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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Simultaneous Brightfield, Fluorescence, and Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging of Contracting Cardiac Trabeculae Ex Vivo

Simultaneous Brightfield, Fluorescence, and Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging of Contracting Cardiac Trabeculae Ex Vivo

Published on: October 2, 2021

Time-of-flight 3D imaging through multimode optical fibers.

Daan Stellinga¹, David B Phillips², Simon Peter Mekhail¹

¹School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|December 9, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a new method for 3D imaging through tiny optical fibers, enabling near-video-rate depth recovery for moving objects. This breakthrough allows for advanced inspection capabilities in confined spaces.

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Last Updated: Oct 10, 2025

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Published on: October 2, 2021

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Published on: November 16, 2019

Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
3D Imaging Technologies
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Time-of-flight (ToF) 3D imaging relies on measuring laser pulse round-trip times.
Conventional ToF systems use large optics (centimeters in diameter).
Existing methods are limited in applications requiring miniaturized or flexible imaging systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate near-video-rate 3D imaging through multimode optical fibers.
To enable depth-resolving capabilities in ultrathin microendoscopes.
To explore applications in clinical and remote inspection.

Main Methods:

Utilized wavefront shaping for aberration correction synchronized with a pulsed laser source.
Implemented a scanning technique to capture ~23,000 points per second.
Employed multimode fibers with a small core diameter (50 micrometers) and total aperture of a few hundred micrometers.

Main Results:

Achieved near-video-rate 3D imaging through optical fibers.
Successfully imaged moving objects several meters away from the fiber end.
Demonstrated frame rates of approximately 5 Hz with a ~40 cm long, 50-micrometer core diameter fiber.

Conclusions:

This technique significantly advances 3D imaging through miniaturized optical systems.
The developed method provides far-field depth-resolving capabilities for microendoscopes.
Expected to enable novel clinical and remote inspection applications.