Fiber optic probes for indwelling investigations
DCFirst Claim
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1. A fiber optic probe assembly for monitoring light-matter interactions in a biological medium, comprising:
- a center optical fiber having a center distal end;
a plurality of ring optical fibers each having a ring distal end;
the center and ring optical fibers being parallel to each other at their respective distal ends and being adapted for positioning adjacent the biological medium;
wherein the center distal end is adapted to illuminate the biological medium with light delivered to the center distal end by the center optical fiber; and
wherein the ring distal ends are adapted to collect light from the biological medium at the ring distal ends and to deliver collected light to the ring optical fibers.
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Abstract
Fiber optic probe assemblies for monitoring light-matter interactions in a medium of interest. The distal end of the probe assemblies can be immersed in the medium for in-situ light delivery and collection. The probe assemblies are particularly useful for indwelling biomedical applications. Design variations include paired fiber configurations and center/ring fiber configurations.
172 Citations
89 Claims
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1. A fiber optic probe assembly for monitoring light-matter interactions in a biological medium, comprising:
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a center optical fiber having a center distal end;
a plurality of ring optical fibers each having a ring distal end;
the center and ring optical fibers being parallel to each other at their respective distal ends and being adapted for positioning adjacent the biological medium;
wherein the center distal end is adapted to illuminate the biological medium with light delivered to the center distal end by the center optical fiber; and
wherein the ring distal ends are adapted to collect light from the biological medium at the ring distal ends and to deliver collected light to the ring optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fiber optic probe assembly for monitoring light-matter interactions in a medium, comprising:
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a first optical fiber having a first distal end;
a second optical fiber having a second distal end;
the first and second optical fibers being positioned adjoining and parallel to each other at their respective distal ends and being adapted for immersion in the medium;
wherein the first distal end is adapted to illuminate the medium with light delivered to the first distal end by the first optical fiber; and
wherein the second distal end is adapted to collect light from the medium at the second distal end and to deliver collected light to the second optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
wherein the second distal end comprises a second flat face formed at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the second optical fiber; and
wherein the first flat face comprises a filter.
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40. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 18 wherein the first and second distal ends are adapted to flexibly move relative to the first and second optical fibers.
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41. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 40 wherein the first distal end comprises a first flat face formed at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the first optical fiber;
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wherein the second distal end comprises a second flat face formed at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the second optical fiber; and
wherein the first flat face comprises a filter.
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42. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 18 wherein the first and second distal ends comprise reflective surfaces to manage the delivery and collection of light to and from the medium.
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43. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 18 wherein the first and second distal ends are adapted to be integrated into a catheter.
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44. A fiber optic probe assembly for monitoring light-matter interactions in a medium, comprising:
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a center optical fiber having a center distal end;
a plurality of ring optical fibers each having a ring distal end;
the center and ring optical fibers being parallel to each other at their respective distal ends and being adapted for immersion in the medium;
wherein the center distal end is adapted to illuminate the medium with light delivered to the center distal end by the center optical fiber; and
wherein the ring distal ends are adapted to collect light from the medium at the ring distal ends and to deliver collected light to the ring optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
wherein the ring distal ends extend beyond the center distal end to thereby define a volume into which the medium may be placed.
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52. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 51 further comprising an end window positioned adjacent to and rotationally symmetrical about the center distal end.
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53. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein each of the ring distal ends comprises a surface of revolution about the axis of the center distal end.
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54. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 53 wherein the surfaces of revolution are paraboloids of revolution.
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55. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center distal end comprises a first filter.
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56. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 55 wherein the first filter comprises a thin-film interference filter.
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57. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center distal end and the ring distal ends are adapted to be integrated into a catheter.
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58. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center distal end and the ring distal ends are adapted to be integrated into a needle.
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59. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center distal end and the ring distal ends are adapted to be integrated into an endoscope.
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60. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 further comprising a source of substantially monochromatic light in optical communication with at least one of the center optical fiber and the ring optical fibers.
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61. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 further comprising a spectrographic detector in optical communication with at least one of the center optical fiber and the ring optical fibers.
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62. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center and ring optical fiber distal ends are adapted to be detachable from the respective center optical fiber and ring optical fibers.
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63. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center and ring optical fiber distal ends are adapted to flexibly move relative to the respective center optical fiber and ring optical fibers.
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64. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center and ring distal ends comprise reflective surfaces to manage the delivery and collection of light to and from the medium.
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65. The fiber optic probe assembly according to claim 44 wherein the center distal end extends along its axis beyond the ring distal ends.
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66. A fiber optic probe assembly for monitoring light-matter interactions in a biological medium, comprising:
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a first optical fiber having a first distal end, a second optical fiber having a second distal end;
the first and second optical fibers being positioned adjacent and parallel to each other at their respective distal ends and being adapted for positioning adjacent the biological medium;
wherein the first distal end is adapted to illuminate the biological medium with light delivered to the first distal end by the first optical fiber; and
wherein the second distal end is adapted to collect light from the biological medium at the second distal end and to deliver collected light to the second optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A method for fabricating a fiber optic probe assembly, comprising the steps of:
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forming a bundle of optical fibers including a center optical fiber surrounded by a plurality of ring optical fibers, the ring fibers and the center fibers being mutually parallel at their respective distal ends;
fusing the bundle of optical fibers together;
shaping the distal end of the center optical fiber so that it is adapted to illuminate a medium of investigation; and
shaping the ring optical fibers so that they are adapted to collect light from the medium of investigation. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method for fabricating a fiber optic probe assembly, comprising the steps of:
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forming a pair of optical fibers including a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, the first and second optical fibers being positioned adjoining and parallel to each other at their respective distal ends;
fusing the pair of optical fibers together;
shaping the distal end of the first optical fiber so that it is adapted to illuminate a medium of investigation; and
shaping the distal end of the second optical fiber so that it is adapted to collect light from the medium of investigation. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89)
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Specification