Optical Probe With Independent Illumination and Receiving Fibers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescence observation probes face challenges such as lack of a receiving light guide, energy loss due to shared optical paths, and structural complexity, which hinder accurate measurement and lesion detectability.
Innovation Solution
A probe with independent illumination and receiving optical fibers, utilizing a condensing lens to align and separate the optical axes, allowing efficient illumination and radiative light acquisition, with the receiving fiber having a larger numerical aperture and core area to enhance light collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical fiber is used for guiding both excitation light and fluorescence, then the probe structure is simplified, but luminous energy loss occurs and detectability degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical path into separate illumination and receiving light guides. The illumination light guide transmits only excitation light to the tissue, while the receiving light guide captures only fluorescence without mixing the optical paths. This segmentation eliminates energy loss from shared paths while maintaining structural simplicity through modular fiber bundle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dichroic mirror as an intermediary optical element that selectively transmits excitation light to the tissue while reflecting fluorescence back through the receiving light guide. This intermediary component enables separate optical paths without requiring complex multi-fiber arrangements, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and energy efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If independent illumination and receiving light guides are used, then accurate measurement is enabled, but the probe structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual optical fibers into bundled light guide structures. The illumination light guide and receiving light guide are each formed by bundling multiple fibers together, creating robust, flexible probes that maintain measurement precision while simplifying handling and integration. This merging approach reduces the complexity of managing individual fibers while preserving separate optical paths.
3Productivity
If the receiving fiber has larger numerical aperture and core area, then light collection is enhanced, but the probe diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-fiber receiving element to a multi-fiber receiving light guide bundle. By distributing the light collection function across multiple fibers arranged in a bundle, the system achieves enhanced light collection efficiency through increased total core area and numerical aperture while maintaining a compact probe diameter. The bundle configuration packs multiple high-NA fibers into a small volume, effectively decoupling light collection capability from probe size.
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 configuration enables efficient illumination and radiative light measurement, improving detectability and reducing structural complexity, allowing for accurate fluorescence observation and lesion detection.
Implementation Method 1
a condensing lens which receives the illumination light output from the first optical fiber and outputs the received illumination light towards the site of measurement and which receives the radiative light radiated from the site of measurement and condenses the received radiative light towards the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
a first optical fiber which configures an illumination light guide through which the illumination light is guided
Implementation Method 3
a second optical fiber which configures a receiving light guide through which the radiative light is acquired
Implementation Method 4
a probe having an optical system which illuminates an illumination light to a site of measurement of a biological tissue and receives a radiative light radiated from the site of measurement
Data Source
AI summary
Optical probe having, independently, an irradiation light guide path for irradiation light and a received light guide path for acquiring radiated light. A first optical fiber configures the irradiation light guide path, and a second optical fiber configures the received light guide path. A condensing lens receives on one surface irradiation light from the first optical fiber and emits same on the other surface, and receives radiated light radiated from the other surface and concentrates same on the side of the first and second optical fibers. The central axis of the exit end of the first optical fiber is deviated relative to the optical axis of the condensing lens, moving reflected light at the condensing lens surface away from, and moving radiated light concentrated by the condensing lens closer to, the center of the light-receiving end of the second optical fiber.