FORWARD SCANNING OPTICAL PROBES

摘要

In certain embodiments, a scanning system includes optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements include an optical fiber and a gradient-index (GRIN) lens. The optical fiber has a fiber axis that extends to an imaginary fiber axis, and is configured to transmit a light ray. The GRIN lens has a GRIN perimeter and a GRIN lens optical axis, and is configured to refract the light ray. The movement system moves a first optical element relative to a second optical element in a closed path such that the GRIN lens optical axis substantially aligns with the imaginary fiber axis at at least one point of the path and the GRIN perimeter intersects the imaginary fiber axis at at least two points of the path.

主权项

1. A scanning system comprising:
a plurality of optical elements comprising:
an optical fiber having a fiber axis, the optical fiber configured to transmit a light ray, the fiber axis extending to an imaginary fiber axis; anda gradient-index (GRIN) lens having a GRIN perimeter and a GRIN lens optical axis, the GRIN lens configured to receive the light ray from the optical fiber and refract the light ray; and a movement system coupled to at least one of the optical elements and configured to:
move a first optical element relative to a second optical element in a closed path such that the GRIN lens optical axis substantially aligns with the imaginary fiber axis at at least one point of the path and the GRIN perimeter intersects the imaginary fiber axis at at least two points of the path.