Multiview Virtual Confocal Microscopy Through A Multimode Fiber

Abstract

Confocal microscopy is a powerful imaging tool to obtain high-contrast images of thin sections within bulk tissue. However, tissue scattering limits its utility to only superficial depths. The use of multimode fibers as ultra-thin endoscopes is promising as a deep-tissue minimally invasive imaging tool. Here, we present a method to perform high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) virtual confocal microscopy through a multimode fiber, by filtering the backscattered light through multiple coplanar virtual pinholes. The use of multiple pinholes helps generate multi-view perspectives of the object, which can be shift corrected and combined to boost the SNR levels. The improved SNR also allows exploiting the potential of confocal imaging for gain in resolution.