Method and apparatus for performing optical measurements using a fiber optic imaging guidewire, catheter or endoscope
First Claim
1. An optical system for producing an image of an internal channel in situ, said optical system comprising:
- a short coherence length light source;
a detector;
an interferometer in optical communication with said light source and said detector, said interferometer comprising an adjustable optical delay device; and
an endoscopic probe in optical communication with said interferometer,said detector detecting light altered by said internal channel in situ in response to said adjustable delay element to form an image of said internal channel in situ.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system for performing optical coherence tomography includes an optical radiation source; a reference optical reflector; a first optical path leading to the reference optical reflector; and a second optical path coupled to an endoscopic unit. The endoscopic unit preferably includes an elongated housing defining a bore; a rotatable single mode optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end positioned within and extending the length of the bore of the elongated housing; and an optical system coupled to the distal end of the rotatable single mode optical fiber, positioned to transmit the optical radiation from the single mode optical fiber to the structure and to transmit reflected optical radiation from the structure to the single mode optical fiber. The system further includes a beam divider dividing the optical radiation from the optical radiation source along the first optical path to the reflector and along the second optical path; and a detector positioned to receive reflected optical radiation from the reflector transmitted along the first optical path and reflected optical radiation transmitted from the structure along the second optical path. The detector generates a signal in response to the reflected optical radiation from the reference reflector and the reflected optical radiation from the structure, and a processor generating a image of the structure in response to the signal from the detector. The system provides both rotational and longitudinal scanning of an image.
1269 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An optical system for producing an image of an internal channel in situ, said optical system comprising:
-
a short coherence length light source; a detector; an interferometer in optical communication with said light source and said detector, said interferometer comprising an adjustable optical delay device; and an endoscopic probe in optical communication with said interferometer, said detector detecting light altered by said internal channel in situ in response to said adjustable delay element to form an image of said internal channel in situ. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An optical system comprising;
-
a short coherence length light source; a detector; an interferometer in optical communication with said light source and said detector, said interferometer comprising an adjustable optical delay device; and an optical probe in optical communication with said interferometer, said optical probe positioned to collect light altered by a sample in situ, said detector generating an image of said sample in response to said light altered by said sample in situ in response to changes in said adjustable optical delay device.
-
-
5. An optical system comprising:
-
a short coherence length light source producing broad band light; a detector; an interferometer in optical communication with said light source and in optical communication with said detector; and an optical probe in optical communication with said interferometer and positioned to receive broad band light altered by a sample in situ, said detector producing an image of said sample in situ in response to the spectral characteristics of said broad band light altered by said sample in situ. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. An apparatus for performing imaging of a structure in situ comprising:
-
an optical radiation source; a detector; a processor in electrical communication with said detector; an optical probe unit comprising; an elongated housing defining a channel and having at least a portion which is at least partially transparent to light from said optical radiation source; and a beam director located within said housing and positioned to direct light to and from said structure in situ through said at least partially transparent portion; an interferometer optically coupled to said radiation source, said optical probe unit, and said detector; said detector generating a signal in response to radiation altered by said structure in situ; and said processor generating an image of said structure in situ in response to said signal from said detector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification