Photon counting fibre optic distributed temperature sensing with a CMOS SPAD array.

Time-resolved fibre optic Raman distributed temperature sensing (DTS) measurements experience long measurement times due to a weak backscattered Raman signal inside optical fibres or limited detector count rates. Here, improvements to previous work based on individual detectors are demonstrated using a 512 pixel complementary-metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) line sensor array with integrated (on-chip) timing electronics. Multiplexed single photon counting increases count rate and decreases measurement time for practical applications. This allows temperature to be measured every 0.5 m with 0.7 °C accuracy and a 10 s measurement time using a 13.0 m optical fibre, performance over longer distance is also investigated.

Handheld wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging system based on a distally mounted SPAD array.

In this work a handheld Fluorescent Lifetime IMaging (FLIM) system based on a distally mounted < 2 mm2 128 × 120 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array operating over a > 1 m long wired interface is demonstrated. The head of the system is ∼4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm making it suitable for hand-held ex vivo applications. This is, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first example of a SPAD array mounted on the distal end of a handheld FLIM system in this manner. All existing systems to date use a fibre to collect and relay fluorescent light to detectors at the proximal end of the system. This has clear potential biological and biomedical applications. To demonstrate this, the system is used to provide contrast between regions of differing tissue composition in ovine kidney samples, and between healthy and stressed or damaged plant leaves. Additionally, FLIM videos are provided showing that frame rates of > 1 Hz are achievable. It is thus an important step in realising an in vivo miniaturized chip-on-tip FLIM endoscopy system.

Ultrafast laser ablation of a multicore polymer optical fiber for multipoint light emission.

We demonstrate the use of ultrafast laser pulses to precisely ablate the side of polymer multicore optical fibres (MCF) in such a way that light is efficiently coupled out of a set of MCF cores to free space. By individually exciting sets of MCF cores, this flexible "micro-window" technology allows the controllable generation of light sources at multiple independently selectable locations along the MCF. We found that the maximum fraction of light that could be side coupled from the MCF varied between 55% and 73%.

Molecular detection of Gram-positive bacteria in the human lung through an optical fiber-based endoscope.

PURPOSE: The relentless rise in antimicrobial resistance is a major societal challenge and requires, as part of its solution, a better understanding of bacterial colonization and infection. To facilitate this, we developed a highly efficient no-wash red optical molecular imaging agent that enables the rapid, selective, and specific visualization of Gram-positive bacteria through a bespoke optical fiber-based delivery/imaging endoscopic device. METHODS: We rationally designed a no-wash, red, Gram-positive-specific molecular imaging agent (Merocy-Van) based on vancomycin and an environmental merocyanine dye. We demonstrated the specificity and utility of the imaging agent in escalating in vitro and ex vivo whole human lung models (n = 3), utilizing a bespoke fiber-based delivery and imaging device, coupled to a wide-field, two-color endomicroscopy system. RESULTS: The imaging agent (Merocy-Van) was specific to Gram-positive bacteria and enabled no-wash imaging of S. aureus within the alveolar space of whole ex vivo human lungs within 60 s of delivery into the field-of-view, using the novel imaging/delivery endomicroscopy device. CONCLUSION: This platform enables the rapid and specific detection of Gram-positive bacteria in the human lung.

Core crosstalk in ordered imaging fiber bundles.

Coherent fiber bundles are used widely for imaging. Commonly, disordered arrays of randomly sized fiber cores avoid proximity between like-cores, which would otherwise result in increased core crosstalk and a negative impact on imaging. Recently, stack-and-draw fiber manufacture techniques have been used to produce fibers with a controlled core layout to minimize core crosstalk. However, one must take manufacturing considerations into account during stack-and-draw fiber design in order to avoid impractical or unachievable fabrication. This comes with a set of practical compromises, such as using only a small number of different core sizes. Through characterization of core crosstalk patterns, this Letter aims to aid the understanding of crosstalk limitations imposed by such compromises in the core layout made for ease of fabrication.

Ultrafast-laser-ablation-assisted spatially selective attachment of fluorescent sensors onto optical fibers.

A robust method to selectively attach specific fluorophores onto the individual cores of a multicore fiber is reported in this Letter. The method is based on the use of ultrafast laser pulses to nanostructure the facet of the fiber core, followed by amine functionalization and sensor conjugation. This surface-machining protocol not only enables precise spatial selectivity, but it also facilitates high deposition densities of the sensor moieties. As a proof of concept, the successful deposition of three different fluorophores onto selected cores of a multicore fiber is demonstrated. The protocol was developed to include attachment of a fluorescence-based pH sensor using the ratiometric carboxynapthofluorescein.

Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Fluorescence Quenching in Optical Fibre-Based pH Sensors.

Numerous optodes, with fluorophores as the chemical sensing element and optical fibres for light delivery and collection, have been fabricated for minimally invasive endoscopic measurements of key physiological parameters such as pH. These flexible miniaturised optodes have typically attempted to maximize signal-to-noise through the application of high concentrations of fluorophores. We show that high-density attachment of carboxyfluorescein onto silica microspheres, the sensing elements, results in fluorescence energy transfer, manifesting as reduced fluorescence intensity and lifetime in addition to spectral changes. We demonstrate that the change in fluorescence intensity of carboxyfluorescein with pH in this "high-density" regime is opposite to that normally observed, with complex variations in fluorescent lifetime across the emission spectra of coupled fluorophores. Improved understanding of such highly loaded sensor beads is important because it leads to large increases in photostability and will aid the development of compact fibre probes, suitable for clinical applications. The time-resolved spectral measurement techniques presented here can be further applied to similar studies of other optodes.

Dual purpose fibre - SERS pH sensing and bacterial analysis.

The exploitation of fibre based Raman probes has been challenged by often complicated fabrication procedures and difficulties in reproducibility. Here, we have demonstrated a simple and cost-effective approach for sensing pH through an optical fibre, by employing a wax patterned filter paper-based substrate for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Through this method, high reproducibility between fibres was achieved. In addition to sensing pH, it was possible to extract fluid samples containing P. aeruginosa for further analysis. This dual purpose fibre is bronchoscope deployable, and is able to gather information about both the host and pathogen, which may lead to an improved treatment plan in future in vivo applications.

Characterization and modelling of inter-core coupling in coherent fiber bundles.

Recent developments in optical endomicroscopy (OEM) and associated fluorescent SmartProbes present a need for sensitive imaging with high detection performance. Inter-core coupling within coherent fiber bundles is a well recognized limitation, affecting the technology's imaging capabilities. Fiber cross coupling has been studied both experimentally and within a theoretical framework (coupled mode theory), providing (i) insights on the factors affecting cross talk, and (ii) recommendations for optimal fiber bundle design. However, due to physical limitations, such as the tradeoff between cross coupling and core density, cross coupling can be suppressed yet not eliminated through optimal fiber design. This study introduces a novel approach for measuring, analyzing and quantifying cross coupling within coherent fiber bundles, in a format that can be integrated into a linear model, which in turn can enable computational compensation of the associated blurring introduced to OEM images.

High-extinction ratio integrated photonic filters for silicon quantum photonics.

We present the generation of quantum-correlated photon pairs and subsequent pump rejection across two silicon-on-insulator photonic integrated circuits. Incoherently cascaded lattice filters are used to provide over 100 dB pass-band to stop-band contrast with no additional external filtering. Photon pairs generated in a microring resonator are successfully separated from the input pump, confirmed by temporal correlations measurements.