Microlens-coupled endoscopic imaging probe without beam expanding spacer

Developed is a new form of ball lens onto the tip of an optical fibre for endoscopic imaging and its feasibility is evaluated. This miniaturised fibre-optic imaging probe extends its working distance without inserting a physical spacer between the cleaved fibre and the microlens as done in conventional probes. The experiment was analysed and showed that the results concur with the simulation results. Finally, this optical probe was tested with a spectral domain optical coherence tomography and the images of thin layers of the phantom specimen are taken for comparison.