Method for making optical shield for a laser catheter

• US 4,648,892 A
• Filed: 03/22/1985
• Issued: 03/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Feld, Michael S., Kittrell, Carter, Hayes, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMANN, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US06/715,219
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 65/4.2, 65/36, 65/4.21, 65/3, 65/4.3, 128/303.1, 128/634, 128/398
• US Class Current: 65/387
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3504 Rotating, tilting or pivoting the waveguides, or with the waveguides describing a curved path rotary joint G02B6/3628
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3508 Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3516 the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3598 Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation based on changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00; optical pulse generation in optical transmitters H04B10/508; optical pulse generation by controlling laser operation H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources

Abstract

A method of forming an optical shield for a laser catheter is disclosed in which a rod of light transmissive material is optically polished and inserted into a tube of similar material and fused and the distal end of the rod is cut and the assembly is optically polished at the distal end.

Claims

1. A method of making an optical shield for a laser catheter wherein pieces of light transparent material are bonded together comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a rod from one piece of said material, said rod having an outer diameter;

(b) polishing one end of the rod;

(c) forming a tube having an inner diameter about equal to the outer diameter of the rod;

(d) inserting the polished end of the rod into the tube;

(e) bonding the rod and tube at the juncture of each to join the two together;

(f) removing any excess rod not inserted in the tube; and

(g) polishing the portion of the tube and rod at the exposed removed end.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a butt joint, matching conical joint or step change in the inner tube diameter is provided where the rod is joined to the tube.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the rod is solid and a metal band is used to reinforce the bond between said solid rod and said tube.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a heat source is used for bonding the said pieces.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the heat source comprises a torch or a laser.