Fiber-optic rotational device, optical system and method for imaging a sample

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one first optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• at least one third arrangement adapted to rotate at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• and
• at least one translating arrangement which is configured to translate at least one of the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber and the at least one second arrangement approximately along at least one of the longitudinal axes.

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one first optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• and
• at least one third arrangement adapted to rotate at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber,
• wherein the at least one second arrangement includes first and the second collimating lenses, and wherein a numerical product of a focal length of at least one of the first and the second collimating lenses and a numerical aperture of a respective at least one of the first and second optical fibers is between approximately 50 μm to 2000 μm, and wherein the numerical product is greater than a diameter of at least one of the first optical fiber or the second optical fiber.

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one first optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• at least one third arrangement adapted to rotate at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one fourth arrangement providing at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of radiation provided by the at least one fourth arrangement varies over time;
• and
• at least one fifth arrangement detecting an interference between at least one third radiation associated with the at least one first radiation and at least one fourth radiation associated with the at least one second radiation, wherein the first and third electro-magnetic radiations are transmitted via at least one of the first and second optical fibers.

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one first optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• at least one third arrangement adapted to rotate at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• a fourth arrangement receiving at least one first electro-magnetic radiation from a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation from a reference;
• at least one spectral separating unit which separates spectrum of at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation, the second electro-magnetic radiation and a combination of the first and second electro-magnetic radiation into frequency components;
• and
• at least one fifth detection arrangement including a plurality of detectors, each detector capable of detecting at least a portion of at least one of the frequency components, wherein the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation is transmitted via at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one first optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• and
• at least one third arrangement adapted to rotate at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber,
• wherein the second optical fiber follows the first optical fiber and separated therefrom by a spatial gap, wherein the second optical fiber includes a first lens portion which is adapted to condense a mode-field area of the electro-magnetic radiation and a second lens portion which follows the first lens portion and which is adapted to expand the mode-field area of the electro-magnetic radiation.

A device for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers, comprising:

• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• and
• at least one third arrangement adapted for connecting at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber to a catheter arrangement, wherein the at least one third arrangement includes a protector provided at least at one end thereof, and wherein the protector is automatically removed upon a connection of the at least one of the first and second optical fiber to the catheter arrangement via the at least one third arrangement.

A system for imaging a sample, comprising:

• a source generating electro-magnetic radiation;
• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber receiving at least one signal associated with the electro-magnetic radiation, wherein at least one of the first and second fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber at least at the ends thereof;
• and
• at least one third arrangement which is configured to rotate at least one of the first optical finer and the second optical fiber at a rate that is greater than 100 revolutions per second.

A system for imaging a sample, comprising:

• a source generating electro-magnetic radiation;
• a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber receiving at least one signal associated with the electro-magnetic radiation, wherein at least one of the first and second fibers is rotatable;
• at least one first optical arrangement communicating with at least one end of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber;
• at least one second arrangement configured to control a position of the at least one optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first and the second optical fibers at least at the ends thereof;
• and
• at least one third arrangement adapted for connecting at least one of the first and second optical fiber to a catheter arrangement, wherein the at least third arrangement includes a protector provided at least at one end thereof, and wherein the protector is automatically removed upon a connection of the at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber to the catheter arrangement via the at least one third arrangement.