# US 2014/0153864 A1 · Low cost extended depth of field optical probes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153864 A1 - Document ID: US20140153864A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/090,356 - Filed: 2013-11-26 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: NinePoint Medical, Inc. - Applicants: NinePoint Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew A. Sinclair; Narissa Y. Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153864A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/262: {Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements} - G02B 23/26: using light guides {(for illumination G02B23/2469)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An extended depth of field optical probe includes a lens; and a spacer positioned adjacent the lens, the spacer and lens are configured to produce a plurality of waists at a plurality of working distances by varying at least one of an index of refraction of adjacent optical components of the spacer and a physical geometry of a surface of the probe, and the working distance of a first waist is greater than 0. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extended depth of field optical probe, comprising: a lens; and a spacer positioned adjacent the lens, wherein the spacer and lens are configured to produce a plurality of waists at a plurality of working distances by varying at least one of an index of refraction of adjacent optical components of the spacer and a physical geometry of a surface of the probe, and wherein the working distance of a first waist is greater than 0. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein a first waist of the plurality of waists is produced a preset distance from the optics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein the spacer and lens are configured to produce an imaging depth of field of approximately 10 mm to 20 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises: an optical core having a first index of refraction; and an optical outer portion positioned about the optical core and having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 4, wherein the second index of refraction is greater than the first index of refraction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 4, further comprising at least one intermediate portion positioned between the optical core and the optical outer portion, wherein the at least one intermediate portion generates a separate waist at a distinct position and having a distinct path length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, further comprising a prism positioned adjacent the lens, wherein the surface of the probe is located on the prism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein the physical geometry of the surface of the probe is modified such that a portion of the surface is extended from the surface of the probe and the extended portion has a physical geometry the same as the physical geometry of the surface of the probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 8, wherein multiple portions of the surface are modified, each modification producing a separate waist at a distinct location and having a distinct path length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein the physical geometry of the surface of the probe is modified such that a portion of the surface of the probe has a physical geometry different from the physical geometry of the surface of the probe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 10, wherein multiple portions of the surface are modified, each modification producing a separate waist at a distinct location and having a distinct optical path length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 1, wherein the physical geometry of a surface of the probe comprises a first side and a second side transverse to the first side. ### Claim 13 An extended depth of field optical probe, comprising: a mounting portion to mount an optical fiber; a beam expander positioned in a path of an optical beam of the optical probe configured to expand the optical beam; and a lens positioned in the path of the optical beam of the optical probe configured to focus the optical beam, wherein the beam expander is configured to change an optical path length at different portions of the optical beam producing a plurality of waists at a plurality of working distances, and wherein the working distance of a first waist is greater than 0. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 13, wherein the beam expander is a spacer positioned before the lens in the path, comprising: an optical core having a first index of refraction; and an outer portion positioned about the optical core and having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 13, wherein the beam expander is a modification to a portion of a surface of the probe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 15, wherein a physical geometry of the beam expander is the same as a physical geometry of the surface of the probe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The extended depth of field optical probe of claim 15, wherein a physical geometry of the beam expander is different from a physical geometry of the surface of the probe. ### Claim 18 A method for generating multiple waists and an extended depth of field by an optical probe, comprising the steps of: modifying at least one portion of a light traveling along a light path to change an optical path length of the modified portion of light and produce a plurality of waists at a plurality of working distances and having distinct optical path lengths, wherein the working distance of a first waist is greater than 0. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for generating multiple waists and an extended depth of field by an optical probe of claim 18, wherein the at least one portion of light is modified by modifying a portion of a surface of the probe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method for generating multiple waists and an extended depth of field by an optical probe of claim 18, wherein the at least one portion of light is modified by a spacer having an optical core and an optical outer portion, the optical core having an index of refraction different from an index of refraction of the optical outer portion.