Multi-channel catheter tip

• US 20030236453A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Inventors: Furnish, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/341
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube

Abstract

A tip assembly for a catheter includes a housing having a recess that receives an optical bench. The optical bench accommodates adjacent fibers, one of which is in optical communication with a first beam re-director. The first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam incident thereon to travel in a direction away from the optical bench. An engaging structure coupled to the optical bench provides torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter tip assembly comprising:

an optical bench extending along a longitudinal axis and having a transverse dimension selected to accommodate adjacent first and second fibers, the optical bench having a first beam re-director in optical communication with the first fiber, the first beam re-director being oriented to cause a beam to travel away from the optical bench;

a housing having a recess for receiving the optical bench; and

an engaging structure coupled to the optical bench for providing a torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along a catheter.

2. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the beam redirector is selected from the group consisting of a mirror, a diffraction grating, and a prism.

3. The catheter tip assembly of claim 2, wherein the mirror is coated with a reflective metal.

4. The catheter tip assembly of claim 3, wherein the reflective metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, and aluminum.

5. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber seated in the optical bench.

6. The catheter tip assembly of claim 5, wherein the first beam re-director comprises a distal end of the optical fiber.

7. The catheter tip assembly of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the optical fiber comprises a diagonal face oriented to direct a beam traveling through the fiber in a direction away from the fiber.

8. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lens assembly disposed to provide optical communication between the first fiber and the first beam re-director.

9. The catheter tip assembly of claim 8, wherein the lens assembly comprises a GRIN lens.

10. The catheter tip assembly of claim 5, wherein the optical fiber comprises a lens integral with a distal end thereof.

11. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical bench further comprises a second beam re-director in optical communication with the second fiber, the second beam re-director being oriented to cause a beam to travel away from the optical bench.

12. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam to travel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

13. The catheter tip assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second beam re-directors are oriented to cause the first and second beams to travel in different directions.

14. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the engaging structure further comprises an annular coupling mount disposed between the torque cable and the housing, the annular coupling mount having a first face coupled to the torque cable and a second face for engaging the housing.

15. The catheter tip assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a proximally extending stem for inserting into an aperture in the annular coupling mount.

16. The catheter tip assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a tab extending proximally from a periphery thereof, and the annular coupling mount comprises a distal face having walls forming a slot for receiving the tab.

17. The catheter tip assembly of claim 14, wherein the annular coupling mount comprises a tab extending distally from a periphery thereof, and the housing comprises walls forming a slot for receiving the tab.

18. The catheter tip assembly of claim 14, wherein the annular coupling mount comprises a hook extending proximally into a recess in the housing.

19. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical bench is manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding, etching, micro-machining, silicon optical bench fabrication techniques, and photolithography.

20. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, further comprising a radio-opaque marker fixed to the housing.

22. A catheter comprising:

a rotatable torque cable;

first and second optical fibers extending through the torque cable;

a catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 1.

23. The catheter of claim 22, wherein the optical bench further comprises a second beam re-director in optical communication with the second fiber, the second beam re-director being oriented to cause a beam to away from the optical bench.

24. The catheter of claim 22, wherein the first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam to travel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

25. The catheter of claim 23, wherein the first and second beam re-directors are oriented to cause the first and second beams to travel in different directions.

26. The catheter of claim 22, wherein the engaging structure further comprises an annular coupling mount disposed between the torque cable and the housing, the annular coupling mount having a first face coupled to the torque cable and a second face for engaging the housing.

27. The catheter of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a proximally extending stem for inserting into an aperture in the annular coupling mount.

28. The catheter of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a tab extending proximally from a periphery thereof, and the annular coupling mount comprises a distal face having walls forming a slot for receiving the tab.

29. The catheter of claim 26, wherein the annular coupling mount comprises a tab extending distally from a periphery thereof, and the housing comprises walls forming a slot for receiving the tab.

30. The catheter of claim 26, wherein the annular coupling mount comprises a hook extending proximally into a recess in the housing.

21. A catheter tip assembly comprising:

an optical bench having a recess extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, the recess having a transverse dimension selected to accommodate adjacent first and second fibers, the optical bench having a first beam re-director in optical communication with the first fiber, the first beam re-director being oriented to cause a beam to travel away from the optical bench;

an engaging structure coupled to the optical bench for providing a torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along a catheter.

31. A method for receiving light, the method comprising:

inserting, into a blood vessel, a tip assembly that seats first and second fibers extending along an axis thereof, the first and second fibers lying in a plane at the tip assembly;

directing light traveling on the first fiber along a direction away from the plane; and

receiving light incident on the plane into the second fiber.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising rotating the tip assembly.

33. The method of claim 31, farther comprising selecting the wavelength of light traveling on the first fiber from a band selected from the group consisting of the infrared, the near-infrared, the visible, and the ultraviolet.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein inserting a tip assembly comprises:

providing a catheter having a tip assembly mounted at a distal tip thereof, and

inserting the catheter into the blood vessel.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein inserting the catheter comprises:

inserting a guide wire into the blood vessel; and

sliding the catheter along the guide wire.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein inserting the catheter comprises:

mounting a guide wire to a distal tip of the catheter;

inserting the catheter into the blood vessel.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a catheter comprises:

providing a jacket having an axially extending lumen;

inserting a torque cable in the lumen, the torque cable having a distal end on which is mounted a distal tip assembly.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having walls forming a channel extending axially therethrough, the channel being dimensioned to accommodate a guide wire.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having walls forming a channel extending through a distal end of the jacket.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having a guide wire mounted on a distal tip thereof.