Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for imaging a sample. A portable slide reader may be provided that may be configured to accept a slide and that may contain one or more miniature microscopes therein. The slide reader may include a display showing images captured by the microscopes. The slide may be movable relative to the microscopes and the position of the captured image may be controllable. In some instances, images captured may be useful for DNA sequencing. Multiple color ranges may be captured for a target region, corresponding to different nucleobases.

Abstract: Biological tissue such as skeletal and cardiac muscle can be imaged by using an objective-based probe in the tissue and scanning at a sufficiently fast rate to mitigate motion artifacts due to physiological motion. According to one example embodiment, such a probe is part of a system that is capable of reverse-direction high-resolution imaging without needing to stain or otherwise introduce a foreign element used to generate or otherwise increase the sensed light. The probe can include a light generator for generating light pulses that are directed towards structures located within the thick tissue. The system can additionally include aspects that lessen adverse image-quality degradation. Further, the system can additionally be constructed as a hand-held device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are implemented for microscope imaging solutions. One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed toward an epifluorescence microscope. The microscope includes an image capture circuit including an array of optical sensor. An optical arrangement is configured to direct excitation light of less than about 1 mW to a target object in a field of view of that is at least 0.5 mm2 and to direct epi-fluorescence emission caused by the excitation light to the array of optical sensors. The optical arrangement and array of optical sensors are each sufficiently close to the target object to provide at least 2.5 ?m resolution for an image of the field of view.

Abstract: Biological thick tissue such as skeletal and cardiac muscle is imaged by inserting a probe into the tissue and scanning the tissue at a sufficiently fast rate to mitigate motion artifacts due to physiological motion. According to one example embodiment, such a probe is part of a system that is capable of reverse-direction high-resolution imaging without staining or otherwise introducing a foreign element used to generate or otherwise increase the sensed light. The probe includes a light generator for generating light pulses that are directed towards structures located within the thick tissue. The light pulses interact with intrinsic characteristics of the structures to generate a signal such as SHG or intrinsic fluorescence. Reliance on intrinsic characteristics of the structures is particularly useful for applications in which the introduction of foreign substances to the thick tissue is undesirable.

Abstract: Biological thick tissue such as skeletal and cardiac muscle is imaged by inserting a probe into the tissue and scanning the tissue at a sufficiently fast rate to mitigate motion artifacts due to physiological motion. According to one example embodiment, such a probe is part of a system that is capable of reverse-direction high-resolution imaging without staining or otherwise introducing a foreign element used to generate or otherwise increase the sensed light. The probe includes a light generator for generating light pulses that are directed towards structures located within the thick tissue. The light pulses interact with intrinsic characteristics of the structures to generate a signal such as SHG or intrinsic fluorescence. Reliance on intrinsic characteristics of the structures is particularly useful for applications in which the introduction of foreign substances to the thick tissue is undesirable.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical element, a GRIN lens, and a detector. The optical element has a first optical aperture. The GRIN lens has first and second ends. The first end of the GRIN lens is positioned to receive light from the first optical aperture. The detector is configured to measure values of a characteristic of light emitted from the first end in response to multi-photon absorption events in a sample illuminated by light from the second end of the endoscopic probe.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a pulsed laser, a pre-compensator for chromatic dispersion, a transmission optical fiber, and a GRIN lens. The pre-compensator chirps optical pulses received from the laser. The transmission optical fiber transports the chirped optical pulses from the pre-compensator. The GRIN lens receives the transported optical pulses from the transmission optical fiber. The GRIN lens has a wider optical core than the transmission optical fiber and substantially narrows the transported optical pulses received from the transmission optical fiber.

Abstract: A system includes an optical interferometer, an interference detector, and a controller. The optical interferometer includes a measurement arm, a reference arm, and an optical splitter. The measurement arm has a probe. The arms are coupled to receive light from the optical splitter and to cause light outputted by the arms to interfere. The interference detector is coupled to receive a portion of the interfering light to determine information representative of a location, an orientation, or a velocity of a portion of the patient or animal from the received light. The controller is coupled to receive the information and to adjust data collection on the animal or patient in a manner responsive to a change in a relative location, orientation, or velocity between the probe and the portion of the animal or patient.

Abstract: A mode converter includes first and second optical waveguides and a GRIN fiber lens. The GRIN fiber lens is attached to both the first and the second waveguides.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a pulsed laser, a pre-compensator for chromatic dispersion, a transmission optical fiber, and a GRIN lens. The pre-compensator chirps optical pulses received from the laser. The transmission optical fiber transports the chirped optical pulses from the pre-compensator. The GRIN lens receives the transported optical pulses from the transmission optical fiber. The GRIN lens has a wider optical core than the transmission optical fiber and substantially narrows the transported optical pulses received from the transmission optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a GRIN fiber includes forming a tube of silica-glass having a tubular core and a concentric tubular cladding adjacent and external to the tubular core. The core has a dopant density with a radially graded profile. The method includes partially collapsing the tube by applying heat thereto. The partially collapsed tube has a central channel. The method includes passing a glass etchant through the central canal to remove an internal layer of silica glass, and then, collapsing the etched tube to a rod-like preform.

Abstract: A method produces an image that maps a level of electrical activity of electrically excitable membranes in a tissue mass The method includes positioning one end of an optical endoscope inside the tissue mass and illuminating a portion of the tissue mass with a light beam emitted from the endoscope. The method includes collecting light from the illuminated portion of the tissue mass to produce image data for one or more light intensity images and mapping the level of electrical activity of the electrically excitable membranes in the illuminated portion of the tissue mass based on the produced image data.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A mode converter includes first and second optical waveguides and a GRIN fiber lens. The GRIN fiber lens is attached to both the first and the second waveguides.

Abstract: An optical microscope includes a compound GRIN objective and a lens system. The compound GRIN objective is able to form an image of an object located near one end of the GRIN objective. The compound GRIN objective is configured to limit a lateral field of view for the image to a distance equal to the diameter of the GRIN objective. The lens system is positioned to form a magnified image of an image formed by the compound GRIN objective.

Abstract: An optical microscope includes a compound GRIN objective and a lens system. The compound GRIN objective is able to form an image of an object located near one end of the GRIN objective. The compound GRIN objective is configured to limit a lateral field of view for the image to a distance equal to the diameter of the GRIN objective. The lens system is positioned to form a magnified image of an image formed by the compound GRIN objective.

Abstract: A GRIN fiber lens has a silica-glass core whose refractive index has a radial profile. The profile has a radial second derivative whose average magnitude in the core is less than about 1.7×10−6 microns−2 times the value of the refractive index on the axis of the GRIN fiber lens.

Abstract: A GRIN fiber lens has a silica-glass core whose refractive index has a radial profile. The profile has a radial second derivative whose average magnitude in the core is less than about 1.7×10−6 microns−2 times the value of the refractive index on the axis of the GRIN fiber lens.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical element, a GRIN lens, and a detector. The optical element has a first optical aperture. The GRIN lens has first and second ends. The first end of the GRIN lens is positioned to receive light from the first optical aperture. The detector is configured to measure values of a characteristic of light emitted from the first end in response to multi-photon absorption events in a sample illuminated by light from the second end of the endoscopic probe.

Abstract: A mode converter includes first and second optical waveguides and a GRIN fiber lens. The GRIN fiber lens is attached to both the first and the second waveguides.