Abstract
We discuss the design and performance of a miniature objective lens optimized for coherent Raman scattering microscopy. The packaged lens assembly has a numerical aperture of 0.51 in water and an outer diameter of 8 mm. The lens system exhibits minimum chromatic aberrations, and produces coherent Raman scattering images with sub-micrometer lateral resolution (0.648 μm) using near-infrared excitation pulses. We demonstrate that despite the small dimensions of the miniature objective, the performance of this lens system is comparable to standard microscope objective lenses, offering opportunities for miniaturizing coherent Raman scattering imaging probes without sacrificing the image quality.
Highlights
Coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy is a nonlinear optical imaging technique, including both coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), which provides label-free, molecular selective contrast at fast image acquisition rates. [1] A number of examples illustrate the potential of CRS for in vivo biomedical research
In order to incorporate a focusing element with a high numerical aperture (NA) in small optical probes, miniaturization of optical components is required. Advances in this area can be divided into two categories: objective lens systems that use miniature multi-lens objectives and systems based on the use of gradient refractive index (GRIN) optics
A challenging aspect of optimizing the CRS objective with ray tracing methods is to achieve a balance between a high NA and low aberrations
Summary
Coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy is a nonlinear optical imaging technique, including both coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), which provides label-free, molecular selective contrast at fast image acquisition rates. [1] A number of examples illustrate the potential of CRS for in vivo biomedical research. The practical translation of CRS techniques into a clinical setting is accompanied by several technological challenges One of these challenges is the engineering of robust and small optical probes that can be directed to accessible parts of the body, including hollow tracts of the human body. In order to incorporate a focusing element with a high numerical aperture (NA) in small optical probes, miniaturization of optical components is required. Advances in this area can be divided into two categories: objective lens systems that use miniature multi-lens objectives and systems based on the use of gradient refractive index (GRIN) optics. Multi-lens miniature objectives have been used for linear and nonlinear imaging techniques such as confocal reflectance [11,12,13,14,15], two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) [16,17,18,19,20] and CARS. [21, 22] GRIN lenses have been utilized in confocal reflectance [23], TPEF [24,25,26,27,28] and CRS [29] imaging applications
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