Shedding light on fibre optic imaging
4 Sep 2012
An advance in fibre optic research could allow doctors to see inside some of the hardest to reach parts of the human body.
Dr Tomáš ?ižmár and Professor Kishan Dholakia at the University of St Andrews have developed a technique which, for the first time, has allowed the transmission of accurate images along a single strand of fibre optic cable.
Fibres that can support multiple modes of light normally scatter light and produce random, unpredictable patterns at their output. Ordinarily this is a problem for imaging, as the image is distorted as it travels, and is lost on transmission.
However, the St Andrews scientists discovered that if the randomisation of light within the fibre can be characterised, the way the images are scrambled can be predicted. In turn, the output light can be modulated to reverse the randomisation and reveal the original image.
By careful modulation of the input imaging light field, they were also able to select the depth of focus of the system, circumventing the need for focusing optics and allowing for a dynamic, real-time adjustment of the imaging system.
Dr ?ižmár said: “Holographic control of randomised light signals is a young but very progressive discipline.
“Our new contribution represents a further extension of this branch to the Bio-medical community and we are looking forward to see what a further advancement of these techniques may bring in the future. It is a very exciting time.”
The University of St Andrews hopes to build on this research and is currently fundraising to support Biomedical Research in Analytical Imaging and Neurophotonic Science (BRAINS).
