Flexible waveguides for optical coherence tomography

摘要

A system and method for depth-resolved imaging of a sample are presented. The system for depth-resolved imaging of a sample includes a substrate of substantially flexible material, a plurality of waveguides disposed on the substrate, an optical element disposed at a distal end of the plurality of waveguides, and one or more interferometers. Light is collected from the sample through the optical element and plurality of waveguides on the flexible substrate on its path to the one or more interferometers. The interferometers are configured to combine a reference light with the light received by at least a portion of the plurality of waveguides to resolve contributions from one or more depths of the sample. The system further includes a light guiding element coupled between the plurality of waveguides and the one or more interferometers.

主权项

1. An optical coherence tomography system for depth-resolved imaging of a sample, comprising:
a substantially flexible polymer substrate bonded to a layer of semiconducting material, wherein the layer of semiconducting material is patterned to form a plurality of waveguides, and wherein the substrate is bent; an optical element disposed at a distal end of the plurality of waveguides; one or more interferometers configured to combine a reference light with light received by at least a portion of the plurality of waveguides on the bent substrate to resolve contributions from a given depth of the sample using optical coherence tomography; and a light guiding element coupled between the plurality of waveguides on the bent substrate and the one or more interferometers.