Abstract
We present an all-fiber-optic scanning multiphoton endomicroscope with excitation without the need for prechirping femtosecond pulses before the endomicroscope. The system consists of a femtosecond fiber laser, a customized double-clad fiber for light delivery and fluorescence collection, and a piezoelectric scan head. We demonstrate two-photon imaging of cultured cells and mouse tissue, both labeled with indocyanine green. Free-space multiphoton imaging with near-IR emission has previously shown benefits in reduced background fluorescence and lower attenuation for the fluorescence emission. For fiber-optic multiphoton imaging there is the additional advantage of using the soliton effect at the telecommunication wavelengths () in fibers, permitting dispersion-compensation-free, small-footprint systems. We expect these advantages will help transition multiphoton endomicroscopy to the clinic.
© 2011 Optical Society of America
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