Experimental and theoretical analysis of core-to-core coupling on fiber bundle imaging
Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 26, pp. 21598-21607 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.021598
Acrobat PDF (1376 KB)
Abstract
Flexible endoscopes commonly use coherent fiber bundles with high core density to facilitate in vivo imaging. Small, closely spaced cores are desired for achieving a high number of resolvable pixels in a small diameter fiber bundle. On the other hand, closely spaced cores potentially lead to strong core-to-core coupling. Based on numerical simulations, it was previously explained that image fiber bundles can successfully transmit images because of nonuniformities in the core size that reduce coupling. In this paper, we show numerically and experimentally that, due to the randomness of the structural nonuniformity, significant core-to-core coupling still exists in fiber bundles that are routinely used for imaging. The coupling is highly dependent on the illumination wavelength and polarization state. We further show that the resolution achievable by a fiber bundle depends not only on the core density, but also on the inter-core coupling strength. Finally, we propose that increasing the core-cladding index contrast is a promising approach to achieve a fiber bundle with low core coupling, high core density, and effectively single moded propagation in individual cores.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
A. F. Gmitro and D. Aziz, “Confocal microscopy through a fiber-optic imaging bundle,” Opt. Lett. 18, 565 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. Flusberg, E. Cocker, W. Piyawattanametha, J. C. Jung, E. Cheung, and M. J. Schnitzer, “Fiber-optic Fluorenscence Imaging,” Nature Methods 2, 941 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
C. Amatore, A. Chovin, P. Garrigue, L. Servant, N. Sojic, S. Szunerits, and L. Thouin, “Remote Fluorescence Imaging of Dynamic Concentration Profiles with Micrometer Resolution Using a Coherent Optical Fiber Bundle,” Anal. Chem. 76, 7202–7210 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Xie, D. Mukai, S. Guo, M. Brenner, and Z. Chen, “Fiber-optic-bundle-based optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 30, 1803–1805 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K. L. Reichenbach and C. Xu, “Numerical analysis of light propagation in image fibers or coherent fiber bundles,” Opt. Express 15, 2151 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. Experimental setup and results
| Fiber Model | Number of Pixels | Average core diameter | pitch | estimated variation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350S | 10,000 | 2µm | 3.2µm | 7–10%a |
| 500N | 10,000 | 2.9µm | 4.5µm | 10–15%a |
3. A potential solution to improve fiber bundle performance
T. P. White, B. T. Kuhlmey, R. C. McPhedran, D. Maystre, G. Renversez, C. M. d. Sterke, and L. C. Botten, “Multipole method for microstructured optical fibers. I. Formulation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 19, 2322–2330 (2002). [CrossRef]
E. Marcatili, “Improved coupled-mode equations for dielectric guides,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 22, 988–993 (1986). [CrossRef]
K. L. Reichenbach and C. Xu, “Independent core propagation in two-core photonic crystal fibers resulting from structural nonuniformities,” Opt. Express 13, 10336 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
X. Feng, T. Monro, P. Petropoulos, V. Finazzi, and D. Hewak, “Solid microstructured optical fiber,” Opt. Express 11, 2225–2230 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. Beaurepaire, M. Oheim, and J. Mertz, “Ultra-deep twophoton fluorescence excitation in turbid media,” Opt. Commun. 188, 25–29 (2001). [CrossRef]
4. Conclusion
References and links
A. F. Gmitro and D. Aziz, “Confocal microscopy through a fiber-optic imaging bundle,” Opt. Lett. 18, 565 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. F. Gmitro, A. R. Rouse, and A. Kano, “In vivo fluorescence confocal microendoscopy,” in Biomedical Imaging, 2002. Proceedings. 2002 IEEE International Symposium on (2002), pp. 277–280. [CrossRef] | |
Y. S. Sabharwal, A. R. Rouse, L. Donaldson, M. F. Hopkins, and A. F. Gmitro, “Slit-Scanning Confocal Microendoscope for High-Resolution In Vivo Imaging,” Appl. Opt. 38, 7133–7144 (1999). [CrossRef] | |
J. Knittel, L. Schnieder, G. Buess, B. Messerschmidt, and T. Possner, “Endoscope-compatible confocal microscope using a gradient index-lens system,” Opt. Commun. 188, 267–273 (2001). [CrossRef] | |
V. Dubaj, A. Mazzolini, A. Wood, and M. Harris, “Optic fibre bundle contact imaging probe employing a laser scanning confocal microscope,” J. Microsc. 207, 108–117 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
W. Göbel, J. N. D. Kerr, A. Nimmerjahn, and F. Helmchen, “Miniaturized two-photon microscope based on a flexible coherent fiber bundle and a gradient-index lens objective,” Opt. Lett. 29, 2521–2523 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K.-B. Sung, R. Richards-Kortum, M. Follen, A. Malpica, C. Liang, and M. R. Descour, “Fiber optic confocal reflectance microscopy: a new real-time technique to view nuclear morphology in cervical squamous epithelium in vivo,” Opt. Express 11, 3171(2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
B. Flusberg, E. Cocker, W. Piyawattanametha, J. C. Jung, E. Cheung, and M. J. Schnitzer, “Fiber-optic Fluorenscence Imaging,” Nature Methods 2, 941 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. Amatore, A. Chovin, P. Garrigue, L. Servant, N. Sojic, S. Szunerits, and L. Thouin, “Remote Fluorescence Imaging of Dynamic Concentration Profiles with Micrometer Resolution Using a Coherent Optical Fiber Bundle,” Anal. Chem. 76, 7202–7210 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
T. Xie, D. Mukai, S. Guo, M. Brenner, and Z. Chen, “Fiber-optic-bundle-based optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 30, 1803–1805 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K. L. Reichenbach and C. Xu, “Numerical analysis of light propagation in image fibers or coherent fiber bundles,” Opt. Express 15, 2151 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
T. P. White, B. T. Kuhlmey, R. C. McPhedran, D. Maystre, G. Renversez, C. M. d. Sterke, and L. C. Botten, “Multipole method for microstructured optical fibers. I. Formulation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 19, 2322–2330 (2002). [CrossRef] | |
A. Snyder and J. Love, Optical Waveguide Theory (Kluwer, London, 1983). | |
A. W. Snyder, “Coupled-Mode Theory for Optical Fibers,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62, 1267 (1972). [CrossRef] | |
S.-L. Chuang, “A coupled-mode theory for multiwaveguide systems satisfying the reciprocity theorem and power conservation,” J. Lightwave Technol. 5, 174–183 (1987). [CrossRef] | |
J. Fini, “Perturbative numerical modeling of microstructure fibers,” Opt. Express 12, 4535–4545 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K. Saitoh, Y. Sato, and M. Koshiba, “Coupling characteristics of dual-core photonic crystal fiber couplers,” Opt. Express 11, 3188–3195 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
E. Marcatili, “Improved coupled-mode equations for dielectric guides,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 22, 988–993 (1986). [CrossRef] | |
K. L. Reichenbach and C. Xu, “Independent core propagation in two-core photonic crystal fibers resulting from structural nonuniformities,” Opt. Express 13, 10336 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
X. Feng, T. Monro, P. Petropoulos, V. Finazzi, and D. Hewak, “Solid microstructured optical fiber,” Opt. Express 11, 2225–2230 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
E. Beaurepaire, M. Oheim, and J. Mertz, “Ultra-deep twophoton fluorescence excitation in turbid media,” Opt. Commun. 188, 25–29 (2001). [CrossRef] |
OCIS Codes
(110.2350) Imaging systems : Fiber optics imaging
(170.2150) Medical optics and biotechnology : Endoscopic imaging
ToC Category:
Imaging Systems
History
Original Manuscript: October 21, 2008
Revised Manuscript: December 3, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: December 4, 2008
Published: December 15, 2008
Virtual Issues
Vol. 4, Iss. 2 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics
Citation
Xianpei Chen, Kristen L. Reichenbach, and Chris Xu, "Experimental and theoretical analysis of core-to-core coupling on fiber bundle imaging," Opt. Express 16, 21598-21607 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/vjbo/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-26-21598
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References
- A. F. Gmitro and D. Aziz, "Confocal microscopy through a fiber-optic imaging bundle," Opt. Lett. 18, 565 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. F. Gmitro, A. R. Rouse, and A. Kano, "In vivo fluorescence confocal microendoscopy," in Biomedical Imaging, 2002. Proceedings. 2002 IEEE International Symposium on (2002), pp. 277-280. [CrossRef]
- Y. S. Sabharwal, A. R. Rouse, L. Donaldson, M. F. Hopkins, and A. F. Gmitro, "Slit-Scanning Confocal Microendoscope for High-Resolution In Vivo Imaging," Appl. Opt. 38, 7133-7144 (1999). [CrossRef]
- J. Knittel, L. Schnieder, G. Buess, B. Messerschmidt, and T. Possner, "Endoscope-compatible confocal microscope using a gradient index-lens system," Opt. Commun. 188, 267-273 (2001). [CrossRef]
- V. Dubaj, A. Mazzolini, A. Wood, and M. Harris, "Optic fibre bundle contact imaging probe employing a laser scanning confocal microscope," J. Microsc. 207, 108-117 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- W. Göbel, J. N. D. Kerr, A. Nimmerjahn, and F. Helmchen, "Miniaturized two-photon microscope based on a flexible coherent fiber bundle and a gradient-index lens objective," Opt. Lett. 29, 2521-2523 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K.-B. Sung, R. Richards-Kortum, M. Follen, A. Malpica, C. Liang, and M. R. Descour, "Fiber optic confocal reflectance microscopy: a new real-time technique to view nuclear morphology in cervical squamous epithelium in vivo," Opt. Express 11, 3171 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- B. Flusberg, E. Cocker, W. Piyawattanametha, J. C. Jung, E. Cheung, and M. J. Schnitzer, "Fiber-optic Fluorenscence Imaging," Nature Methods 2, 941 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. Amatore, A. Chovin, P. Garrigue, L. Servant, N. Sojic, S. Szunerits, and L. Thouin, "Remote Fluorescence Imaging of Dynamic Concentration Profiles with Micrometer Resolution Using a Coherent Optical Fiber Bundle," Anal. Chem. 76, 7202-7210 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- T. Xie, D. Mukai, S. Guo, M. Brenner, and Z. Chen, "Fiber-optic-bundle-based optical coherence tomography," Opt. Lett. 30, 1803-1805 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K. L. Reichenbach and C. Xu, "Numerical analysis of light propagation in image fibers or coherent fiber bundles," Opt. Express 15, 2151 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- T. P. White, B. T. Kuhlmey, R. C. McPhedran, D. Maystre, G. Renversez, C. M. d. Sterke, and L. C. Botten, "Multipole method for microstructured optical fibers. I. Formulation," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 19, 2322-2330 (2002). [CrossRef]
- A. Snyder, and J. Love, Optical Waveguide Theory (Kluwer, London, 1983).
- A. W. Snyder, "Coupled-Mode Theory for Optical Fibers," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62, 1267 (1972). [CrossRef]
- S.-L. Chuang, "A coupled-mode theory for multiwaveguide systems satisfying the reciprocity theorem and power conservation," J. Lightwave Technol. 5, 174-183 (1987). [CrossRef]
- J. Fini, "Perturbative numerical modeling of microstructure fibers," Opt. Express 12, 4535-4545 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K. Saitoh, Y. Sato, and M. Koshiba, "Coupling characteristics of dual-core photonic crystal fiber couplers," Opt. Express 11, 3188-3195 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- E. Marcatili, "Improved coupled-mode equations for dielectric guides," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 22, 988-993 (1986). [CrossRef]
- K. L. Reichenbach, and C. Xu, "Independent core propagation in two-core photonic crystal fibers resulting from structural nonuniformities," Opt. Express 13, 10336 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- X. Feng, T. Monro, P. Petropoulos, V. Finazzi, and D. Hewak, "Solid microstructured optical fiber," Opt. Express 11, 2225-2230 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- E. Beaurepaire, M. Oheim, and J. Mertz, "Ultra-deep twophoton fluorescence excitation in turbid media," Opt. Commun. 188,25-29 (2001). [CrossRef]
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