System and method for efficient coherence anti-stokes raman scattering endoscopic and intravascular imaging and multimodal imaging

US8582096B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Zhongping Chen · Irvine, US
• Gangjun Liu · Chongqing, CN
• Mihael Balu · Newport Beach, US
• Bruce J. Tromberg · Irvine, US
• Eric O. Potma · Irvine, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 20, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/0866
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A fiber-delivered probe suitable for CARS imaging of thick tissues is practical. The disclosed design is based on two advances. First, a major problem in CARS probe design is the presence of a very strong anti-Stokes component in silica delivery fibers generated through a FWM process. Without proper spectral filtering, this component affects the CARS image from the tissue sample. The illustrated embodiments of the invention efficiently suppress this spurious anti-Stokes component through the use of a separate fiber for excitation delivery and for signal detection, which allows the incorporation of dichroic optics for anti-Stokes rejection. Second, the detection of backscattered CARS radiation from the sample is optimized by using a large core multi mode fiber in the detection channel. This scheme produces high quality CARS images free of detector aperture effects. Miniaturization of this fiber-delivered probe results in a practical handheld probe for clinical CARS imaging.