Endoscopic optical coherence tomography with a focus-adjustable probe.

We present a focus-adjustable endoscopic probe for optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is able to acquire images with different focal planes and overcome depth-of-focus limitations by image fusing. The use of a two-way shape-memory-alloy spring enables the probe to adjust working distance over 1.5 mm, providing a large scanning range with high resolution and no sensitivity loss. Equipped with a homemade hollow-core ultrasonic motor, the probe is capable of performing an unobstructed 360 deg field-of-view distal scanning. Both the axial resolution and the best lateral resolution are ∼4 µm, with a sensitivity of 100.3 dB. Spectral-domain OCT imaging of phantom and biological tissues with the probe is also demonstrated.

An electric contact method to measure contact state between stator and rotor in a traveling wave ultrasonic motor.

Performances of ultrasonic motor (USM) depend considerably on contact state between stator and rotor. To measure the contact state in a traveling wave ultrasonic motor (TWUSM), a special test method is necessary. This paper develops a new method named electric contact method to measure contact state of stator and rotor in traveling wave type USM. The effects of pre-load and exciting voltage (amplitude) of stator on contact state between stator and rotor are studied with this method. By a simulating tester of friction properties of TWUSM, the variations of stalling torque and no-load speed against the pre-load and the exciting voltage have been measured. The relative contact length that describes the contact characteristic of stator and rotor is proposed. The relation between the properties of TWUSM and the contact state of stator and rotor are presented. Additionally, according to a theoretical contact model of stator and rotor in TWUSM, the contact lengths at given conditions are calculated and compared with the experimental results.

Tiny endoscopic optical coherence tomography probe driven by a miniaturized hollow ultrasonic motor.

We present an endoscopic probe for optical coherence tomography (OCT) equipped with a miniaturized hollow ultrasonic motor that rotates the objective lens and provides an internal channel for the fiber to pass through, enabling 360 deg unobstructed circumferential scanning. This probe has an outer diameter of 1.5 mm, which is ultra-small for motorized probes with an unobstructed view in distal scanning endoscopic OCT. Instead of a mirror or prism, a customized aspheric right-angle lens is utilized, leading to an enlargement of the numerical aperture and thus high transverse resolution. Spectral-domain OCT imaging of bio-tissue and a phantom are demonstrated with resolution of 7.5 µm(axial)×6.6 µm(lateral) and sensitivity of 96 dB.

Study of a new type linear ultrasonic motor with double-driving feet.

A new type linear USM with double-driving feet has been developed. The stator consists of eight piezoelectric ceramic plates and one brass plate. Piezoelectric ceramics plates are polarized along the thickness and are symmetrically bonded to the two surfaces of one rectangle brass plate. Double-driving feet are assembled on the same side of the brass plate. The working vibration mode is a composite in-plane bimode, which consists of the first longitudinal in-plane vibration mode and the second bending one. The basic size of the linear USM is determined carefully by FEA. The characteristics of the prototype motor were measured experimentally.