Resolution cascade: simulated MTF of a coherent fiber bundle-based microendoscopic system.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Devices

Background:

• Microendoscopic systems utilize coherent fiber bundles for image transmission, posing challenges in resolution determination.
• Calculating the modulation transfer function (MTF) for complex endoscopic optical systems is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for calculating the theoretical MTF of microendoscopic systems incorporating fiber bundles.
• To provide a comprehensive approach for evaluating the resolution of endoscopic optical systems.

Main Methods:

• A resolution cascade method was developed to calculate theoretical MTFs for individual components and the entire microendoscopic system.
• The method considers components such as distal lenses, fiber bundles, relay optics, and camera sensors.

Main Results:

• Theoretical MTF calculations using the developed method showed favorable agreement with experimental data across four optical configurations.
• The study highlights the importance of computing the full system MTF rather than solely focusing on the fiber bundle.

Conclusions:

• The resolution cascade method provides a reliable way to predict the MTF of coherent fiber bundle-based microendoscopic systems.
• Freely available software based on this method can assist in designing and optimizing future endoscopic imaging devices.