Optical Fiber Probe Astigmatism Compensation via Curved Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber probes used for interstitial imaging and biometric signal acquisition suffer from astigmatism issues due to cylindrical surfaces through which light passes, leading to increased spot size and reduced resolution.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a transparent window with a curvature different from the cylindrical surface of the reflection part, which reduces astigmatism by acting as a cylindrical lens and improving optical efficiency, and optionally forming patterns on the output surface to enhance focal depth and lateral resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If light passes through a cylindrical surface in the optical fiber probe, then the probe structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but astigmatism occurs leading to increased spot size and reduced resolution
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent window is introduced as an intermediary component between the cylindrical reflection surface and the imaging system. This window compensates for the astigmatism caused by the cylindrical surface by having a specifically designed curvature that counteracts the astigmatic effect, thereby improving resolution without fundamentally changing the probe's cylindrical structure
Solution Approach 2:
The curvature of the transparent window is specifically designed to differ from the cylindrical surface curvature. By changing the curvature parameter of the window, the astigmatism introduced by the cylindrical surface is compensated, allowing the spot size to be reduced and resolution to be improved while maintaining the overall probe structure
2Manufacturing precision
If a transparent window with different curvature is added to reduce astigmatism, then resolution and optical efficiency improve, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent window serves as a mediating optical element that can be coupled to the existing cylindrical probe structure. By designing the window with a specific curvature that compensates for astigmatism, high lateral resolution is achieved while the window can be integrated as a separate component, simplifying the manufacturing process compared to redesigning the entire probe structure
Solution Approach 2:
The optical probe system becomes a composite structure combining the cylindrical fiber optic elements with a transparent window of different curvature. This composite design allows each component to be manufactured separately using optimized processes, then assembled together to achieve the desired astigmatism compensation and high resolution performance
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
The solution effectively reduces astigmatism, decreases the spot size in the lateral direction, and enhances image resolution while minimizing noise caused by reflections, thereby improving the overall performance of the optical fiber probe.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent window comprising an incidence surface coupled to the cylindrical surface of the reflection part and an output surface comprising a curvature different from the curvature of the cylindrical surface
Implementation Method 2
a second fiber comprising a portion polished such that the focused light is reflected totally in the direction of a cylindrical surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an optical fiber probe and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber probe which can reduce astigmatism. The disclosed optical fiber probe comprises:an optical fiber configured to receive light inputted from a light source; a reflection part configured to reflect the inputted light in the direction of a cylindrical surface; and a transparent window comprising an incidence surface and an output surface, the incidence surface coupled to the cylindrical surface of the reflection part, the output surface comprising a curvature thereof different from a curvature of the cylindrical surface.