Snapshot spectrally encoded fluorescence imaging through a fiber bundle

Abstract

Fiber optic endomicroscopy is a valuable tool for clinical diagnostics and animal studies because it can capture images of tissue in vivo with subcellular resolution. Current configurations for endomicroscopes have either limited spatial resolution or require a scanning mechanism at the distal end of the fiber, which can slow imaging speed and increase the probe size. We present a novel configuration that provides high contrast 350 × 350 pixel images at 7.2 frames per second, without the need for mechanical scanning at the proximal or distal end of the fiber. The proof-of-concept benchtop system is tested in fluorescence mode and can resolve 1.5 µm features of a high resolution 1951 USAF target.