Deep tissue hyper-spectral imaging using multi-mode fibre-based flexible micro-endoscopy

该项目的目的是开发一种新型的超薄多模光纤内窥镜。多模光纤（mmf）能够以信息最密集的方式传输光信号：许多（1000个）独立的通道能够通过直径只有几十微米的光纤传播。结合起来，这些通道可以将图像从光纤的一端传输到另一端。然而，由于每个通道的相速度不同，因此投射到光纤一端的图像在到达光纤另一端时被打乱成明显随机的斑点图案。mmf可以进行校准，使图像能够被解读，但是这种校准在纤维弯曲的地方发生变化，使得通过柔性mmf进行成像成为一个公开的挑战。该项目将建立在由Assoc领导的结构光小组最近的工作基础上。埃克塞特大学的David Phillips教授，开发了一种新的方法来校准和成像灵活的多模光纤，同时他们能够自由移动（见Shuhui Li， Simon AR Horsley, Tomas Tyc， Tomas Cizmar和David B. Phillips）。“导星辅助多模光纤成像”。ArXiv预印本：2005.06445(2020))。这将推动基于MMF的成像技术的发展，在项目期间，我们将与埃克塞特大学的尼克·斯通教授一起探索广泛的应用，包括生物医学显微内窥镜。

The aim of the project is to develop a new form of ultra-thin multimode fibre based endoscope. Multimode fibres (MMFs) are able to transfer optical signals in the most information dense way: with many (1000's) independent channels able to propagate through an optical fibre only several tens of microns in diameter. Combined, these channels can transfer images from one end of the fibre to the other. However, as the phase velocity of each channel is different, then images projected onto one end of the fibre become scrambled into an apparently random speckle pattern upon arrival at the other end of the fibre. MMFs can be calibrated - enabling images to be unscrambled, however this calibration changes wherever the fibre bends, rendering imaging through flexible MMFs an open challenge. This project will build on recent work of the Structured Light Group, led by Assoc. Prof. David Phillips at Exeter, to develop a new way to calibrate and image through flexible multimode fibres while they are able to freely move (see Shuhui Li, Simon AR Horsley, Tomas Tyc, Tomas Cizmar, and David B. Phillips. "Guide-star assisted imaging through multimode optical fibres". ArXiv preprint arXiv:2005.06445 (2020)). This will push forward MMF based imaging technology, and during the project we will explore a wide range of applications including biomedical micro-endoscopy in conjunction with Prof Nick Stone at the University of Exeter.