Imaging system for three-dimensional imaging of the interior or an object

Abstract

The inventions relates to an imaging system and a method for three-dimensional imaging of the interior of an object. The imaging system comprises illumination means ( 10 ), detection means ( 11 ) and reconstruction means. The illumination means is adapted to illuminate the interior of the object with light, wherein the illumination means ( 10 ) is capable of generating different spatial light intensity distributions on the interior of the object. The detection means ( 11 ) is adapted to detect the different spatial light intensity distributions, and the reconstruction means is adapted to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from the detected different spatial light intensity distributions. The invention relates further to an optical fiber system comprising a transfer mechanism to transfer the optical fiber system from a first condition, in which optical fibers diverge from each other, to a second condition, in which optical fibers are parallel to each other, and vice versa.

1 . An optical fiber system, wherein the optical fiber system comprises:
 a bundle of optical fibers,
 wherein in a first condition, the optical fibers are arranged such that at least two of the optical fibers diverge from each other at an end portion of the bundle, and 
 wherein in a second condition, the optical fibers are arranged such that the optical fibers are parallel to each other at said end portion of the bundle; and 
   a transfer mechanism which is adapted to transfer the optical fiber system from one of the first and the second condition to the other of the first and the second condition.   
     
     
         2 . The optical fiber system of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer mechanism is adapted to unfold the optical fibers at said end portion of the bundle to transfer the optical fiber system from the second condition to the first condition, and/or wherein the transfer mechanism is adapted to fold the optical fibers at said end portion of the bundle to transfer the optical fiber system from the first condition to the second condition. 
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the optical fibers has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be optically coupled to a light source and wherein the second end is configured to illuminate an interior of an object using light transmitted from the light source. 
     
     
         4 . The optical fiber system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the optical fibers generates different spatial light intensity distributions. 
     
     
         5 . The optical fiber system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the optical fibers illuminates the interior of the object from different directions. 
     
     
         6 . The optical fiber system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the optical fibers is moveable within the interior of the object. 
     
     
         7 . The optical fiber system of  claim 3 , wherein a second one of the optical fibers has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be optically coupled to a detector and wherein the second end is configured to detect light on the interior of the object and transfer the light to the detector. 
     
     
         8 . The optical fiber system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical sub-fibers and the plurality of optical sub-fibers surround the second one of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the optical fibers and the second one of the optical fibers are located within a common casing. 
     
     
         10 . The optical fiber system of  claim 9 , wherein the casing is within an endoscope. 
     
     
         11 . The optical fiber system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of optical sub-fibers of the at least one of the optical fibers are configured to illuminate sequentially. 
     
     
         12 . A method for illuminating an interior of an object comprising:
 inserting a fiber optic system into the interior of the object,
 wherein the fiber optic system comprises a bundle of optical fibers, 
 wherein the bundle of optical fibers comprises a first condition in which the optical fibers are arranged such that at least two of the optical fibers diverge from each other at an end portion of the bundle, and 
 wherein the bundle of optical fibers comprises a second condition in which the optical fibers are arranged such that the optical fibers are parallel to each other at the end portion of the bundle; and 
   transferring the optical fiber system from one of the first and the second condition to the other of the first and the second condition.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transferring comprises unfolding the optical fibers at the end portion of the bundle to transfer the optical fibers from the second condition to the first condition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transferring comprises folding the optical fibers at the end portion of the bundle to transfer the optical fibers from the first condition to the second condition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 illuminating the interior of the object with a first end of a first one of the optical fibers using light transmitted from a light source optically coupled to a second end of the first one of the optical fibers.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the illuminating the interior of the object includes different spatial light intensity distributions from different directions using the first one of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a second one of the optical fibers is optically coupled at a first end to a detector, wherein the method further comprises:
 detecting, by the detector, light reflected from the interior of the object, the light being received by a second end of the second one of the optical fibers and transmitted to the first end coupled to the detector.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first one of the optical fibers comprises a plurality of optical sub-fibers and the plurality of optical sub-fibers surround the second one of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first one of the optical fibers and the second one of the optical fibers are located within a common casing and the casing is within an endoscope. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the illuminating comprises sequentially illuminating the plurality of the optical sub-fibers of the first one of the optical fibers.