Scanning Fiber Endoscope Probe Inner-Layer Fiber Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current scanning fiber endoscopes face limitations in imaging quality due to inefficient light collection and speckle noise, particularly in thin body cavities, where the existing technology struggles to achieve high-resolution color imaging with sufficient pixel density and light energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The scanning fiber endoscope probe incorporates a scanning illumination optical path and an inner-layer fiber collecting array, which includes a tubular fiber array surrounded by collecting fibers, optimized in arrangement and position to enhance light collection efficiency and reduce speckle noise, along with an outer-layer fiber collecting array to further improve imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single-mode fiber is used for scanning illumination in the SFE, then the probe achieves small size and high resolution, but the light collection efficiency is insufficient due to the limited field of view of the fixed collecting channel
Solution Approach 1:
The collecting channel is divided into multiple segments: a fixed collecting channel and multiple movable collecting channels. Each movable collecting channel can be independently adjusted to different positions and angles, allowing the system to segment the light collection task across multiple channels with different field of view orientations, thereby improving overall light collection efficiency while maintaining the small probe size
Solution Approach 2:
The collecting channels are designed to be movable rather than fixed. The movable collecting channels can dynamically adjust their positions and orientations to track the scanning laser beam, ensuring that the field of view of at least one collecting channel always overlaps with the illumination field of view, thus maximizing light collection efficiency throughout the scanning process
2Adaptability or versatility
If the probe diameter is reduced to enable penetration into thin body cavities, then flexibility and accessibility are improved, but the number of effective pixels and imaging resolution are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates the illumination and detection functions at the distal end of the ultrafine probe. The single-mode fiber provides a highly focused illumination spot, and the movable collecting channels are positioned to precisely overlap with this focal region, creating a local area of high optical interaction efficiency that compensates for the overall small probe size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporal dimension to the light collection process by using a single collecting channel that scans synchronously with the illumination beam, or by using multiple collecting channels that can be sequentially activated. This transforms the spatial limitation into a temporal solution, allowing high-resolution imaging through time-multiplexed light collection from different angular positions
3Loss of energy
If the field of view of the collecting channel is increased to capture more scattered light, then light collection efficiency improves, but the probe size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large-field-of-view collecting channel, the patent segments the collection function into multiple smaller collecting channels, each with a manageable field of view. These segmented channels can be positioned at different angular locations around the probe, collectively covering a wider angular range without requiring any single channel to be overly complex or large in size
Solution Approach 2:
The movable collecting channels are designed to serve multiple functions: they can be positioned to collect scattered light at different angles, track the scanning beam dynamically, and potentially serve multiple imaging modes (reflection, fluorescence, etc.). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the overall increase in probe complexity
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 increases the signal-to-noise ratio and improves imaging quality by effectively collecting and transmitting scattered light, allowing for higher resolution and reduced noise, thereby enhancing the scanning fiber endoscope's ability to capture detailed images in thin body cavities.
Implementation Method 1
A piezoelectric ceramic tube located at the tip of the probe holds one end of the single-mode fiber in place with a free fiber cantilever. Under a drive of an alternating voltage, the piezoelectric ceramic tube drives the single-mode fiber to oscillate.
Implementation Method 2
a lens set, and the scanning illumination optical path is configured to scan laser emitted by a light source to form an optical spot on a surface of a sample tissue
Implementation Method 3
the inner-layer fiber collecting array is configured to collect and transmit a portion of detecting light scattered from or reflected by the sample tissue through the lens set
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a scanning fiber endoscope probe and a scanning fiber endoscope. The scanning fiber endoscope probe includes: a scanning illumination optical path and an inner-layer fiber collecting array, wherein the scanning illumination optical path includes a lens set, and the scanning illumination optical path is configured to scan laser emitted by a light source to form an optical spot on a surface of a sample tissue and to form a field of view; and the inner-layer fiber collecting array is configured to collect and transmit a portion of detecting light scattered from or reflected by the sample tissue through the lens set to perform an imaging by a photoelectric detector.