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Optical encoder for catheter device

  • US 5,427,107 A
  • Filed: 12/07/1993
  • Issued: 06/27/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A catheter apparatus for insertion into a biological conduit, comprising:

  • a catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending between the ends;

    a torque cable extending through the lumen from one end to the other, the torque cable being rotatable with respect to the catheter;

    an imaging transducer attached to the torque cable near the distal end and adapted for rotation with the torque cable;

    a rotary encoder coupled to the torque cable proximate the imaging transducer; and

    a fiber optical cable extending from one end to the other through the lumen, one end of the fiber optical cable being disposed in a fixed relation to the distal end of the catheter and being adapted for reading the rotary encoder,whereby the torque cable may be rotated and the rotation of the imaging transducer with respect to the distal end of the catheter may be read out from the rotary encoder through the fiber optical cable.

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