Optical catheter

• US 3,136,310 A
• Filed: 01/18/1960
• Issued: 06/09/1964
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1960
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Meltzer
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Meltzer
• Inventors: Meltzer, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US04/003,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• US Class Current: 600/342
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Claims

1. AN OPTICAL CATHETER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BUNDLE OF FLEXIBLE LIGHT CONDUCTING FIBERS, ILLUMINATION MEANS DIRECTING LIGHT FORWARDLY IN A FIRST PORTION OF SAID BUNDLE OF LIGHT CONDUCTING FIBERS, A LIGHT SENSING MEANS RECEIVING A LIGHT SIGNAL FROM A SECOND PORTION OF SAID BUNDLE OF LIGHT CONDUCTING FIBERS, A PROTECTIVE SHEATH DISPOSED AROUND SAID BUNDLE OF LIGHT CONDUCTING FIBERS, A TIP DEFINING A BALL-LIKE MAJOR SURFACE SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT LIGHT FROM SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID BUNDLE OF FIBERS IS DIRECTED ON THE BALL-LIKE SURFACE AND LIGHT IS RETROREFLECTED TO THE SECOND PORTION OF SAID BUNDLE OF FIBERS, SAID TIP INCLUDING A BASE SURFACE ENGAGING THE END SURFACE OF SAID BUNDLE OF LIGHT CONDUCTING FIBERS AND FORMING A LIGHT TRANSMITTING INTERFACE, SAID BALL-LIKE SURFACE THEREBY OPERATING IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO AN INTEGRATING SPHERE FOR REFLECTING A LIGHT SIGNAL RESPONSIVE TO ILLUMINATION OF THE FLUID SURROUNDING SAID TIP.