OPTISCHES ABTAST- UND ABBILDUNGSSYSTEM

• Main Author: OSTROVSKY, ISAAC
• Format: Patent
• Language: German
• Published: 12.08.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; DIAGNOSIS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SURGERY; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

An optical scanning and imaging system and related method for scanning and imaging an object is disclosed. The scanning and imaging system does not use mechanically moving components to achieve lateral scanning of an object. Instead, the system includes a deflecting prism comprised of a material having an index of retraction that varies with changes in an applied electromagnetic field and that remains substantially constant with changes in wavelength of incident light within a predetermined wavelength range. An optical fiber transmits light within a predetermined wavelength from a light source through a gradient index lens which sends a collimated beam of light to the prism. Due to the unique properties of the prism, the light is deflected at a substantially constant angle within a lateral scanning plane. The scanning system is adapted to be used for medical imaging by disposing it within a distal end of a catheter.