Optical Probe With Adjustable Numerical Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging techniques, such as MRI, CT, and OCT, face limitations in detecting early-stage cancer cells due to low resolution and limited depth penetration, making it difficult to obtain high-resolution images of internal tissue surfaces and blood vessels effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical probe with an adjustable numerical aperture optical system, comprising a light emitting unit, collimation lens, and focusing lens, where the pupil diameter and focal length can be varied to optimize depth of field and resolution, allowing for deeper tissue imaging and higher horizontal resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an optical system with low numerical aperture is used to increase depth of field, then depth of field is improved, but horizontal resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable focal length lens that can dynamically adjust its focal length based on imaging depth requirements. When imaging deeper tissue layers, the lens increases focal length to expand depth of field; when imaging superficial layers, it decreases focal length to enhance horizontal resolution. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between depth of field and horizontal resolution by adapting the optical parameters to the specific imaging depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the focal length parameter of the lens to adapt to different imaging depths. By varying the focal length parameter, the system optimizes the balance between depth of field and horizontal resolution for different tissue depths, transforming a fixed-parameter system into a variable-parameter system that can resolve the performance contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If an optical system with high numerical aperture is used to acquire high horizontal resolution, then horizontal resolution is improved, but depth of field deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The variable focal length lens dynamically adjusts to shorter focal lengths when high horizontal resolution is required for superficial tissue imaging. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve microscope-level resolution for early-stage cancer detection in epithelial cells while maintaining the capability to switch to deeper imaging modes when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the focal length parameter to shorter values when high horizontal resolution is the priority, such as when imaging the epithelial cell layer where early cancer cells originate. This parameter adjustment enables the optical system to achieve the high resolution necessary for detecting 50-100 μm cancer cells.
3Length of stationary object
If light penetration depth is increased to image deeper tissues, then imaging depth is improved, but resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The variable focal length lens allows the system to dynamically adjust focal length based on the target depth. For deep tissue imaging, the lens increases focal length to maintain adequate depth of field while preserving acceptable resolution. For superficial imaging where maximum resolution is critical, it decreases focal length to achieve microscope-level detail.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the focal length parameter in response to imaging depth requirements, optimizing the resolution-depth trade-off for each specific imaging scenario rather than being constrained by a fixed focal length.
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 optical probe achieves a balance between high horizontal resolution and deep depth of field, enabling effective detection of early-stage cancer cells by adjusting the numerical aperture to suit specific imaging needs, enhancing the probability of cancer detection.
Implementation Method 1
a collimation lens which collimates the light emitted from the light emitting unit
Implementation Method 2
a focusing lens which focuses the light transmitted from the collimation lens onto an object
Data Source
AI summary
An optical probe and an optical system therefor are provided. The optical probe is includes a housing configured to house the optical system and the housing has a transparent window therein. the optical system includes a light emitting unit, a collimation lens, and a focusing lens. A numerical aperture of the optical system is adjustable by adjusting a pupil diameter of the collimation lens and a focal length of the focusing lens. The pupil diameter of the collimation lens is adjustable based on a variable focal lens or by adjusting a distance between the collimation lens and the light emitting unit.