Cell edge optical information acquisition device based on single multimode optical fiber

Abstract

A cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber belongs to the field of optical technology. This invention solves the problems of large size and complex optical paths in existing microscopic detection devices. It includes a laser emitter, a laser beam adjustment device, a beam splitter, a fifth lens, a single multimode optical fiber, a sixth lens, and an image sensing device. The laser beam adjustment device is used to shape the beam emitted by the laser emitter and output a collimated beam. The beam splitter is disposed on the output optical path of the laser beam adjustment device and is used to transmit the collimated beam from the laser beam adjustment device to the fifth lens. The fifth lens is used to focus the collimated beam and couple it into the front end of the single multimode optical fiber. This invention achieves both illumination light transmission and signal light recovery functions through a single multimode optical fiber, realizing a common transmission and reception path, significantly reducing the device size, and greatly expanding the applicable scenarios of the device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of optical technology, and in particular to a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber. Background Technology

[0002] Physical optical detection of cell morphology is fundamental to biomedical detection. Traditional cell detection equipment relies heavily on large optical lens assemblies, requiring extremely high precision in device assembly and adjustment, and the large size of the probes makes them difficult to fit into confined spaces. In scenarios requiring miniaturized probes, optical fibers are typically considered as the light transmission medium.

[0003] However, to extract specific optical information, such as the scattering or reflection characteristics of cell edges, directly illuminating the sample with light through an optical fiber is often ineffective. Physical modulation and shaping at a specific spatial frequency are necessary before the beam is coupled into the fiber. Furthermore, to maintain a minimal probe size, the detection signal must be transmitted back along the original illumination fiber. This requires a sophisticated beam-splitting hardware structure at the front end (light source end) to separate the emission and transmission optical paths.

[0004] Existing equipment for cell observation and edge feature extraction typically relies on microscope objectives, illumination systems, stages, and other components to construct a complete microscopic imaging chain. Such equipment has long optical paths, complex hardware structures, and large volumes. Traditional area array microscopic imaging hardware structures are difficult to adapt to special application scenarios such as remote detection in confined spaces, flexible probes, or where only a single fiber can be used for optical signal input and return. Although multimode fiber has physical advantages such as small aperture and good flexibility, its multimode transmission characteristics make it difficult to construct a stable and compact closed-loop physical detection optical path without a reasonable optical modulation, filtering, coupling, and beam splitting return hardware structure. Therefore, current technology lacks a dedicated device that specifically addresses this need, highly integrating purely optical hardware modules such as static mask modulation, pinhole / slit filtering, fiber coupling, and reflected light separation onto a compact main optical path. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the problems of large size and complex optical path of existing microscopic detection devices, and thus provides a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber, including a laser emitter, a laser beam adjustment device, a beam splitter, a fifth lens, a single multimode optical fiber, a sixth lens, and an image sensing device.

[0007] The laser beam adjustment device is used to shape the beam emitted by the laser emitter and output a collimated beam.

[0008] The beam splitter is disposed on the output optical path of the laser beam adjustment device and is used to transmit the collimated beam from the laser beam adjustment device toward the fifth lens.

[0009] The fifth lens is used to focus the collimated beam and couple it into the front end of the single multimode fiber;

[0010] The single multimode optical fiber has a sample unit fixedly installed at its rear end light outlet, which is used to transmit the illumination beam from the fifth lens to the sample unit and collect the optical signal generated by the sample unit and transmit it in the reverse direction along the original path.

[0011] The beam splitter is also used to reflect the optical signal transmitted in reverse through the single multimode fiber and the fifth lens toward the sixth lens;

[0012] The sixth lens is used to transmit the optical signal to the image sensing device.

[0013] Furthermore, the laser beam adjustment device includes a first lens, a second lens, a reflector, a digital micromirror device, and a filtering and shaping unit arranged sequentially along the optical path;

[0014] The first and second lenses are used to expand and collimate the original laser beam into a parallel wide beam;

[0015] The reflector is used to change the direction of the light path;

[0016] The digital micromirror device is located in the reflected light path of the mirror and is used to spatially modulate the light beam;

[0017] The filtering and shaping unit is used to filter and re-collimate the modulated beam.

[0018] Furthermore, the micromirror array on the surface of the digital micromirror device is fixed with a static mask pattern.

[0019] Furthermore, the filtering and shaping unit includes a third lens, a spatial filtering unit, and a fourth lens; the third lens and the fourth lens are confocal, and the spatial filtering unit is disposed at the rear focal plane of the third lens.

[0020] Furthermore, the surface of the beam splitter is coated with an optical thin film, which is used to transmit a beam of light propagating in the illumination direction and reflect an optical signal propagating in the opposite direction to the illumination direction.

[0021] Furthermore, the beam splitter is tilted in the optical path between the laser beam adjustment device and the fifth lens, and the optical axis of the sixth lens is perpendicular to the optical axis of the fifth lens.

[0022] Furthermore, the sample unit is a physical excitation source for optical signals, and its interior carries the cells to be tested.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0024] This invention utilizes a single multimode optical fiber to simultaneously perform both illumination light transmission and signal light reception, physically achieving a shared transmission and reception path and significantly reducing the device's size. This design fundamentally eliminates the traditional approach of separately configuring a large objective imaging system and camera module at the sample end, resulting in a drastically reduced probe size. The entire system can easily penetrate narrow, enclosed, or complex physiological environments that are difficult for traditional microscopic imaging equipment to reach, enabling in-situ and in vivo detection of microscopic targets such as cells, greatly expanding the device's applicable scenarios.

[0025] This invention optimizes the illumination beam through a synergistic physical modulation mechanism of digital micromirror devices and spatial filtering units. Before coupling the beam into the multimode fiber, it actively purifies and reshapes the spatial frequency distribution of the light field, significantly improving the beam quality and mode purity injected into the fiber. This provides a superior physical foundation for acquiring high-contrast, low-noise cell edge optical signals at the backend, thereby enhancing the reliability and accuracy of feature extraction.

[0026] This invention physically separates the high-power illumination laser incident channel from the extremely sensitive weak signal acquisition channel in the optical path using a beam splitter. This avoids direct crosstalk between the strong illumination light and the weak signal detection path, improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Simultaneously, the spatially offset transmission and reception optical paths allow for a more relaxed and clearer layout of the optical components, simplifying mechanical alignment and fixation. This significantly reduces the difficulty of system integration, assembly, and calibration, thereby improving the mechanical stability and optical reliability of the entire device during long-term use. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber in this invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of the cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber in this invention.

[0030] In the figure: 1. Laser emitter; 2. First lens; 3. Second lens; 4. Reflector; 5. Digital micromirror device; 6. Third lens; 7. Spatial filter unit; 8. Fourth lens; 9. Beam splitter; 10. Fifth lens; 11. Single multimode fiber; 12. Sample unit; 13. Sixth lens; 14. Image sensing device. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present utility model can be combined with each other, and the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, not all embodiments.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] See appendix Figure 1-2 This embodiment describes a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode fiber, comprising a laser emitter 1, a laser beam adjustment device, a beam splitter 9, a fifth lens 10, a single multimode fiber 11, a sixth lens 13, and an image sensing device 14.

[0034] The laser beam adjustment device is used to shape the beam emitted by the laser emitter 1 and output a collimated beam.

[0035] The beam splitter 9 is disposed on the output optical path of the laser beam adjustment device and is used to transmit the collimated beam from the laser beam adjustment device to the fifth lens 10.

[0036] The fifth lens 10 is used to focus the collimated beam and couple it into the front end of the single multimode fiber 11;

[0037] The single multimode optical fiber 11 has a sample unit 12 fixedly installed at its rear light outlet, which is used to transmit the illumination beam from the fifth lens 10 to the sample unit 12 and collect the optical signal generated by the sample unit 12 and transmit it in the reverse direction along the original path.

[0038] The beam splitter 9 is also used to reflect the optical signal transmitted in the opposite direction through the single multimode fiber 11 and the fifth lens 10 toward the sixth lens 13;

[0039] The sixth lens 13 is used to transmit the optical signal to the image sensing device 14.

[0040] The laser beam adjustment device includes a first lens 2, a second lens 3, a reflector 4, a digital micromirror device 5, and a filtering and shaping unit arranged sequentially along the optical path;

[0041] The first lens 2 and the second lens 3 are used to expand and collimate the original laser beam into a parallel wide beam;

[0042] The reflector 4 is used to change the direction of the light path;

[0043] The digital micromirror device 5 is located in the reflected light path of the reflector 4 and is used to spatially modulate the light beam;

[0044] The filtering and shaping unit is used to filter and re-collimate the modulated beam.

[0045] The micromirror array on the surface of the digital micromirror device 5 is fixed with a static mask pattern.

[0046] The filtering and shaping unit includes a third lens 6, a spatial filtering unit 7, and a fourth lens 8; the third lens 6 and the fourth lens 8 are confocal, and the spatial filtering unit 7 is disposed at the rear focal plane of the third lens 6.

[0047] The surface of the beam splitter 9 is coated with an optical thin film, which is used to transmit a beam of light propagating in the illumination direction and reflect an optical signal propagating in the opposite direction to the illumination direction.

[0048] The beam splitter 9 is inclinedly disposed in the optical path between the laser beam adjustment device and the fifth lens 10, and the optical axis of the sixth lens 13 is perpendicular to the optical axis of the fifth lens 10.

[0049] The sample unit 12 is a physical excitation source for optical signals, and it carries the cells to be tested inside.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] This embodiment provides a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber. The device mainly consists of a laser emitter 1, a first lens 2, a second lens 3, a reflector 4, a digital micromirror device 5, a third lens 6, a spatial filter unit 7, a fourth lens 8, a beam splitter 9, a fifth lens 10, a single multimode optical fiber 11, a sample unit 12, a sixth lens 13, and an image sensing device 14. All the above physical components are sequentially fixed to the optical platform via mechanical mounting parts according to a predetermined beam propagation path, together forming a structurally closed, purely physical optical detection hardware system.

[0052] In this embodiment, the laser emitter 1 is fixedly mounted at the physical input end of the device. A first lens 2 and a second lens 3 are coaxially fixed in front of the light output port of the laser emitter 1, and the distance between them is strictly matched according to their focal length. After the original thin beam emitted by the laser passes through the first lens 2 and the second lens 3, it is expanded and collimated by utilizing the physical refraction properties of the lenses to form a parallel wide beam with a suitable spot size.

[0053] A reflector 4 is fixed at a predetermined angle in the optical path behind the second lens 3. The collimated light beam is physically deflected by the reflector 4 and accurately projected onto the surface of the digital micromirror device 5. The micromirror array of the digital micromirror device 5 is preset and fixed as a specific static spatial mask pattern. The incident light beam is physically reflected on the surface of this fixed entity, thereby being statically intercepted and reshaped in spatial geometry.

[0054] The reflected beam, modulated by the digital micromirror device 5, continues to propagate along the optical path, passing sequentially through the fixed third lens 6, the spatial filter unit 7, and the fourth lens 8. The third lens 6, acting as a common converging lens, physically converges the relatively wide beam. The spatial filter unit 7 (such as a mechanical aperture stop) is precisely fixed at the back focal plane of the third lens 6, using its physical mechanical blocking effect to physically block stray light and higher-order diffracted rays that deviate from the center. The filtered, clean beam is then re-refracted and shaped into a parallel, collimated beam by the fourth lens 8.

[0055] A beam splitter 9 is fixed at an angle in the optical path behind the fourth lens 8. The shaped parallel beam passes through the beam splitter 9 and then enters the fifth lens 10, which is coaxially arranged. The fifth lens 10, as an optical fiber coupling focusing unit, physically focuses this parallel, wide beam of light with extremely high precision, converging it into a tiny spot, thereby accurately directing it into the small core of the front end of the single multimode optical fiber 11.

[0056] The single multimode fiber 11 is the core physical transmission component for achieving the miniaturization of this device. The light beam propagates to the distant end within the fiber using the principle of total internal reflection. At the rear end of the multimode fiber, a sample unit 12 carrying cells is positioned close to it. The light beam exits directly from the rear end face of the fiber and physically irradiates the cell sample, exciting backscattered or reflected light signals carrying the geometric edge characteristics of the cells. These optical response signals are physically collected again by the rear end face of the same multimode fiber and propagated back along the fiber's single physical path.

[0057] The retrograde beam, emitted from the fiber optic tip, strikes the back of the tilted beam splitter 9. The beam splitter 9 utilizes its reflective properties to physically separate the retrograde beam from the main incident beam, guiding it to a side reflection branch. A sixth lens 13 is fixedly mounted on this side branch. Since the retrograde beam typically has a certain divergence angle, the sixth lens 13 physically refracts this divergent beam, reshaping it into a parallel, collimated beam.

[0058] An image sensing device 14 is fixedly installed at the rear end of the sixth lens 13. The pure optical signal collimated by the sixth lens 13 is directly projected onto the photosensitive surface of the image sensing device 14. The image sensing device 14 uses only the pure physical photoelectric effect to convert the light signal carrying cell edge features into an electrical signal and output it, thus completing the entire closed-loop pure hardware optical acquisition process.

[0059] The present invention discloses a cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber. The specific working steps are described below:

[0060] After the device is activated, the laser emitter 1 emits an initial probe laser beam. This beam passes through the first lens 2 and the second lens 3, which are coaxially arranged, along a fixed optical path. The beam is expanded and collimated by utilizing the physical refraction properties of the lenses. Subsequently, the beam is refracted by the reflector 4 and then illuminates the surface of the digital micromirror device 5. The incident beam undergoes static spatial physical modulation due to the reflection and diffraction properties of the device. The beam modulated by the digital micromirror device 5 passes through the third lens 6 for physical convergence. At the focal point, stray light is filtered out by the physical blocking effect of the spatial filter unit 7. The filtered pure beam is then physically collimated again by the fourth lens 8.

[0061] The shaped parallel main beam is transmitted through the obliquely placed beam splitter 9 and then physically focused with high precision by the fifth lens 10, accurately coupling the beam into the front end core of the single multimode fiber 11. The beam propagates to the far end in this single solid medium by relying on the principle of total internal reflection, and after exiting, directly irradiates the cell sample closely attached to the end face, exciting an optical response signal carrying the geometric edge characteristics of the cells. This optical response signal is collected again by the rear end face of the multimode fiber and propagated back to the front end face along the same fiber.

[0062] The retrograde beam strikes the back of the beam splitter 9, undergoing physical deflection and reflection, thus separating it from the main incident light path. Since the retrograde beam has a certain divergence angle, it then passes through the sixth lens 13 for physical collimation and shaping, restoring it to a parallel beam, and finally projecting it onto the photosensitive surface of the image sensing device 14 on the side. The image sensing device 14 utilizes the photoelectric effect to convert the optical entity signal carrying cell edge features into an electrical signal for output, thus completing the entire closed-loop pure hardware detection process.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber, characterized in that: It includes a laser emitter (1), a laser beam adjustment device, a beam splitter (9), a fifth lens (10), a single multimode fiber (11), a sixth lens (13), and an image sensing device (14). The laser beam adjustment device is used to shape the beam emitted by the laser emitter (1) and output a collimated beam. The beam splitter (9) is disposed on the output optical path of the laser beam adjustment device and is used to transmit the collimated beam from the laser beam adjustment device to the fifth lens (10). The fifth lens (10) is used to focus the collimated beam and couple it into the front end of the single multimode fiber (11); The single multimode optical fiber (11) has a sample unit (12) fixedly installed at its rear end light outlet, which is used to transmit the illumination beam from the fifth lens (10) to the sample unit (12) and collect the optical signal generated by the sample unit (12) and transmit it in the reverse direction along the original path. The beam splitter (9) is also used to reflect the optical signal transmitted in reverse through the single multimode fiber (11) and the fifth lens (10) toward the sixth lens (13). The sixth lens (13) is used to transmit the optical signal to the image sensing device (14).

2. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser beam adjustment device includes a first lens (2), a second lens (3), a reflector (4), a digital micromirror device (5), and a filtering and shaping unit arranged sequentially along the optical path; The first lens (2) and the second lens (3) are used to expand and collimate the original laser beam into a parallel wide beam; The reflector (4) is used to change the direction of the light path; The digital micromirror device (5) is located on the reflected light path of the reflector (4) and is used to spatially modulate the light beam; The filtering and shaping unit is used to filter and re-collimate the modulated beam.

3. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The micromirror array on the surface of the digital micromirror device (5) is fixed with a static mask pattern.

4. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The filtering and shaping unit includes a third lens (6), a spatial filtering unit (7), and a fourth lens (8); the third lens (6) and the fourth lens (8) are confocal, and the spatial filtering unit (7) is located at the back focal plane of the third lens (6).

5. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the beam splitter (9) is coated with an optical thin film, which is used to transmit a beam of light propagating in the illumination direction and reflect an optical signal propagating in the opposite direction to the illumination direction.

6. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The beam splitter (9) is inclinedly disposed in the optical path between the laser beam adjustment device and the fifth lens (10), and the optical axis of the sixth lens (13) is perpendicular to the optical axis of the fifth lens (10).

7. The cell edge optical information acquisition device based on a single multimode optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sample unit (12) is a physical excitation source for optical signals, and carries the cells to be tested inside it.

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