Grin-fiber lens based optical endoscopes

摘要

An optical system for monitoring or imaging a sample includes a probe, an optical splitter or circulator, and an optical detector. The probe includes an optical fiber and a GRIN fiber-size lens fused to one end of the fiber. The optical splitter or circulator receives light from a source and directs a portion of the received light to the fiber. The optical detector is coupled to receive a portion of light collected from the sample by the GRIN fiber-size lens and is configured determine a characteristic of the sample from the received light.