# US 9,516,997 B2 · Spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques, apparatus and methods

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,516,997 B2
- Document ID: US9516997B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/465,960
- Filed: 2014-08-22
- Published: 2015-02-12
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-19
- Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation
- Applicants: The General Hospital Corporation
- Inventors: Milen Shishkov; Guillermo J. Tearney; Brett Eugene Bouma; Dvir Yelin; Nicusor Iftimia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516997B2

## CPC

- G02B 23/2453: {of the proximal end}
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/00167: {Details of optical fibre bundles, e.g. shape or fibre distribution}
- A61B 1/00172: {with means for scanning}
- A61B 1/00188: {with focusing or zooming features}
- A61B 1/002: having rod-lens arrangements (A61B1/055 takes precedence)
- A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths}
- A61B 5/0062: {Arrangements for scanning}
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- B24B 9/14: of optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms {(control of the position of the tool for bevelling optical work B24B47/225)}
- G01J 3/02: Details
- G01J 3/0205: {Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows}
- G01J 3/0208: {using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction}
- G01J 3/0218: {using optical fibers}
- G01J 3/0256: {Compact construction}
- G01J 3/18: using diffraction elements, e.g. grating (gratings per se G02B)
- G02B 23/26: using light guides {(for illumination G02B23/2469)}
- A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging}
- A61B 5/0068: {Confocal scanning}
- A61B 5/0086: {using infrared radiation}
- G02B 5/18: Diffraction gratings {(holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44)}
- G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)

## Abstract

Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one first optical fiber arrangement which is configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second focusing arrangement in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation to generate the focused electro-magnetic radiation. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least at least one dispersive third arrangement which can receive a particular radiation (e.g., the first electro-magnetic radiation(s) and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation), and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for obtaining information for a structure, comprising:
at least one first optical fiber arrangement configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and including at least one fiber;
at least one dispersive second arrangement configured to receive a particular radiation which is at least one of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and forward a spectrally-dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure; and
at least one focusing third arrangement in an optical communication with the at least one first optical fiber arrangement,
wherein the at least one third arrangement is configured to focus and provide there through the spectrally-dispersed radiation to generate a focused electro-magnetic radiation, and
wherein at least one end of the at least one fiber is connected to at least one of the at least one focusing third arrangement and or the at least one dispersive second arrangement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispersive second arrangement is provided at a particular angle with respect to an extension of the at least one first optical fiber arrangement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the particular angle substantially corresponds to a Littrow's angle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the particular angle is substantially greater than 1 degree.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispersive arrangement includes a grating.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement includes an optical component with a numerical aperture of at most 0.2.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one end is directly connected to the optical component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particular radiation comprises at least one of a plurality of wavelengths or a single wavelength that changes over time.

### Claim 9

An apparatus for obtaining information for a structure, comprising:
at least one first optical fiber arrangement configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and including at least one fiber;
at least one dispersive second arrangement configured to receive a particular radiation which is at least one of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and forward a spectrally-dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure;
at least one focusing third arrangement in optical communication with the at least one first optical fiber arrangement,
wherein the at least one focusing third arrangement is configured to focus and provide there through the spectrally-dispersive radiation to generate the focused electro-magnetic radiation,
wherein at least one end of the at least one fiber is connected to at least one of the at least one focusing third arrangement or the at least one dispersive second arrangement, and
wherein at least two of the first, second and third arrangements are provided in a monolithic configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one dispersive second arrangement is provided at a particular angle with respect to an extension of the at least one first optical fiber arrangement.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the particular angle substantially corresponds to a Littrow's angle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the particular angle is substantially greater than 1 degree.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one dispersive arrangement includes a grating.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement includes an optical component with a numerical aperture of at most 0.2.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one end is directly connected to the optical component.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the particular radiation comprises at least one of a plurality of wavelengths or a single wavelength that changes over time.

### Claim 17

An apparatus for obtaining information for a structure, comprising:
at least one first optical fiber arrangement configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and including at least one fiber;
at least one focusing second arrangement configured to generate focused electro-magnetic radiation; and
at least one dispersive third arrangement configured to forward a spectrally-dispersed radiation to at least one section of the structure,
wherein a radiation, that is from the at least one first electro-magnetic and the at least one dispersive third arrangement, is forward to at least one section of the structure, and
wherein at least one end of the at least one fiber is connected to at least one of the at least one focusing second arrangement or the at least one dispersive third arrangement.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one dispersive second arrangement is provided at a particular angle with respect to an extension of the at least one first optical fiber arrangement.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the particular angle substantially corresponds to a Littrow's angle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the particular angle is substantially greater than 1 degree.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one dispersive arrangement includes a grating.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one focusing arrangement includes an optical component with a numerical aperture of at most 0.2.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one end is directly connected to the optical component.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the particular radiation comprises at least one of a plurality of wavelengths or a single wavelength that changes over time.