Spectroscope for Recovering Light from Re-Entrant Zone of Arterial Wall

• US 20070255142A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Inventors: Zuluaga, Andres, Furnish, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A spectroscope includes an optical fiber extending through a catheter, and in communication with an optical system. The optical system has a finite focal length.

Claims

1. A spectroscope comprising:

a catheter;

an optical fiber extending through the catheter; and

an optical system in optical communication with the fiber, the optical system having a finite focal length.

2. The spectroscope of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises an optical element having a curved surface.

3. The spectroscope of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises an optical element having a spatially varying dielectric constant.

4. The spectroscope of claim 2, wherein the curved surface comprises a cylindrical surface.

5. The spectroscope of claim 2, wherein the curved surface includes a parabolic surface.

6. The spectroscope of claim 2, wherein the curved surface includes a ellipsoidal surface.

7. The spectroscope of claim 2, wherein the curved surface includes a hyperbolic surface.

8. The spectroscope of claim 2, wherein the curved surface includes a spherical surface.

9. The spectroscope of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises a mirror having a curved surface.

10. The spectroscope of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises a lens.

11. A spectroscope comprising:

a catheter;

an optical fiber extending through the catheter;

a diffracting element in optical communication with the fiber, the diffracting element being configured to form a selected field-of-view.

12. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises a transmissive diffracting element.

13. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises a reflective diffracting element.

14. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises a diffraction grating.

15. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises an amplitude grating.

16. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises a phase grating.

17. The spectroscope of claim 11, wherein the diffracting element comprises a holographic grating.

18. A spectroscope for delivering light to an illumination spot on a wall of a blood vessel and recovering light from a re-entrant zone on the wall of the blood vessel, the re-entrant zone being separated from the illumination spot by a specular zone, the spectroscope comprising:

a catheter;

a first optical fiber extending through the catheter;

a second optical fiber extending through the catheter;

a first optical system in optical communication with the first optical fiber for directing light from the first optical fiber to the illumination spot on the wall of a blood vessel; and

a second optical system in optical communication with the second optical fiber,

wherein the second optical system is configured to recover light from a re-entrant zone separated from the illuminated spot by a specular zone, and

wherein the second optical system is configured to avoid recovering light from the specular zone.

19. The spectroscope of claim 18, wherein the second optical system comprises a mirror having a curved surface.

20. The spectroscope of claim 19, wherein the second optical system comprises a reflecting element having a curved reflective surface.