IP Library Granted Patent US 9,081,148
Granted Patent B2
US 9,081,148 · App. 13/042,116 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Systems, methods and computer-accessible medium which provide microscopic images of at least one anatomical structure at a particular resolution

Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney (Cambridge, MA); Brett E. Bouma (Quincy, MA); Joseph A. Gardecki (Acton, MA); Linbo Liu (Cambridge, MA); Robert R. McLeod (Boulder, CO)
Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation; The Regents of the University of Colorado
G02B6/32A61B5/0066A61B5/0075A61B5/0084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,081,148
App. No.
13/042,116
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods can be provided for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample. For example, a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements can be provided which are configured to (i) provide the electro-magnetic radiation(s), and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each of the electro-magnetic radiation(s) to have a predetermined value. The exemplary apparatus can be part of a probe. Further the exemplary apparatus can include an interferometric arrangement provided in communication with the probe and/or be part of the probe.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample, comprising:

a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide the at least one electro-magnetic radiation along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each of the at least one electro-magnetic radiation to have a predetermined value; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wave-guiding arrangements provide the at least one radiation in at least partially a circular pattern.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens arrangement is configured to cause the further focus-spot radiation to have an extended focal depth.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the diffraction limited spot is a three-dimensional spot.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens arrangement includes a grin lens.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wave-guiding arrangements is a single-mode wave-guide.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wave-guiding arrangements is composed of a photo-polymer.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a further wave-guiding arrangement is configured to provide a further electro-magnetic radiation to the sample, wherein the at least one electro-magnetic radiation and the further electro-magnetic radiation are provided to at least partially overlapping portions of the sample.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing which at least partially encloses the wave-guiding arrangements.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a sheath enclosing the housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a control arrangement which is configured to at least one of rotate or translate the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens arrangement includes at least one optical element which is at least one formed by or subjected to a photopolymer processing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the photopolymer processing includes irradiating a photopolymer so as to form the at least one optical element.

14. A probe for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample, comprising:

a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide the at least one electro-magnetic radiation along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each electro-magnetic radiations to have a predetermined value; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

15. A system for imaging at least one sample, comprising:

a probe comprising a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements configured to (i) provide at least one electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one sample along different paths, and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each electro-magnetic radiations to have a predetermined value;

an interferometric arrangement provided in communication with the probe; and

at least one lens arrangement which is configured to receive the at least one electro-magnetic radiation from the wave-guiding arrangements, and generate a focus-spot radiation to have a diameter that is smaller than a diffraction limited spot on or in the sample.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the interferometric arrangement is part of the probe.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2011
From: TEARNEY, GUILLERMO J.; BOUMA, BRETT E.; GARDECKI, JOSEPH A.; LIU, LINBO
To: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026979/0568 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2011
From: MCLEOD, ROBERT R.
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
Reel/Frame 026979/0671 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61311171 · Mar 5, 2010
Provisional Application 61311272 · Mar 5, 2010
Related Publication 20120008146A1 · Jan 12, 2012