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In‐line optical fiber metallic mirror reflector for monolithic common path optical coherence tomography probes
Author(s) -
Singh Kanwarpal,
Reddy Rohith,
Sharma Gargi,
Verma Yogesh,
Gardecki Joseph A.,
Tearney Guillermo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.22756
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , optics , michelson interferometer , optical fiber , materials science , interferometry , optical path length , optical tomography , optical path , physics
Background and Objectives Endoscopic optical coherence tomography probes suffer from various artifacts due to dispersion imbalance and polarization mismatch between reference and sample arm light. Such artifacts can be minimized using a common path approach. In this work, we demonstrate a miniaturized common path probe for optical coherence tomography using an inline fiber mirror. Materials and Methods A common path optical fiber probe suitable for performing high‐resolution endoscopic optical coherence tomography imaging was developed. To achieve common path functionality, an inline fiber mirror was fabricated using a thin gold layer. A commercially available swept source engine was used to test the designed probe in a cadaver human coronary artery ex vivo . Results We achieved a sensitivity of 104 dB for this probe using a swept source optical coherence tomography system. To test the probe, images of a cadaver human coronary artery were obtained, demonstrating the quality that is comparable to those obtained by OCT systems with separate reference arms. Additionally, we demonstrate recovery of ranging depth by use of a Michelson interferometer in the detection path. Conclusion We developed a miniaturized monolithic inline fiber mirror‐based common path probe for optical coherence tomography. Owing to its simplicity, our design will be helpful in endoscopic applications that require high‐resolution probes in a compact form factor while reducing system complexity. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:230–235, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.