Abstract:
The invention concerns a miniature confocal optical head (4) for a confocal imaging system, in particular endoscopic, said head comprising a point source (2a) for producing a light beam (13); a ball lens (12) arranged at the tip of the optical head, partly outside, to cause said light beam to converge in an excitation point (19) located in a subsurface field under observation (14) of a sample (15), the digital aperture of said lens and the dimension of the point source being adapted to ensure confocality of the assembly; and scanning means (10, 211, 22) for rotating the point source so that the excitation point (19) scans said field under observation. The inventive system produces a real-time confocal image (about 10 images/sec.) of very high quality and homogeneous in the entire field (the optical aberrations are constant in the entire field due to the spherical symmetry of the ball lens), and this is achieved through a miniature head.
Abstract:
The head has a laser source to produce a light beam (13), and a ball lens (12), with a large numerical aperture, disposed at the end of the head to converge the beam at an excitation point (19). The point is located in an observed sub-surface field (14) of a sample (15). A scanning unit (10) displaces the source in rotation such that the point scans the field. An independent claim is also included for a confocal imaging system.
Abstract:
The head has a laser source to produce a light beam (13), and a ball lens (12), with a large numerical aperture, disposed at the end of the head to converge the beam at an excitation point (19). The point is located in an observed sub-surface field (14) of a sample (15). A scanning unit (10) displaces the source in rotation such that the point scans the field. An independent claim is also included for a confocal imaging system.
Abstract:
L'invention concerne une tête optique miniaturisée prévue pour équiper l'extrémité distale d'un faisceau de fibres optiques souples balayé par un faisceau laser, ladite tête optique étant destinée à venir au contact d'un échantillon et exciter ledit échantillon de manière confocale ; cette tête optique comprenant des moyens de correction des aberrations sphériques et des moyens de focalisation. Selon l'invention, les moyens de focalisation comprennent :- au moins une première lentille (L4) de forte convergence associée à une lentille (L5) boule ou demi-boule disposée à l'extrémité distale de la tête optique, et- des moyens de correction du chromatisme axial et latéral pourvus d'une unique lentille divergente (3b) dont la courbure est sensiblement centrée sur la pupille du faisceau de fibres optiques et disposée à la juste distance de cette pupille pour laquelle les conditions d'achromatisation latérale coïncident avec les conditions d'achromatisation axiale; cette lentille divergente étant associée à une seconde lentille convergente (L3a) sous forme d'un doublet (L3).
Abstract:
A miniaturized optical head provided to equip the distal end of a beam of flexible optical fibers scanned by a laser beam, is designed to come in contact with a sample and to excite the sample confocally. This optical head includes elements for correcting spherical aberrations and focusing members. The focusing members include: at least a first lens (L4) of high convergence associated with a spherical or hemispherical lens (L5) arranged at the distal end of the optical head, and elements for correcting the axial and lateral chromatic aberration provided with a single divergent lens (3b) whose curvature is substantially centered on the pupil of the optical fiber beam and arranged at the exact distance for this pupil for which the conditions of lateral achromatization coincide with the conditions of axial achromatization; this divergent lens being associated with a second convergent lens (L3a) in the form of a doublet (L3).
Abstract:
The head has a laser source to produce a light beam (13), and a ball lens (12), with a large numerical aperture, disposed at the end of the head to converge the beam at an excitation point (19). The point is located in an observed sub-surface field (14) of a sample (15). A scanning unit (10) displaces the source in rotation such that the point scans the field. An independent claim is also included for a confocal imaging system.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a miniaturized optical head provided to equip the distal end of a beam of flexible optical fibres scanned by a laser beam, sai d optical head being designed to come in contact with a sample and to excite said sample confocally; this optical head consisting of means for correctin g spherical aberrations and focusing means. According to the invention, the focusing means comprise: at least a first lens (L4) of high convergence asso ciated with a spherical or hemispherical lens (L5) arranged at the distal en d of the optical head, and means for correction of the axial and lateral chr omatic aberration provided with a single divergent lens (3b) the curvature o f which is substantially centred on the pupil of the optical fibre beam and arranged at the exact distance for this pupil for which the conditions of la teral achromatization coincide with the conditions of axial achromatization; this divergent lens being associated with a second convergent lens (L3a) in the form of a doublet (L3).
Abstract:
A miniaturized optical head provided to equip the distal end of a beam of flexible optical fibers scanned by a laser beam, is designed to come in contact with a sample and to excite the sample confocally. This optical head includes elements for correcting spherical aberrations and focusing members. The focusing members include: at least a first lens (L4) of high convergence associated with a spherical or hemispherical lens (L5) arranged at the distal end of the optical head, and elements for correcting the axial and lateral chromatic aberration provided with a single divergent lens (3b) whose curvature is substantially centered on the pupil of the optical fiber beam and arranged at the exact distance for this pupil for which the conditions of lateral achromatization coincide with the conditions of axial achromatization; this divergent lens being associated with a second convergent lens (L3a) in the form of a doublet (L3).
Abstract:
Cabezal óptico miniaturizado previsto para equipar el extremo distal de un haz de fibras ópticas flexibles barridopor un haz láser, estando dicho cabezal óptico destinado a entrar en contacto con una muestra y excitar dichamuestra de manera confocal; comprendiendo este cabezal óptico un bloque óptico de corrección de aberracionesesféricas y un bloque óptico de enfoque; caracterizado porque el bloque de enfoque comprende: - al menos una primera lente convergente (4; 18, 19) asociada con una lente esférica o semiesférica (5; 10)dispuesta en el extremo distal del cabezal óptico, y - medios de corrección del cromatismo axial y lateral que se proporcionan con una sola lente divergente (3b) quetiene una curvatura centrada sobre la pupila del haz de fibras ópticas; estando esta lente divergente asociada conuna segunda lente convergente (3a) en forma de un doblete (3; 17) comprendiendo el bloque de corrección de las aberraciones esféricas una tercera lente convergente (2); estando los espesores de la primera (4) y tercera (2) lentes convergentes dispuestos para corregir la aberraciónesférica acumulada sobre las dioptrías convergentes, estando también el espesor de la tercera lente convergente (2) dispuesto para obtener imágenes de la pupila sobrela segunda lente convergente (3).
Abstract:
The head has a laser source to produce a light beam (13), and a ball lens (12), with a large numerical aperture, disposed at the end of the head to converge the beam at an excitation point (19). The point is located in an observed sub-surface field (14) of a sample (15). A scanning unit (10) displaces the source in rotation such that the point scans the field. An independent claim is also included for a confocal imaging system.