Title
Lensless, ultra-wideband fiber optic rotary joint for biomedical applications
Date Issued
01 May 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Kim W.
Chen X.
Applegate B.
Texas A and M University
Publisher(s)
OSA - The Optical Society
Abstract
The demands of optical fiber-based biomedical applications can, in many cases, outstrip the capabilities of lens-based commercially available fiber optic rotary joints. In some circumstances, it is necessary to use very broad spectral bandwidths (near UV to short-wave IR) and specialized optical fibers, such as double-clad fiber, and have the capacity to accommodate high rotational velocities. The broad spectrum, stretching down into the UV, presents two problems: (1) adequate chromatic correction in the lenses across the entire bandwidth and (2) strong UV absorption by the fluids used to lubricate the rotary joint. To accommodate these types of applications, we have developed an ultra-wideband lensless fiber optic rotary joint based on the principle that when two optical fibers are coaligned and placed in contact (or very close), the optical losses at the junction are very low. The advances demonstrated here enable excellent performance (<0.2 dB insertion loss), even down into the UV and spanning a wavelength range of at least 355-1360 nm with single-mode, multimode, and double-clad fibers. We also demonstrate excellent performance, ~0.38 dB insertion loss, at rotational velocities up to 8800 rpm (146 Hz). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of this type of rotary joint capable of such a wide bandwidth and high rotational velocities.
Start page
1973
End page
1976
Volume
41
Issue
9
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biotecnología médica Óptica
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84964921462
PubMed ID
Source
Optics Letters
ISSN of the container
0146-9592
Sponsor(s)
National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (1R01HL111361).
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus