Ultrathin single-channel fiberscopes for biomedical imaging

Angelique L. Kano; Andrew R. Rouse; Arthur F. Gmitro

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.18.1.016013

18 January 2013 Ultrathin single-channel fiberscopes for biomedical imaging

Angelique L. Kano, Andrew R. Rouse, Arthur F. Gmitro

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 18, Issue 1, 016013 (January 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.18.1.016013

Abstract

Ultrathin flexible fiberscopes typically have separate illumination and imaging channels and are available in diameters ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. Diameters can potentially be reduced by combining the illumination and imaging paths into a single fiberoptic channel. Single-channel fiberscopes must incorporate a system to minimize Fresnel reflections from air–glass interfaces within the common illumination and detection path. The Fresnel reflection at the proximal surface of the fiber bundle is particularly problematic. This paper describes and compares methods to reduce the background signal from the proximal surface of the fiber bundle. Three techniques are evaluated: (1) antireflective (AR)-coating the proximal face of the fiber, (2) incorporating crossed polarizers into the light path, and (3) a novel technique called numerical aperture sharing, whereby a portion of the image numerical aperture is devoted to illumination and a portion to detection.

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Angelique L. Kano, Andrew R. Rouse, and Arthur F. Gmitro "Ultrathin single-channel fiberscopes for biomedical imaging," Journal of Biomedical Optics 18(1), 016013 (18 January 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.18.1.016013

Published: 18 January 2013

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