title: Micro-optical fiber probe for use in an intravascular Raman endoscope.
abstract: We believe that we have developed the narrowest optical-fiber Raman probe ever reported, 600 microm in total diameter, that can be inserted into coronary arteries. The selection of suitable optical fibers, filters, and a processing method is discussed. Custom-made filters attached to the front end of a probe eliminate the background Raman signals of the optical fiber itself. The experimental evaluation of various optical fibers is carried out for the selection of suitable fibers. Measurement of the Raman spectra of an atherosclerotic lesion of a rabbit artery in vitro demonstrates the excellent performance of the micro-Raman probe.
authors.affiliation: Probing Technology Laboratory, RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research), Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komachi
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Katsuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tashiro
mesh_terms: D020677:Angioscopes; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization; D055100:Optical Fibers; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014159:Transducers