Spectroscopy illuminator with improved delivery efficiency for high optical density and reduced thermal load
First Claim
1. An improved broadband spectroscopy illuminator comprising:
- a broadband light source and an optical coupling means for coupling the light source to a target region, said source and optical coupling means configured and arranged to achieve an improved efficiency of delivery to said region with a high optical density of at least 1 mW/cm2 and a low transferable thermal load of no more than 100 mW heat per mW usable optical power delivered.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved illuminator for generating broadband light, and for delivering the light to a sample with an improved delivery efficiency, for higher optical density and/or reduced thermal transfer, than achieved with conventional halogen bulb sources. The illuminator enables spectroscopic analysis in thermally-sensitive or spatially-constrained environments. A phosphor-coated broadband white LED and integrated collimating optics produces a continuous, collimated broadband light beam from 400 nm to 700 nm, which is then transmitted through space to a sample region, such as a living tissue in vivo. This results in a high net efficient delivery of light to the tissue sample. An efficient conversion of power to light, and the high delivery efficiency, keeps both the illuminator and sample cool during operation, allowing the illuminator to be integrated into the tip of a medical probe or into monitoring systems.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An improved broadband spectroscopy illuminator comprising:
a broadband light source and an optical coupling means for coupling the light source to a target region, said source and optical coupling means configured and arranged to achieve an improved efficiency of delivery to said region with a high optical density of at least 1 mW/cm2 and a low transferable thermal load of no more than 100 mW heat per mW usable optical power delivered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 30)
-
18. A medical illuminator catheter comprising:
-
(a) a biocompatible catheter sheath, said catheter sheath having a monitor end, a central body, and a patient end;
(b) a mixed optical and electrical connection plug, said plug located at or near the monitor end of said catheter;
(c) an integral broadband light source for illuminating a target region and a collimating transfer lens for optically coupling said source to said region over free space, said source and lens integrated into said body of said catheter, said source and lens further selected and arranged so as to deliver to said region an optical density of at least 1 mW/cm2 over said target region with a transferable thermal load of no more than 100 mW heat per mW usable optical power delivered;
(d) an optical collection fiber for collecting light scattered from said target region and for transmitting said collected light from said patient end of the catheter, along a length of said catheter, to a said connection plug at or near said monitor end of the catheter, and, (e) power supply wires for transmitting electrical power to said light source, said wires traversing a length of said catheter and electrically connected to both said light source and said connection plug. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 23)
-
-
22. An illuminator catheter comprising:
-
(a) a biocompatible catheter sheath, said catheter sheath having a monitor end, a central body, and a patient end;
(b) an optical connection plug, said plug located at or near the monitor end of said catheter;
(c) an integral broadband LED light source for illuminating a target region and a collimating transfer lens for optically coupling said source to said region over free space, said source and lens integrated into said body of said catheter (d) a power source, integrated into said body of said catheter, said source switchably connected to said light source via an electrical switch;
(e) an optical collection fiber for collecting light scattered from said target region and for transmitting said collected light from said patient end of the catheter, along a length of said catheter, to a connection plug at or near said monitor end of the catheter, and, (f) power supply wires for transmitting electrical power to said light source, said wires traversing a length of said catheter from said power source to said light source.
-
-
24. A medical illuminator probe, comprising:
-
(a) a biocompatible probe sheath, said sheath having a monitor end, a central body, and a patient end;
(b) a fiber optic connection plug for reversibly connecting the probe to a medical illuminator, said plug located at or near the monitor end of said catheter;
(c) a thermally-insulating illumination fiber for transmitting illumination from said illuminator, through said plug, along a length of said probe, to a target region, (d) a collection fiber for collecting said illumination after said illumination has scattered from said region, and for transmitting said collected light to said connection plug.
-
-
25. A method of monitoring tissue oxygenation involving:
-
(a) placing an oximeter probe near a living tissue;
(b) illuminating the tissue with a broadband illumination;
(c) monitoring light returning from the tissue, said light comprising at least one set of visible wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm;
(d) determining a tissue oxygenation index; and
(e) displaying said index. - View Dependent Claims (26)
-
-
27. A medical illuminator probe, comprising:
-
(a) a biocompatible probe sheath, said sheath having a monitor end, a central body, and a patient end;
(b) a fiber optic connection plug for connecting the probe to a medical illuminator, said plug located at or near the monitor end of said catheter;
(c) a thermally-insulating illumination fiber for transmitting illumination from said illuminator, through said plug, along a length of said probe, to a target region, said illumination provided at a transferable optical density of at least 10 mW/mm2 into said fiber with negligible transferable thermal load;
(d) a collection fiber for collecting said illumination after said illumination has scattered from said region, and for transmitting said collected light to said connection plug.
-
-
28. A method of monitoring tissue oxygenation involving:
-
(a) illuminating the tissue with a broadband illumination;
(b) monitoring light returning from the tissue;
(c) determining a tissue oxygenation index; and
(d) displaying said index. - View Dependent Claims (29, 31)
-
Specification