We report on a novel scheme for extending the depth of focus (DOF) of ultrathin (125 μm diameter) fiber probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) using a simple phase mask consisting of graded-index (GRIN) fiber. The technique is compatible with existing all-in-fiber probe fabrication techniques, and our simulations show that it can provide a DOF gain of $\sim 2$ at a modest $\sim 5\mathrm{dB}$ reduction of peak sensitivity. In a prototype device using commercially available GRIN fiber, a DOF gain of 1.55 is obtained, validated by beam profiling and OCT imaging.

© 2012 Optical Society of America

1. X. Li, C. Chudoba, T. Ko, C. Pitris, and J. G. Fujimoto, Opt. Lett. 25, 1520 (2000). [CrossRef]
2. D. Lorenser, X. Yang, R. W. Kirk, B. C. Quirk, R. A. McLaughlin, and D. D. Sampson, Opt. Lett. 36, 3894 (2011). [CrossRef]
3. Z. Ding, H. Ren, Y. Zhao, J. S. Nelson, and Z. Chen, Opt. Lett. 27, 243 (2002). [CrossRef]
4. R. A. Leitgeb, M. Villiger, A. H. Bachmann, L. Steinmann, and T. Lasser, Opt. Lett. 31, 2450 (2006). [CrossRef]
5. L. Liu, C. Liu, W. C. Howe, C. J. R. Sheppard, and N. Chen, Opt. Lett. 32, 2375 (2007). [CrossRef]
6. K. M. Tan, M. Mazilu, T. H. Chow, W. M. Lee, K. Taguchi, B. K. Ng, W. Sibbett, C. S. Herrington, C. T. A. Brown, and K. Dholakia, Opt. Express 17, 2375 (2009). [CrossRef]
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8. W. A. Reed, M. F. Yan, and M. J. Schnitzer, Opt. Lett. 27, 1794 (2002). [CrossRef]

Bachmann, A. H.
Brown, C. T. A.
Chen, N.
Chen, Z.
Chow, T. H.
Chudoba, C.
Dholakia, K.
Ding, Z.
Feit, M. D.
Fleck, J. A.
Fujimoto, J. G.
Herrington, C. S.
Howe, W. C.
Kirk, R. W.
Ko, T.
Lasser, T.
Lee, W. M.
Leitgeb, R. A.
Li, X.
Liu, C.
Liu, L.
Lorenser, D.
Mazilu, M.
McLaughlin, R. A.
Nelson, J. S.
Ng, B. K.
Pitris, C.
Quirk, B. C.
Reed, W. A.
Ren, H.
Sampson, D. D.
Schnitzer, M. J.
Sheppard, C. J. R.
Sibbett, W.
Steinmann, L.
Taguchi, K.
Tan, K. M.
Villiger, M.
Yan, M. F.
Yang, X.
Zhao, Y.

Appl. Opt.

• M. D. Feit and J. A. Fleck, Appl. Opt. 17, 3990 (1978). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• K. M. Tan, M. Mazilu, T. H. Chow, W. M. Lee, K. Taguchi, B. K. Ng, W. Sibbett, C. S. Herrington, C. T. A. Brown, and K. Dholakia, Opt. Express 17, 2375 (2009). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

• W. A. Reed, M. F. Yan, and M. J. Schnitzer, Opt. Lett. 27, 1794 (2002). [CrossRef]
• X. Li, C. Chudoba, T. Ko, C. Pitris, and J. G. Fujimoto, Opt. Lett. 25, 1520 (2000). [CrossRef]
• D. Lorenser, X. Yang, R. W. Kirk, B. C. Quirk, R. A. McLaughlin, and D. D. Sampson, Opt. Lett. 36, 3894 (2011). [CrossRef]
• Z. Ding, H. Ren, Y. Zhao, J. S. Nelson, and Z. Chen, Opt. Lett. 27, 243 (2002). [CrossRef]
• R. A. Leitgeb, M. Villiger, A. H. Bachmann, L. Steinmann, and T. Lasser, Opt. Lett. 31, 2450 (2006). [CrossRef]
• L. Liu, C. Liu, W. C. Howe, C. J. R. Sheppard, and N. Chen, Opt. Lett. 32, 2375 (2007). [CrossRef]

2011, Lorenser, Opt. Lett.
2009, Tan, Opt. Express
2007, Liu, Opt. Lett.
2006, Leitgeb, Opt. Lett.
2002, Ding, Opt. Lett.
2002, Reed, Opt. Lett.
2000, Li, Opt. Lett.
1978, Feit, Appl. Opt.

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