Semi-random multicore fibre design for adaptive multiphoton endoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Multicore fibers (MCF) offer potential for advanced imaging but often suffer from symmetry-induced artifacts.
• Adaptive imaging techniques are crucial for enhancing resolution and field of view in endoscopic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a semi-random MCF for adaptive multiphoton endoscopy.
• To evaluate the imaging performance of the novel MCF design.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a double-clad MCF with 385 single-mode cores arranged in 55 sub-units.
• Each sub-unit featured 7 cores with random angular orientations in a hexagonal lattice.
• Imaging experiments using fluorescently labeled beads and pollen grains with proximal and distal detection.

Main Results:

• The random sub-unit orientation reduced diffracted orders and increased the maximum imageable object size.
• Demonstrated successful imaging of biological samples with both proximal and distal fluorescence detection.
• Estimated ~3200 independent resolution elements in the final image.

Conclusions:

• The semi-random MCF design is suitable for adaptive multiphoton endoscopy.
• This fiber architecture enhances imaging quality and expands the field of view.
• The developed MCF shows promise for in-vivo biological imaging applications.