Fiber-coupled broadband light source

Abstract

An optical element is provided which includes an optical fiber, and a plurality of fluorophores disposed inside the optical fiber. The fluorophores have a quantum yield greater than 50%, and emit a spectrum of light having a maximum intensity at wavelengths within the range of 400 nm to 2000 nm.

1 . An optical element, comprising:
 an optical fiber; and   a plurality of fluorophores in optical communication with said optical fiber;   
       wherein said fluorophores have a quantum yield greater than 50%, wherein said fluorophores emit a spectrum of light having a maximum intensity at wavelengths within the range of 400 nm to 2000 nm. 
     
     
         2 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophores emit a spectrum of light having a maximum intensity at wavelengths greater than 550 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said optical element has an average transparency of greater than 50% at wavelengths within the range of 550 nm to 1700 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophores are quantum dots. 
     
     
         5 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophores are quantum dots comprising a material selected from the group consisting of CuInS 2 , CuInSe 2 , AgInS 2 , AgInSe 2 , ZnS, ZnSe, and alloys of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber has a core and a cladding, wherein said core comprises medium having said fluorophores disposed therein, and wherein said medium is selected from the group consisting of liquid solutions and polymers. 
     
     
         7 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber has a core and cladding, wherein said optical fiber is attached to an element containing medium having said fluorophores disposed therein. 
     
     
         8 . The optical element of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one blue or UV LED optical element which is disposed at the end of said optical fiber and which is in optical communication therewith.   
     
     
         9 . The optical element of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one blue or UV LED optical element which is disposed along a portion of said optical fiber and which is in optical communication therewith.   
     
     
         10 . The optical element of  claim 1 , in combination with a spectrometer. 
     
     
         11 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein fluorophores scatter incoming light from the light source by less than 5%. 
     
     
         12 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fluorophores includes a first plurality of a first fluorophore and a second plurality of a second fluorophore, wherein said first and second fluorophores are distinct, and wherein said first and second plurality of fluorophores are homogeneously mixed within the media attached to the optical fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The optical element of  claim 1  in combination with a light source, wherein said plurality of fluorophores includes a set of fluorophores F=F 1 , . . . , F n , wherein n≥2, wherein each fluorophore F i , where i∈[1, . . . , n], has an emission spectrum characterized by a maximum intensity at wavelength λ i , wherein λ 1 > . . . >λ n , and wherein said plurality of fluorophores are arranged within said optical fiber to form a gradient. 
     
     
         14 . The optical element of  claim 1  in combination with a light source, wherein said plurality of fluorophores includes a set of fluorophores F=F 1 , . . . , F n , wherein n≥2, wherein each fluorophore F i , where i∈[1, . . . >n], has an emission spectrum characterized by a maximum intensity at wavelength λ i , wherein λ 1 > . . . >λ n , and wherein said plurality of fluorophores are arranged within media attached to the said optical fibers, and the said optical fibers are connected to the common output optical fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein an output spectrum is manipulated such as to optimize signal-to-noise across the entire spectral range by matching the illumination intensity with the sensitivity profiles of the detection systems. 
     
     
         16 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein an output spectrum is manipulated such as to optimize signal-to-noise across the entire spectral range by matching the absorption profile of the tissues. 
     
     
         17 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophores have Stokes shifts of at least 50 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber optic is segmented into a plurality of interchangeable segments. 
     
     
         19 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fluorophores are disposed inside said optical fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fluorophores are disposed adjacent to said optical fiber. 
     
     
         21 . The optical element of  claim 1 , wherein said fluorophores emit a spectrum of light having full-width at maximum intensity of greater than 40 nm. 
     
     
         22 . A method for performing a spectral tissue sensing (STS) analysis on a subject, comprising:
 providing an instrument which includes an input source of electromagnetic radiation and an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises an optical fiber and a plurality of fluorophores disposed within said optical fiber, wherein said fluorophores have a quantum yield greater than 50%, wherein said fluorophores emit a spectrum of light having a maximum intensity at wavelengths within the range of 400 nm to 2000 nm, and wherein said fluorophores emit a spectrum of light having full-width at maximum intensity of greater than 40 nm;   generating an output source of electromagnetic radiation by directing electromagnetic radiation from the input source along an optical path that includes the optical element;   irradiating a portion of tissue with electromagnetic radiation from the output source; and   performing STS analysis on the irradiated tissue.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving electromagnetic radiation from the irradiated tissue at a detection system;   
       wherein said detection system has an associated sensitivity profile, and wherein the output spectrum of the output source is manipulated to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio across the output spectrum by matching the illumination intensity of the output spectrum to the sensitivity profile of the detection system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving electromagnetic radiation from the irradiated tissue at a detection system;   
       wherein said detection system has an associated sensitivity profile, and wherein the output spectrum of the output source is manipulated to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio across the output spectrum by matching the absorption profile of the tissue to the sensitivity profile of the detection system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the portion of tissue is irradiated while it is in the body of a subject. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the portion of tissue is irradiated after it has been removed from the body of a subject. 
     
     
         27 - 48 . (canceled)