Automated Laser-Fiber Coupling with Three-Axis Fiber-Core Alignment for Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy.
- 1Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, School of Transdisciplinary Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46421, Republic of Korea.
- 2Engineering Research Center for Color-Modulated Extra-Sensory Perception Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
- 3Department of Automobile and IT Convergence, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea.
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.
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BibTeX
@article{jeong2026automated,
title = {{Automated Laser-Fiber Coupling with Three-Axis Fiber-Core Alignment for Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy.}},
author = {Yongjae Jeong and Dongbin Lee and Haeni Lee and Hwidon Lee and Jinwoo Yoo and Jeesu Kim},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/s26206469},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944332},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Automated Laser-Fiber Coupling with Three-Axis Fiber-Core Alignment for Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy.
AU - Yongjae Jeong
AU - Dongbin Lee
AU - Haeni Lee
AU - Hwidon Lee
AU - Jinwoo Yoo
AU - Jeesu Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/s26206469
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944332
AB - 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.
SN - 1424-8220
ER -