Compact scanning fiber device
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsEric J. Seibel, Quinn Y. J. Smithwick, John A. Myers, Richard S. Johnston, Charles David Melville
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Abstract
Scanning fiber devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a scanning fiber device may include an actuator tube. The scanning fiber device may also include a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber. The cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may have an attached end that is coupled with the actuator tube. The cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may also have a free end to be moved by the actuator tube. At least a portion of a length of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may be disposed within the actuator tube. Methods of using scanning fiber devices are also disclosed.
Claims29
A scanning fiber endoscope comprising:
- a housing of the scanning fiber endoscope, the housing having a length that is less than 20 millimeters and a thickness that is less than 5 millimeters;
- a piezoelectric tube within the housing, a distal end of the piezoelectric tube physically coupled with the housing, wherein the piezoelectric tube is tapered, wherein the tapered piezoelectric tube has a first inner diameter at the distal end and a second inner diameter at a proximal end of the piezoelectric tube, and wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter;
- a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber, the cantilevered free end portion having an attached, proximal end that is physically coupled with the proximal end of the piezoelectric tube and a free, distal end to be moved by the piezoelectric tube, wherein at least a quarter of a length of the cantilevered free end portion is disposed within the piezoelectric tube;
- and
- a transparent material of the housing in an optical path of light directed through the cantilevered free end portion.
A scanning fiber device comprising:
- a piezoelectric tube, wherein the piezoelectric tube is tapered, and wherein an inner cross-sectional length at a distal end of the piezoelectric tube is larger than an inner cross-sectional length at a proximal end of the piezoelectric tube;
- a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber, the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber having an attached end that is coupled with the piezoelectric tube and a free end to be moved by the piezoelectric tube, and
- wherein at least a portion of a length of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber is disposed within the piezoelectric tube.
A method of using a scanning fiber device comprising:
- providing electrical signals to a piezoelectric tube of the scanning fiber device;
- responsive to providing the electrical signals to the piezoelectric tube, moving at least a portion of a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber of the scanning fiber device within the piezoelectric tube, wherein said moving comprises moving the portion of the cantilevered free end portion within a tapered piezoeiectric tube, and wherein the tapered piezoelectric tube has a greatest cross-sectional length closest to a free end of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber;
- and directing light through the free end of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber.
A scanning fiber device comprising:
- a housing;
- an actuator tube within the housing, a distal portion of the actuator tube physically coupled with the housing, wherein the actuator tube is tapered;
- a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber, the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber having an attached, proximal end that is physically coupled with a proximal portion of the actuator tube and a free end to be moved by the actuator tube,
- wherein at least a quarter of a length of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber is disposed within the actuator tube, and
- wherein the proximal portion of the actuator tube is operable to move in order to move the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber.
A scanning fiber device comprising:
- a housing;
- a cantilevered actuator tube within the housing and physically coupled with the housing, the cantilevered actuator tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end physically coupled with the housing, the proximal end to be displaced when the cantilevered actuator tube is actuated, wherein the actuator tube is tapered, wherein the tapered actuator tube has a first inner diameter at the distal end and a second inner diameter at the proximal end, and wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter;
- a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber, the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber having a proximal end that is physically coupled with the proximal end of the actuator tube and a free end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.