical fiber to overlap at least in part onto a two-dimensional scanner;   c) scanning the plurality of light beams in a first and a second direction with the two-dimensional scanner;   d) imaging the scanned plurality of light beams onto a plurality of spots on the retina;   e) imaging a portion of the plurality of light beams that is reflected by the retina back to the multicore fiber;   f) propagating the reflected portion of the plurality of light beams back through the multicore optical fiber; and   g) receiving the plurality of reflected light beams at the proximal end of the multicore optical fiber.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising directing selected ones of the plurality of reflected light beams to a single receiver.