Speckle imaging - Wide fields pixilation-free imaging methods and systems

BACKGROUND

Conventional and widely-used type of optical endoscopes are based on fiber bundles. Fiber bundle-based techniques suffer from limited resolution and pixilation artifacts dictated by the individual cores and cladding diameters. Moreover, Micro optical system must be used to image correctly the object.
Our technology provides wide field, pixilation-free imaging methods and systems, capable of imaging at arbitrary distance using nothing but a bare conventional fiber bundle and a camera, and require no distal optics.

HOW IT WORKS

The invention is based on the existence of inherent angular and spectral correlations of speckle patterns generated by propagation of light beams issued from spatially incoherent point sources of an object through a fiber bundle. The system and methods exploit this phenomenon to image objects placed at any arbitrary distance from the bundle distal end without any phase correction or pre-calibration.

KEY BENEFITS

No limited resolution
No pixilation artifacts dictated by the individual cores and cladding diameters
Fixed working distance without the addition of micro fabricated lenses
Locates the target object directly at the bundle’s surface.
 

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

Pre-industrial prototype available
Worldwide recognition of the laboratory in the field

 
APPLICATIONS

Functional exploration for the small animal
Clinic: gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonology ...
Exploration of inaccessible areas or risk