阅读说明：本技术 一种具有优化的焦深、工作距和轴向光强均匀性的探头 (Probe with optimized focal depth, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity ) 是由 丁志华 邱建榕 王迪 刘智毅 韩涛 于 2019-09-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了一种具有优化的焦深、工作距和轴向光强均匀性的探头,本发明由一段用于导光的单模光纤、用于提高光传输效率以及调控模式能量的一号梯度折射率光纤、用于产生模式干涉场(MIF)以及调控模间相位差的大纤芯光纤、用于放大MIF的二号梯度折射率光纤、无芯光纤以及用于聚焦的三号梯度折射率光纤组成。本发明在扩展焦深的同时,优化了轴向光强均匀性,并且延长了工作距。本发明不要求相位稳定性、不需要机械扫描并且使用同一条光路实现照明和探测,非常有利于探头的小型化设计；本发明容许更大的制造误差,降低了制造成本。(The invention provides a probe with optimized focal depth, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity, which consists of a section of single-mode optical fiber for guiding light, a first gradient refractive index optical fiber for improving light transmission efficiency and regulating and controlling mode energy, a large fiber core optical fiber for generating a Mode Interference Field (MIF) and regulating and controlling the phase difference between modes, a second gradient refractive index optical fiber for amplifying the MIF, a coreless optical fiber and a third gradient refractive index optical fiber for focusing. The invention optimizes the uniformity of axial light intensity and prolongs the working distance while expanding the focal depth. The invention does not require phase stability, does not need mechanical scanning, realizes illumination and detection by using the same light path, and is very beneficial to the miniaturization design of the probe; the invention allows larger manufacturing error and reduces manufacturing cost.)

1. A probe with optimized depth of focus, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity, characterized by: the single-mode fiber comprises a single-mode fiber SMF, a first graded-index fiber GIF1, a large-core fiber LCF, a second graded-index fiber GIF2, a coreless fiber NCF and a third graded-index fiber GIF 3;

the single-mode fiber SMF, the first graded-index fiber GIF1, the large-core fiber LCF, the second graded-index fiber GIF2, the coreless fiber NCF and the third graded-index fiber GIF3 are sequentially welded; the second graded-index optical fiber GIF2 enlarges MIF images of the interface of the large-core optical fiber LCF for regulating the phase difference between the modes and the second graded-index optical fiber GIF2 to the entrance pupil of GIF 3; the length of the coreless fiber NCF is such that the image-enlarged MIF just fills the entrance pupil of the GIF 3.

2. A probe with optimized depth of focus, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity according to claim 1, wherein: the tail end of the large-core fiber LCF generates a mode interference field MIF; the mode interference field MIF is regulated and controlled by the lengths of the first graded-index optical fiber GIF1 and the large-core optical fiber LCF, wherein the first graded-index optical fiber GIF1 regulates and controls the mode energy of the mode interference field MIF, and the large-core optical fiber LCF regulates and controls the phase difference between modes of the mode interference field MIF.

3. A probe with optimized depth of focus, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity according to claim 1, wherein: the length of the first graded-index fiber GIF1 is zero.

4. A probe with optimized depth of focus, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity according to claim 1, wherein: the outer diameter of each section of optical fiber is the same as that of a standard single-mode optical fiber.

5. A probe with optimized depth of focus, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity according to claim 1, wherein: the length of the third gradient index fiber GIF3 for focusing is to achieve the lateral resolution required by the OCT system.

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the field of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and particularly relates to a probe for simultaneously realizing focal depth expansion, working distance extension and axial light intensity uniformity optimization by using mode interference in an Optical fiber.

Technical Field

OCT can obtain high-resolution three-dimensional structural information and functional information of internal tissues of a living body through an endoscopic probe [1], and is an important imaging means. In contrast to conventional optical imaging methods, the axial resolution of OCT is independent of the lateral resolution, but depends on the coherence length of the light source. The axial resolution of the most advanced broadband light source can reach 1-5 microns (2). However, if the lateral resolution is increased to an equivalent level, the effective imaging range of OCT is limited by the extremely short focal depth of the beam due to the fast divergence of the beam near the focal point.

To solve the contradiction between the lateral resolution and the focal depth, various schemes have been proposed and an order of magnitude of depth of focus extension, such as digital focusing, has been achieved^[3,4]Dynamic focusing^[5]And Optical needle (Optical needle) focusing^[6]. However, some of the above methods require phase stability, some require mechanical scanning, and some require two optical paths for illumination and detection, respectively. Therefore, these methods are difficult to apply to a miniaturized probe. By chemical etching^[7]Or grinding and polishing^[8]Miniature axicon and miniature binary phase plate manufactured by soft photoetching^[9]Has been used for the expansion of the probe focal depth, but these micro-optical elements have very limited expansion factors for the probe focal depth compared to desktop systems. On the other hand, a phase mask-based scheme that does not require any other processing process than cutting and splicing a series of optical fibers has been reported^[10]However, the scheme based on the phase mask plate has high requirements on the cutting precision of the optical fiber. Another method for realizing focal depth expansion in all-fiber probe utilizes high-order mode in step-index fiber^[11,12]However, the destructive interference phenomenon in the depth of focus region causes the intensity of the outgoing light beam to be distributed unevenly in the axial direction, which adversely affects the overall imaging effect. Recently, we have observed that by modulating the multimode stem in a fiber-type pupil filterThe field-related energy is used for expanding the focal depth of the all-fiber probe^[13]However, the previous probe designs have limited working distances.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the defects of the prior art, the invention provides a probe with optimized focal depth, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity.

A probe with optimized focal depth, working distance and axial light intensity uniformity comprises a single mode fiber SMF, a first graded-index fiber GIF1, a large-core fiber LCF, a second graded-index fiber GIF2, a coreless fiber NCF and a third graded-index fiber GIF 3;

the single-mode fiber SMF, the first graded-index fiber GIF1, the large-core fiber LCF, the second graded-index fiber GIF2, the coreless fiber NCF and the third graded-index fiber GIF3 are sequentially welded; the second graded-index optical fiber GIF2 enlarges MIF images of the interface of the large-core optical fiber LCF for regulating the phase difference between the modes and the second graded-index optical fiber GIF2 to the entrance pupil of GIF 3; the length of the coreless fiber NCF is such that the image-enlarged MIF just fills the entrance pupil of the GIF 3. The MIF after imaging and amplification is finally used as a pupil filter of the probe, which is beneficial to the expansion of the focal depth and the extension of the working distance.

Preferably, the end of the large core fiber LCF generates a mode interference field MIF; the mode interference field MIF is regulated and controlled by the lengths of the first graded-index optical fiber GIF1 and the large-core optical fiber LCF, wherein the first graded-index optical fiber GIF1 regulates and controls the mode energy of the mode interference field MIF, and the large-core optical fiber LCF regulates and controls the phase difference between modes of the mode interference field MIF.

Preferably, the outer diameter of each section of optical fiber is the same as that of a standard single-mode optical fiber, so that the welded probe is stable and reliable in structure. The integrated probe is equivalent to a single-mode optical fiber and is convenient to be used in various endoscopic scenes.

Preferably, the length of the third gradient index fiber GIF3 for focusing is such that the lateral resolution required by the OCT system is achieved.

The intermodal phase difference can be adjusted through the length of the LCF, and is the key for optimizing the axial light intensity uniformity of the emergent light beam.

The GIF1 is used to improve light transmission efficiency and regulate mode energy. For example: the coupling efficiency between GIF1 and the LCFs following it is higher when GIF1 is one-quarter pitch in length, the LCFs having predominantly LP₀₁Mode, mode interference in LCF is negligible; with a length of 0 for GIF1 (no GIF1), the optical energy tends to be distributed in the higher order modes of the LCF, but the direct coupling of the SMF to the LCF may result in higher insertion loss.

In the invention, a design for simultaneously expanding the focal depth, prolonging the working distance and optimizing the axial light intensity uniformity of an emergent light beam based on mode interference is provided. We use the lensed, rather than directly diffractively amplified, modal interference field as the final pupil filter to achieve greater depth of focus and longer working distance. The uniformity of the light intensity of the emergent light beam in the axial direction is optimized by adjusting the phase difference between the modes. The probe consists of a section of single-mode optical fiber for guiding light, a first gradient refractive index optical fiber for improving light transmission efficiency and regulating mode energy, a large fiber core optical fiber for generating a Mode Interference Field (MIF) and regulating and controlling phase difference between modes, a second gradient refractive index optical fiber for amplifying the MIF, a coreless optical fiber and a third gradient refractive index optical fiber for focusing.

Compared with the background art, the invention has the beneficial effects that:

1. compared with digital focusing, dynamic focusing and quasi-optical needle focusing, the invention does not require phase stability, does not need mechanical scanning and uses the same optical path to realize illumination and detection, thereby being very beneficial to the miniaturization design of the probe;

2. compared with the method based on the micro axicon and the micro binary phase plate, the manufacturing of the probe is compatible with the manufacturing process of the traditional all-fiber probe, and other processing processes are not needed except for cutting and welding a series of optical fibers. In addition, a series of optical fibers selected by the invention have the same outer cladding diameter (only 125 mu m) as that of the standard single-mode optical fiber, so that the probe formed by welding the optical fibers is reliable in structure and flexible in application scene;

3. compared with the method based on the phase mask plate, the method disclosed by the invention allows larger manufacturing errors and reduces the manufacturing cost;

4. compared with the method utilizing a high-order mode, the method further optimizes the uniformity of the axial light intensity of the emergent light beam by adjusting the phase difference between the modes;

5. compared with the original design based on the optical fiber type pupil filter, the invention uses the mode interference field amplified by the lens instead of the mode interference field amplified by direct diffraction as the final pupil filter, and obtains larger focal depth and longer working distance under the same transverse resolution.

Drawings

Fig. 1(a) is a schematic structural view of a conventional probe. SMF, single mode fiber; NCF, coreless fiber; GIF, gradient index fiber.

Fig. 1(b) is a schematic structural diagram of the probe proposed by the present invention. SMF, single mode fiber; GIF1, gradient index fiber No. one; LCF, large core fiber; GIF2, graded index fiber No. two; NCF, coreless fiber; GIF3, No. three graded index fiber; p1 and P2 are a pair of object conjugate planes determined by the lens imaging relationship of GIF 2.

Fig. 2 shows the simulated light field intensity distribution of the emergent light beam in the air in six typical cases. The light intensity is normalized according to the light intensity of the light source and displayed in a quadratic root scale in the figure.

Fig. 3(a) is a photomicrograph of the fabricated conventional probe. SMF, single mode fiber; NCF, coreless fiber; GIF, gradient index fiber.

Fig. 3(b) is a micrograph of the proposed probe produced. SMF, single mode fiber; GIF1, gradient index fiber No. one; LCF, large core fiber; GIF2, graded index fiber No. two; NCF, coreless fiber; GIF3, third graded index fiber.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a swept frequency OCT system.

Fig. 5(a) shows the variation of the Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) diameter of the emergent beam of the conventional probe in air as a function of the depth z. WD denotes the working distance.

Fig. 5(b) proposes the FWHM diameter of the outgoing beam of the probe in air as a function of depth z. WD denotes the working distance.

FIG. 5(c) a reflection intensity map obtained using a conventional probe to image a resolution test target located at the focal point of the probe.

Fig. 5(d) a reflection intensity map obtained using the proposed probe to image a resolution test target located at the probe's focal point.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in fig. 1(a), the conventional all-fiber probe consists of a single-mode fiber (SMF), a coreless fiber (NCF), and a graded-index fiber (GIF). Where SMF is used to guide light, NCF is used to amplify the beam, and GIF is used to focus the beam. To extend the depth of focus, a series of fiber segments GIF1-LCF-GIF2 were inserted between the SMF and the NCF, as shown in FIG. 1 (b). Where a GIF number one (i.e., GIF1) is used to modulate the mode excited in the immediately following Large Core Fiber (LCF). Without GIF1, the optical energy tends to be distributed in the higher order modes of the LCF and results in higher insertion loss due to the mismatch of the SMF and LCF numerical apertures. The transmission of light in LCFs can be decomposed into transmissions of linearly polarized modes (Linear polarized modes) with different propagation constants. Due to the symmetry of the probe structure and the limited V value of LCF, LP is only below the cut-off frequency₀₁Mold and LP₀₂The mode is substantially excited and stably transported in the LCF. LP₀₁Mold and LP₀₂Mode interference of the modes forms MIF at the end of the LCF. The MIF can be regulated by adjusting the length of the LCF and can be used as a pupil filter to realize the expansion of the focal depth. On the other hand, to extend the working distance of the probe, the scale of the MIF needs to be enlarged. One way to amplify the MIF is to propagate the MIF a distance first in the NCF. However, due to the diffractive effect of light in a homogeneous medium, the diffraction-amplified MIF differs from the amplified version of the original MIF, which is likely to result in a deterioration of the effect using it as a pupil filter. Another method of magnifying the MIF is to use lens imaging magnification. We here used GIF No. 2 (i.e., GIF2) to magnify the MIF image at the LCF-GIF2 interface to the entrance pupil location of GIF No. 3 (i.e., GIF 3). Is penetrated throughThe mirror image amplified MIF finally acts as a pupil filter for the probe.

TABLE 1 specification of optical fiber selected for probe (wavelength 1.3 μm)

The MIF at the end of the LCF and the chosen way of amplification of the MIF are expected to be the main factors influencing the characteristics of the outgoing beam. There are three cases, based on the limited number of patterns allowed to exist in the LCF, including the predominant presence of LP in the LCF₀₁Negligible mode interference, and simultaneous presence of LP in LCF₀₁Mold and LP₀₂There are two cases where there is significant mode interference but the modes differ significantly in phase difference at the end of the LCF. The above three cases plus two amplification modes for MIF correspond to six typical parameter selection modes. Table 1 lists the specifications (wavelength 1.3 μm) of the individual fibers in the probe. Table 2 lists the fiber lengths and exit beam characteristics for six exemplary probes. Where example I (almost no modal interference), example II and example III (significant modal interference but different intermodal phase difference) magnify MIF by way of lens imaging. For comparison, example IV (almost no modal interference), example V and example VI (significant modal interference but different intermodal phase difference) amplify MIF by direct diffraction.

TABLE 2 Length and emergent Beam characteristics of the fibers in the six exemplary cases

The normalized depth of focus (NDOFG) of the probe exit beam can be expressed as:

where λ is the center wavelength, n is the index of refraction of the medium outside the probe, the beam diameter (FHWM) is defined as the full width at half maximum of the transverse intensity of the beam, and the depth of focus (DOF) is defined as the range of depths where the beam diameter is less than twice its minimum. For a gaussian beam, there is an NDOFG equal to 1.

The intermodal phase difference at the end of the LCF is:

wherein is delta phi₀Is the initial intermodal phase difference at the GIF1-LCF interface,

for LP in LCF₀₂Mold and LP₀₁Difference in propagation constant between modes, L_GIF1And L_LCFThe length of GIF1 and LCF, respectively.

The selection of the lengths of the six exemplary GIF1 and LCFs listed in table 2 correspond to three cases, the first of which has little mode interference but the highest coupling efficiency, the second and third of which have significant two-mode interference but completely different intermodal phase differences. Where examples I and IV use quarter pitch GIF1 so that the LP is excited predominantly in LCF₀₁Mode and almost no mode interference. Here the LCF length has little effect on MIF and is chosen with reference to achieving the same intermodal phase difference as examples III and VI. The lengths of the GIF1 and LCFs of examples II, III, V, and VI were chosen with the goal of achieving significant two-mode interference and maximized depth of focus extension. The LCF tips of example II and example V have a completely different intermodal phase difference than example III and example VI, resulting in their outgoing beams having different on-axis light intensity distributions. The NCF in all six examples is the same length and is chosen to target an enlarged MIF that completely fills the entrance pupil of the GIF 3. The length of the GIF2 was chosen based on the conjugate relationship between P1 and P2 in FIG. 1 (b). The length of the GIF3 was the same in all six examples, which was chosen to target a minimum exit beam diameter (MBD) of about 5 μm.

To illustrate the ability to manipulate the outgoing beam, we performed optical simulations of six typical design examples of the probe. Beam propagation methods (Beam propagation methods) and angular spectroscopy are used to simulate waveguide structures and homogeneous media (e.g., coreless fibers and air), respectively. The light field intensity distribution in air of the emergent beam in the six examples is shown in fig. 2, and the corresponding beam characteristics are listed in table 2. Examples II, III, V and VI in which significant bimodal interference exists have significant depth of focus extension effects (NDOFG ≧ 1.5). Further, the outgoing beams of examples II and V exhibited destructive interference in the depth of focus region due to the difference in the inter-mode phase difference, which was not the case in examples III and V. Therefore, the adjustment and control of the phase difference between the modes is the key to realize the axial light intensity homogenization of the emergent light beam. Furthermore, example III, which magnifies MIF using a lens imaging approach, achieves both uniform focusing and maximum depth of focus extension, and is therefore used as an optimal parameter for the design of the proposed probe. Compared with the original probe design with the working distance of 130 μm, the working distance of the probe in the air is improved to 200 μm.

To make a probe based on example III, each fiber sequence was cut and fused in sequence to the end of the probe by a fiber cutter and a fiber fusion splicer. By contrast, we made a conventional probe with equivalent lateral resolution, as shown in fig. 3 (a). To mitigate end face reflections from the probes, a small angle cut NCF was welded to the ends of the two probes. Fig. 3(b) shows micrographs of two probes fabricated. Because each section of optical fiber has the same outer diameter with the standard single mode optical fiber, the proposed probe has high mechanical stability and flexible application scene.

To illustrate the advantages of the proposed probe in OCT imaging, the two fabricated probes were inserted into a built swept OCT system, as shown in fig. 4. The center wavelength of the sweep light source is 1.3 μm, and the bandwidth is 100 nm. To achieve two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging, the probe is held stationary while the sample is placed on a two-dimensional motorized rail for lateral scanning. And after the acquired interference spectrum signals are subjected to equal wave number interval sampling, dispersion compensation and fast Fourier transform, a required OCT image is formed.

The diameter and depth of focus of the probe exit beam were calibrated by imaging 1951USAF resolution test targets placed at different depths. The 7 th group of units 1-6 of the resolution test target is used for testing, and the corresponding line pair period is 4.4-7.8 mu m. The measured lateral resolution of the conventional probe and the proposed probe as a function of depth is shown in fig. 5(a) and 5(b), corresponding to focal depths of 103 μm and 211 μm, respectively. FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d) show the reflectance of the test target at the probe focal point, showing that both probes have similar optimal lateral resolution and are better than 4.4 μm. Thus, the proposed probe achieves a double depth of focus extension compared to conventional probes while maintaining the same lateral resolution. Further, fig. 5(a) and 5(b) show that the measured working distance of the conventional probe is 100 μm, and the measured working distance of the proposed probe is 174 μm. The actual working distance of the two probes is reduced due to the small NCF welded at the probe tip. In addition, the axial resolutions of the two probes were measured to be the same and both were 11.3 μm.

We propose a probe for OCT that uses fiber mode interference to simultaneously achieve focal depth extension, working distance extension, and axial light intensity uniformity optimization. The distal optical component of the probe was fabricated to have a diameter of 125 μm and a length of 2.6 mm. Compared to a conventional probe with the same lateral resolution (better than 4.4 μm), the proposed probe has twice the depth of focus and 1.7 times the working distance. The probe has application potential in important fields due to the advantages of optimized imaging quality, easiness in manufacturing, reliable structure and flexible application scene.

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