Final Report Summary - FDML-RAMAN (Stimulated Raman analysis and Raman microscopy with Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) laser sources)
For TiCO-Raman we also developed a new fiber based laser source within the project. It uses a complex interplay between four-wave mixing and Raman amplification and is fully electronically wavelength switchable from pulse to pulse. Since this source has very unique features, we expect a wealth of future applications.
For example, even though this source operates in an unusual parameter regime, we were able to successfully demonstrate two photon microscopy with it. We could show that with the new nanosecond two-photon setup (ns-TPM) it is possible to detect fluorescence lifetimes with a single laser pulse. Additionally, the system is all fiber based, again ready for endoscopic beam delivery.
Both newly developed imaging modalities, TiCo-Raman and ns-TPM, and the laser are fully synchronizable and triggerable and they exhibit “measure on demand” capability. Hence, they are the ideal candidates to be integrated into tomorrow’s medical optics tools as a multi-modal imaging platform. Such a platform might substantially improve early diagnosis of disease in the future.