Filtered Fiber Optic Probe for Raman Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic Raman probes face challenges in uniform and repetitive construction, alignment, and quality control, particularly with small diameter fibers, which affects signal collection efficiency and probe size, making them difficult to manufacture and use in applications like endoscopy.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic probe design using a central tube surrounded by collection fibers, with a band-pass filter and a nitinol needle tube to shield the excitation fiber, allowing for easier alignment and use of small diameter fibers, and incorporating a donut filter to minimize imperfections and maximize signal collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filters are deposited on fiber end faces and fibers are aligned individually, then filtering performance is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual fiber filtering operations are merged into a single integrated assembly process. The patent combines multiple fibers with filters into a unified structure where all fibers are positioned and filtered simultaneously within a common housing, eliminating the need for separate alignment and filtering of each fiber individually.
Solution Approach 2:
Filters are pre-positioned on the housing structure before fibers are inserted. This preliminary arrangement of filtering elements allows fibers to be inserted and aligned in a single operation without requiring subsequent individual filtering steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining filtering performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If probe diameter is reduced for endoscopic applications, then flexibility and applicability improve, but alignment precision and signal collection efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is segmented into modular components including a housing, individual fiber elements, and filter assemblies. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing provides structural support for tight tolerances, while individual fibers can be precisely positioned within the segmented structure, enabling both small diameter and high alignment precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the small diameter requirement and the alignment precision requirement. It provides a stable reference framework within which fibers can be precisely positioned even in a compact configuration, enabling accurate alignment in miniaturized probes suitable for endoscopy.
3Reliability
If multiple collection fibers are used to improve signal collection, then Raman signal detection improves, but probe size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple collection fibers are merged into a single integrated assembly within the housing. The fibers are positioned in close proximity and filtered simultaneously, allowing their signals to be collected and processed as a unified system. This merging enables improved signal collection through multiple fibers while maintaining a compact probe size by eliminating redundant individual filtering and alignment structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables efficient collection of Raman signals, reduces manufacturing complexity, and allows for smaller, more flexible probes suitable for endoscopic applications with improved quality control and signal integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A band-pass (laser line) filter may be used at the delivery end of a light delivery optical fiber to remove the silica Raman bands arising from the fiber itself before illuminating a sample
Implementation Method 2
A long-pass filter may be disposed before a collection fiber so that only the Stokes scattered light enters the fiber
Implementation Method 3
The nitinol tube provides an excellent laser shield, so crosstalk of reflected laser light off the surface of the band pass filter substrate is stopped before it can make it to the collection fibers
Implementation Method 4
this is generally accomplished by depositing a filter on the fiber end face and butting this filter to another fiber using a tube or coupler to join/align the two fibers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides improved multi-fiber, fiber optic probe assemblies in which the component parts are adapted for rapid assembly with precise alignment. Some embodiments are adapted to illuminate and collect light from a sample at a particular depth while minimizing interference arising from within the probe assembly itself. Also provided are methods for manufacturing the probe assemblies and optical apparatuses including the probe assemblies.