Multi-core optical fibers are widely used for information transfer and endoscopy. However, dispersion effects result in phase noise of the transmitted light fields, limiting applications. This can be characterized holographically. We investigate the use of laser ablation to apply holograms for correcting the phase noise. We show that the desired phase correction can be applied via intensity modulation. We compare the phase shift of single-shot vs multi-shot ablation. Additionally, the ablation is compared to additive manufacturing and digital optical phase conjugation. The presented results demonstrate, that phase corrected light field transfer is possible via optical fibers.
Lens-less 3D raster-scanning endomicroscopy via multicore fibers (MCFs) enables minimally invasive applications for instance auto fluorescent imaging for cancer diagnostics in the brain. However, it suffers from various issues: (i) periodic core arrangements, which result in higher diffraction orders and a limited field of view, (ii) bend-sensitive transfer functions which require constant on-line calibration, and (iii) inherent (static) differential path length differences of the individual fiber cores. To overcome these limitations, we present an MCF with 1200 aperiodically arranged cores, which is twisted to decrease dynamic bending sensitivity. Furthermore, diffractive optical elements (DOEs) were directly imprinted on the fiber facet using 2-Photon-Polymerization to compensate the inter-core-dispersion.
As a first demonstration, a simple imaging system consisting only of a camera and an MCF with an integrated DOE for phase compensation and focusing is realized for direct imaging. As a result, a flexible phase preserving fiber waveguide is realized, that can easily be included in standard microscopes to extend their field of applications to deep tissue and in vivo imaging.
Coherent fiber bundles used in endoscopic imaging suffer from inter-core dispersion resulting in pseudo random phase distortions for a transmitted wavefront. This limits their application to relaying intensity patterns for pixelated, 2D near field imaging. In the last years, employing spatial light modulators for digital optical conjugation of these distortions and unpixellated 3D raster scanning has been demonstrated. Here we present using 2-Photon Polymerization for writing phase compensation holograms onto the CFB facet enabling direct far field imaging in a simplified and robust manner. Robustness and field of view were increased by aperiodic and twisted fibers.
Lens-less endoscopy based on multi-core fibers (MCFs) with aperiodic core arrangements enables 3D imaging deep inside tissue with reduced imaging artifacts such as higher-order diffraction. With a scalable iterative stack-and-draw process, we fabricated and characterized (e.g. cross-talk) two aperiodic MCFs: (i) a 250 µm fiber with 420 cores and (ii) a 333 µm fiber with 1281 cores. Since lens-less endoscopy is sensitive to dynamic bending, two different approaches to twist the fibers were evaluated: i) rotation of the fiber preform during fiber drawing and (ii) post-production twisting of the MCF within a fiber processing station.
Endoscopes with 3D imaging have been known for some time. Additional information about the depth allows further statements during the examination and better visualisation. However, the measuring heads of such endoscopes are bulky, since they must accommodate optics that enable axial scanning. Hence, the field of application remains very limited. We present an endoscope without optics on the distal end and a significantly smaller measuring head in the sub-millimetre range. This enables endoscope technology to be used in new areas of surgery, such as in brain or cochlea. Conventional endoscopes are too large for these regions. A static phase correction has been demonstrated to be sufficient to maintain phase information. Hence, programmable optics like spatial light modulators are no longer needed. Therefore, we applied 3D printed phase masks using 2-photon polymerisation. This allows a robust and cost-efficient system to be realised. In addition to the process of printing phase correction DOEs, we also present a new setup which allows the sample in front of the endoscope head to be imaged through the fibre bundle directly to a camera sensor. No raster scan is required like in past approaches. Hence, an image can be generated in a single shot without further computational reconstruction.
Lensless endoscopy based on multicore fibres is a promising concept for 3D imaging deep inside tissue. In-depth design studies regarding novel aperiodic multicore fibre designs and their advantages in terms of endoscopy performance are presented.
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