Grant: Idea to Innovation
École Polytechnique de Montréal
$124,800.00
Multimodal endoscopy using novel double-clad fibre couplers
FY 2012-13
Summary
Endoscopy has revolutionized modern medicine by allowing clinicians to visualize internal organs to screen for diseases such as colorectal cancer, lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases. For many years, bundles containing typically 30,000 optical fibres have been used to image inside the body. Such bundles suffer from low pixel densities and are relatively large, with a diameter sometimes over one centimeter.
Single optical fibre endoscopy was recently demonstrated by many groups and allow video rate color imaging at high pixel densities, and can be packaged into ultrathin (e.g. 0,35-mm-diameter) instruments for access to an increased number of organs through the bore of a needle. Single fiber endoscopy is however subject to speckle noise in addition to suffer from very low signal-to-noise ratio. Double-clad fibres were shown to dramatically reduce speckle contrast while improving signal collection by using the single-mode core of the fibre for illumination and the large multi-mode inner cladding for collection.
We recently invented an optical fibre coupler - a device that can route optical signals from one fibre to another - made from two double-clad optical fibres. This coupler enables the illumination of a sample by routing the light from a laser to a probe through the core of the fibre, as well as the collection of the light coming back from the sample through the inner cladding of the fibre, which is much larger than the core. This technology enables the collection of a much stronger signal and brings advantages of reduced image speckle, larger signal, all without sacrificing the capacity to do 3D imaging or depth-imaging of biological tissues.
Our project improves on the technology to make it suitable for clinical use. This double-clad fibre coupler technology generates lots of interest from companies manufacturing laboratory equipment and instruments for clinical use. By the end of the project, we expect to transfer the technology to one or more companies, with the end-goal of improving patient care.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
435017-2012
Name nom
Boudoux, Caroline
Department département
Génie physique
Organization id
64
Institution établissement
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
124800
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
1901
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical technology
Research subject fr
Technologie biomédicale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Multimodal endoscopy using novel double-clad fibre couplers
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Endoscopy has revolutionized modern medicine by allowing clinicians to visualize internal organs to screen for diseases such as colorectal cancer, lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases. For many years, bundles containing typically 30,000 optical fibres have been used to image inside the body. Such bundles suffer from low pixel densities and are relatively large, with a diameter sometimes over one centimeter.
Single optical fibre endoscopy was recently demonstrated by many groups and allow video rate color imaging at high pixel densities, and can be packaged into ultrathin (e.g. 0,35-mm-diameter) instruments for access to an increased number of organs through the bore of a needle. Single fiber endoscopy is however subject to speckle noise in addition to suffer from very low signal-to-noise ratio. Double-clad fibres were shown to dramatically reduce speckle contrast while improving signal collection by using the single-mode core of the fibre for illumination and the large multi-mode inner cladding for collection.
We recently invented an optical fibre coupler - a device that can route optical signals from one fibre to another - made from two double-clad optical fibres. This coupler enables the illumination of a sample by routing the light from a laser to a probe through the core of the fibre, as well as the collection of the light coming back from the sample through the inner cladding of the fibre, which is much larger than the core. This technology enables the collection of a much stronger signal and brings advantages of reduced image speckle, larger signal, all without sacrificing the capacity to do 3D imaging or depth-imaging of biological tissues.
Our project improves on the technology to make it suitable for clinical use. This double-clad fibre coupler technology generates lots of interest from companies manufacturing laboratory equipment and instruments for clinical use. By the end of the project, we expect to transfer the technology to one or more companies, with the end-goal of improving patient care.
