US 7,616,986 B2Granted

Optical fiber scanner for performing multimodal optical imaging

AssigneeUniversity of Washington

InventorsEric Seibel, Xingde Li, Xiumei Liu

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Abstract

An optical fiber scanner is used for multiphoton excitation imaging, optical coherence tomography, or for confocal imaging in which transverse scans are carried out at a plurality of successively different depths within tissue. The optical fiber scanner is implemented as a scanning endoscope using a cantilevered optical fiber that is driven into resonance or near resonance by an actuator. The actuator is energized with drive signals that cause the optical fiber to scan in a desired pattern at successively different depths as the depth of the focal point is changed. Various techniques can be employed for depth focus tracking at a rate that is much slower than the transverse scanning carried out by the vibrating optical fiber. The optical fiber scanner can be used for confocal imaging, multiphoton fluorescence imaging, nonlinear harmonic generation imaging, or in an OCT system that includes a phase or frequency modulator and delay line.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for using an optical fiber scanner for carrying out rapid scanning during imaging of a subject to carry out either optical coherence tomography, confocal imaging, or multiphoton excitation imaging of the subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing the optical fiber scanner to a position adjacent to the subject, the optical fiber scanner including an actuator cantilevered from a fixed mounting base, and an optical fiber, a portion of the optical fiber being cantilevered from the actuator to form a cantilevered optical fiber, the actuator including a plurality of pairs of drivers disposed in a predefined pattern to drive the cantilevered optical fiber in regard to a plurality of axes of the actuator;
(b) actuating the cantilevered optical fiber such that it rapidly moves generally in a two-dimensional area scanning path comprising a desired scanning pattern and such that it is driven to vibrate at one of a resonant frequency, and a near-resonant frequency of the cantilevered optical fiber, a combination of the actuator that is cantilevered and the cantilevered optical fiber resulting in a large displacement of the cantilevered optical fiber as it moves in the two-dimensional scanning path at a rapid rate, the step of actuating comprising the step of applying a signal that actuates the plurality of pairs of drivers to drive the cantilevered optical fiber in the desired scanning pattern;
(c) conveying light through the cantilevered optical fiber and emitting the light from a distal portion of the cantilevered optical fiber, to illuminate the subject as the light emitted from the distal portion of the cantilevered optical fiber scans the subject in the desired scanning pattern at a desired depth within the subject;
(d) moving a focal point of the optical fiber scanner generally along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the desired scanning pattern, to scan at a different desired depth within the subject;
and
(e) repeating step (b) at the different desired depth.

3 more elements

A compact optical fiber scanner adapted for use in carrying out a rapid transverse scan while imaging a subject during either optical coherence tomography, confocal imaging, or multiphoton excitation imaging of the subject, comprising:

(a) a light source that produces light;
(b) an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the light source being optically coupled to the proximal end of said optical fiber, said distal end of the optical fiber being adapted to be positioned adjacent to a subject;
(c) a scanning actuator disposed adjacent to the distal end of a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, a portion of the optical fiber being cantilevered from the scanning actuator, said scanning actuator driving the cantilevered portion of the optical fiber that is disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber to vibrate in two generally orthogonal directions, both of which are generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, causing light produced by the light source that is conveyed through the optical fiber and is emitted from a distal end of the cantilevered portion, to scan a region of interest in a desired scanning pattern, wherein said scanning actuator drives the cantilevered portion of the optical fiber to vibrate at one of a resonant frequency, and a near-resonant frequency, the scanning actuator comprising a tubular piezoelectric driver that is configured to be axially symmetric about the portion of the optical fiber that is cantilevered from the scanning actuator, and concentric about the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, to thereby achieve a compact configuration;
(d) a focusing lens disposed proximate to and distal of the distal end of the cantilevered portion of the optical fiber, said focusing lens being longitudinally spaced apart from the scanning actuator;
(e) a focal point displacer that moves a focal point of the focusing lens to change a disposition of a focal point of the optical fiber scanner, to scan at a different depth in a subject after the scanning actuator and cantilevered portion of the optical fiber have completed scanning at a previous depth;
and
(f) a light detector that responds to light that was reflected from a subject and collected by the optical fiber scanner, producing a signal.

4 more elements

An optical fiber scanner adapted for use in carrying out a rapid transverse scan while imaging a subject during either optical coherence tomography, confocal imaging, or multiphoton excitation imaging of the subject, comprising:

(a) a light source that produces light;
(b) an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the light source being optically coupled to the proximal end of said optical fiber, said distal end of the optical fiber being adapted to be positioned adjacent to a subject;
(c) a piezoelectric actuator having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the piezoelectric actuator being supported by a fixed mounting base and being cantilevered therefrom, the distal end of the optical fiber including a cantilevered portion that extends distally from the distal end of the piezoelectric actuator, said piezoelectric actuator including a plurality of pairs of drivers disposed in a predefined pattern in regard to a plurality of axes of the actuator, thereby configuring the actuator to drive the cantilevered portion of the optical fiber that is disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber to vibrate in two generally orthogonal directions, both of which are generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, causing light produced by the light source that is conveyed through the optical fiber and is emitted from a distal end of the cantilevered portion, to scan a region of interest in a desired scanning pattern;
(d) a focusing lens disposed proximate to the distal end of the cantilevered portion of the optical fiber;
(e) a focal point displacer that causes a relative movement between the distal end of that cantilevered portion of the optical fiber and the focusing lens, to change a disposition of a focal point of the optical fiber scanner, enabling the optical fiber scanner to scan at a different depth in a subject after the scanning actuator and cantilevered portion of the optical fiber have completed scanning at a previous depth;
and
(f) a light detector that responds to light reflected from a subject and collected by the optical fiber, producing a signal useful for imaging the subject.

4 more elements

A method for using an optical fiber scanner for carrying out rapid scanning during imaging of a subject to carry out one of optical coherence tomography, confocal imaging, and multiphoton excitation imaging of the subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing the optical fiber scanner to a position adjacent to the subject, the optical fiber scanner including an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said optical fiber scanner further having an actuator disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and disposed adjacent to the distal end such that the distal end of the optical fiber is cantilevered from the actuator to form a cantilevered optical fiber that is configured to be actuated to vibrate so that the cantilevered optical fiber moves in a desired scanning pattern to scan the subject, the cantilevered optical fiber emitting light from a distal end of the cantilevered optical fiber that is focused using a lens that is disposed at or distally beyond the distal end of the optical fiber and longitudinally spaced apart from the actuator, to illuminate the subject as the light emitted from the distal portion of the cantilevered optical fiber scans the subject in the desired scanning pattern at a depth determined by a focal point of the optical fiber scanner;
(b) actuating the cantilevered optical fiber symmetrically about the longitudinal axis using a tubular actuator that is concentrically disposed about the cantilevered optical fiber, thereby achieving a compact configuration that causes the cantilevered optical fiber to vibrate such that the cantilevered optical fiber rapidly moves generally in a two-dimensional area scanning path comprising the desired scanning pattern, at a frequency greater than 1.0 kilohertz;
(c) moving the focal point of the optical fiber scanner generally along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to a plane of the desired scanning pattern, to scan at a different depth within the subject, the focal point moving at a substantially slower rate than that at which the cantilevered optical fiber scans in the desired scanning pattern;
and
(d) repeating step (b) to scan at the different depth.

2 more elements

A method for using an optical fiber scanner for carrying out rapid scanning, to carry out any of optical coherence tomography imaging, confocal imaging, or multiphoton excitation imaging of a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing the optical fiber scanner to a position adjacent to the subject, the optical fiber scanner including an actuator cantilevered from a fixed mounting base, and an optical fiber, a portion of the optical fiber being cantilevered from the actuator to form a cantilevered optical fiber, the actuator including a plurality of pairs of drivers disposed in a predefined pattern to drive the cantilevered optical fiber in regard to a plurality of axes of the actuator, thereby enabling the actuator to drive the cantilevered optical fiber to vibrate so that the cantilevered optical fiber moves in a desired scanning pattern to scan the subject at a depth determined by a focal point of the optical fiber scanner, the cantilevered optical fiber conveying light that is emitted from a distal portion of the cantilevered optical fiber, to illuminate the subject as the light emitted from the distal portion of the cantilevered optical fiber scans the subject in the desired scanning pattern, wherein the desired scanning pattern is either a spiral scan or a helical scan;
(b) actuating the cantilevered optical fiber such that it rapidly moves generally in a two-dimensional area scanning path comprising the desired scanning pattern and such that it is driven to vibrate at either a resonant frequency, or a near-resonant frequency of the cantilevered optical fiber, a combination of the actuator that is cantilevered and the cantilevered optical fiber resulting in a large displacement of the cantilevered optical fiber as it moves in the two-dimensional scanning path at a rapid rate;
(c) moving the focal point of the optical fiber scanner generally along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the desired scanning pattern, to scan at a different depth within the subject;
and
(d) repeating step (b) at the different depth.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/880,008Filed 28 Jun 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 7 May 2001
Published: US 2004/0254474 A116 Dec 2004
Granted: 10 Nov 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

A61B 5/6852
Mounted on an invasive device: catheters
A61B 5/0062
Using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence: arrangements for scanning
A61B 5/0066
Arrangements for scanning: optical coherence imaging
A61B 5/0068
Arrangements for scanning: confocal scanning

Family

Application09/850,594Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 May 2001
US 2004/0254474 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Dec 2004
US 6,975,898 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0055462 A1Published application
US 7,616,986 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.