Infrared tissue imaging at on-the-spot laser delivery using an all-optical-waveguide transmitting system

Author

Ilev, Ilko K. ; Waynant, Ronald W.

Author_Institution

Center for Devices & Radiol. Health, US Food & Drug Adm., Rockville, MD, USA

fYear

2002

fDate

2002

Firstpage

281

Lastpage

284

Abstract

We present experimental results on mid-infrared thermal imaging of micro-scale tissue area irradiated by an all-optical-waveguide laser delivery system. The infrared transmitting system is based on a novel and simple laser delivery technique that includes two key optical elements: a grazing-incidence-based uncoated hollow taper used for direct infrared laser-to-fiber coupling, and a tissue-activated optical fiber probe with a specially shaped tip. The lens-free all-optical-waveguide transmitting system provides on-the-spot laser delivery into a precise micro-scale tissue area. When an Er:YAG (λ=2.94 μm) laser is used as a mid-infrared laser source, we obtain infrared thermal images from a small-size tissue area and a single hair.

Keywords

biological tissues; biomedical optical imaging; infrared imaging; laser applications in medicine; optical waveguides; radiation therapy; 2.94 micron; Er:YAG laser; YAG:Er; YAl5O12:Er; all-optical-waveguide transmitting system; grazing-incidence-based uncoated hollow taper; medical diagnostic imaging; micro-scale tissue area irradiation; mid-infrared thermal imaging; on-the-spot laser delivery; precise microscale tissue area; single hair; specially shaped tip; Biomedical optical imaging; Fiber lasers; Free electron lasers; Infrared imaging; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical coupling; Optical fibers; Optical imaging; Optical sensors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Biomedical Imaging, 2002. Proceedings. 2002 IEEE International Symposium on

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7584-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ISBI.2002.1029248

Filename

1029248