ROTATING CATHETER PROBE USING A LIGHT-DRIVE APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A device for directing optical energy, comprising:
- a rotational element and at least one vane member associated with the rotational element and in optical communication with the optical conduit, wherein the at least one vane member includes a thermal gradient between a first surface and a second surface when in optical communication with the optical conduit, wherein a vacuum chamber surrounds at least a portion of the rotational element and the vane member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for directing optical energy, comprising:
- a rotational element and at least one vane member associated with the rotational element and in optical communication with the optical conduit, wherein the at least one vane member includes a thermal gradient between a first surface and a second surface when in optical communication with the optical conduit, wherein a vacuum chamber surrounds at least a portion of the rotational element and the vane member.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for directing optical energy for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, comprising rotating a vane member and a reflecting element by operation of a thermal gradient between the a first surface and a second surface of the vane member;
- and directing energy to the reflecting element.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body; b. disposing at least one optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body; and c. disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the at least one optical conduit, the rotating reflecting element being coupled to a light drive apparatus in optical communication with at least one optical conduit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification