Spectrally encoded endoscopy apparatus and methods
An apparatus, method, and system for a spectrally encoded endoscope comprising a focusing lens encompassed by an light guiding component and spacer, wherein the focusing lens is substantially ball or semi-circular in shape, and the refractive index of the focusing lens is greater than the refractive index of the spacer.
1. An apparatus for endoscopy comprising:
a probe for illuminating a sample, comprising:
a light guiding component for guiding an illumination light;
a light focusing component;
a spacer; and
a dispersive component, and
a detection fiber for detecting light from the sample;
wherein the spacer is configured between the dispersive component and the light focusing component, and
wherein the light focusing component is a ball lens and the spacer at least partially encompasses the ball lens.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a refractive index less than a refractive index of the light focusing component.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rod situated between the light guiding component and light focusing component, such that the rod is configured to expand light from the probe.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the refractive index of the rod is equal to or higher than a refractive index of the light guiding component.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the rod diameter is equal to or greater than a diameter of the light guiding component.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a refractive index difference between the light focusing component and the spacer is greater than or equal to 0.05.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ball lens is selected from the group comprising a full-ball lens, a half-ball lens, a portioned-ball lens, a lens with a spherical surface, a lens with aspherical surface and combinations therefrom.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light focusing component is at least partially made of an element selected from the group consisting of, sapphire, ruby, flint glass, injection moldable glass, injection moldable plastics, high refractive index silicone, high refractive index epoxies and combinations therefrom.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light focusing component is at least partially formed by an injected molded lens of spherical or aspherical shape.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a focusing element for focusing the apparatus by varying a refractive index of the spacer.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a computer arrangement in communication with the apparatus, and configured to process information received from the apparatus to create an image.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , where the spacer material is at least partially made of an element selected from the group consisting of, UV or heat cured epoxies, PDMS, PMMA, PC, injection moldable glass and combinations therefrom.
13. An apparatus for endoscopy comprising:
a probe for illuminating a sample, comprising:
a light guiding component for guiding an illumination light;
a light focusing component;
a spacer;
at least one dispersive component; and
at least one reflective component; and
a detection fiber for detecting light from the sample;
wherein the spacer is configured between the dispersive component and the light focusing component, and
wherein the light focusing component is a ball lens and the spacer at least partially encompasses the ball lens.
14. An apparatus for optical coherence tomography or other endoscopy imaging modalities comprising:
a probe for illuminating a sample, comprising:
a light guiding component for guiding an illumination light;
a light focusing component;
a spacer; and
a reflective component,
wherein the spacer is configured between the reflective component and the light focusing component, and
wherein the light focusing component is a ball lens and the spacer at least partially encompasses the ball lens.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the spacer has a refractive index less than a refractive index of the light focusing component.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the difference between a refractive index of the light focusing component and the spacer is greater than or equal to 0.05.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the ball lens is selected from the group consisting of a full-ball lens, a half-ball lens, a portioned-ball lens, a lens with a spherical surface, a lens with aspherical surface and combinations therefrom.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the light focusing component is at least partially made of an element selected from the group consisting of, sapphire, ruby, flint glass, injection moldable glass, injection moldable plastics, high refractive index silicone, high refractive index epoxies and combinations therefrom.
19. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the spacer material is at least partially made of an element selected from the group consisting of, UV or heat cured epoxies, PDMS, PMMA, PC, injection moldable glass and combinations therefrom.