{
  "abstract": "Optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy has become an important biomedical imaging modality for visualizing optical absorption contrast with micrometer-scale spatial resolution in superficial tissues. Because this modality relies on tightly focused laser illumination, precise optical alignment is essential, and free-space-to-fiber laser coupling is one of the most critical alignment steps. This issue becomes particularly important in transportable optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy systems, where repetitive manual readjustment is required. Although our previous automated coupling approach based on motorized mirror control reduced the need for manual beam-path alignment, its optimization capability was limited when the focal position relative to the fiber core is not actively controlled. In this study, we propose an upgraded automated fiber-coupling module that integrates beam steering and fiber-side focusing alignment. In addition to the incident beam path control using motorized mirrors, a piezo-driven three-axis stage carries the coupling objective lens to align the focused beam with the fiber core. The coupled light was divided into imaging and monitoring paths, enabling real-time feedback-based optimization. The proposed module was validated by achieving high-quality photoacoustic images of both phantom and biological tissue through automated coupling. By extending automated coupling from mirror-based beam steering alone to combined beam steering and three-axis fiber-core alignment, the proposed coupling module provides a practical solution for improving the robustness, usability, and transportability of optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy platforms and other fiber-coupled optical imaging systems.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, School of Transdisciplinary Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46421, Republic of Korea.",
    "Engineering Research Center for Color-Modulated Extra-Sensory Perception Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.",
    "Department of Automobile and IT Convergence, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yongjae Jeong",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-7247-7633"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dongbin Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Haeni Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hwidon Lee",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6819-0715"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jinwoo Yoo",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1025-3784"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jeesu Kim",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2542-0234"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m4n0c37stcvg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/s26206469",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709162",
  "id": "8m4n0c37stcvg",
  "issns": [
    "1424-8220"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944332",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221722044",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709162?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13709162",
  "pmid": "42944332",
  "published": "2026-10-13",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m4n0c37stcvg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42944332",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944332"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [],
  "title": "Automated Laser-Fiber Coupling with Three-Axis Fiber-Core Alignment for Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy.",
  "title_text": "Automated Laser-Fiber Coupling with Three-Axis Fiber-Core Alignment for Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8m4n0c37stcvg",
  "venue": "Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}