Apparatus and method for the optical imaging of tissue samples
First Claim
1. A system for spectroscopic analysis of tissue, the system comprising:
- a catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough;
an optical delivery fiber arrangement extending through the lumen;
a delivery re-director disposed at a distal end of the delivery fiber arrangement for directing light from the delivery fiber arrangement against the tissue;
an optical collection fiber arrangement extending through the lumen;
a collection re-director disposed at a distal end of the collection fiber arrangement for receiving light from the tissue and directing the received light into the collection fiber arrangement, the collection re-director being separated from the delivery re-director.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter based optical system for generating data as to the condition of a tissue sample of a mammalian vessel. The system includes an elongated catheter shaft having a tissue engaging distal end and a coupled proximal end and an elongated optical delivery fiber arrangement disposed through a lumen of said catheter, said optical delivery fiber arrangement having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the delivery fiber arrangement has a re-director light emitter thereon for directing light against mammalian tissues. An elongated optical collection fiber arrangement is disposed through a lumen of the catheter, the optical collection fiber arrangement having a distal end and a proximal most end. The distal end of the collection fiber arrangement has a re-director light receiver thereon for receiving light reflected from the mammalian tissue by the light emitter. The light emitter and the light receiver are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the distal end of the catheter. The catheter apparatus includes a light source in communication with the delivery fiber and a signal detector in communication with the receiving fiber for receiving and presenting data collected.
92 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system for spectroscopic analysis of tissue, the system comprising:
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a catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough;
an optical delivery fiber arrangement extending through the lumen;
a delivery re-director disposed at a distal end of the delivery fiber arrangement for directing light from the delivery fiber arrangement against the tissue;
an optical collection fiber arrangement extending through the lumen;
a collection re-director disposed at a distal end of the collection fiber arrangement for receiving light from the tissue and directing the received light into the collection fiber arrangement, the collection re-director being separated from the delivery re-director. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
a light source in communication with the delivery fiber arrangement, and a signal detector in communication with the collection fiber arrangement. -
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a rotary optical coupler arranged between the light source and the delivery fiber arrangement.
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4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a rotary optical coupler arranged between the collection fiber arrangement and the signal detector.
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5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a rotary optical coupler arranged to direct light into the delivery fiber arrangement and to receive light from the collection fiber arrangement.
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6. The system of claim 5, wherein the rotary optical coupler comprises a beam splitter.
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7. The system of claim 2, further comprising an acousto-optic modulator that selectively provides optical communication to one of the collection fiber arrangement and the delivery fiber arrangement.
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8. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery fiber arrangement and the collection fiber arrangement are configured to rotate about a common longitudinal axis within the catheter.
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9. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery fiber arrangement and the collection fiber arrangement have different diameters.
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10. The system of claim 1 wherein the delivery fiber arrangement and the collection fiber arrangement form a coiled pair.
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11. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery fiber arrangement comprises a plurality of individual delivery fibers.
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12. The system of claim 1, wherein the collection fiber arrangement comprises a plurality of individual collection fibers.
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13. The system of claim 1 wherein the delivery fiber arrangement and the receiving fiber arrangement are co-axial with respect to one another.
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14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a containing-cladding separating the delivery fiber arrangement and the collection fiber arrangement.
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15. The system of claim 14, wherein the containing-cladding longitudinally encloses the delivery fiber arrangement and the collection fiber arrangement.
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16. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery re-director and the collection re-director are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction.
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17. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery re-director and the collection re-director are spaced apart from one another in a radial direction.
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18. A method for spectroscopic analysis of a sample of tissue within a vessel, the method comprising:
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inserting a catheter into the vessel;
placing an optical delivery fiber arrangement through a lumen of the catheter, the optical delivery fiber arrangement having a distal end in optical communication with a delivery re-director for directing light toward the tissue;
arranging an optical collection fiber arrangement through the lumen, the optical collection fiber arrangement having a distal end in optical communication with a collection re-director for receiving light from the tissue, the collection re-director being spaced apart from the delivery re-director;
passing light into the delivery fiber arrangement; and
detecting a signal indicative of light received by the collection fiber arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A catheter based optical system for generating data indicative of the condition of tissue of a vessel, the system comprising:
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a catheter defining a lumen;
an optical delivery fiber arrangement extending through the lumen and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the catheter;
a delivery re-director in optical communication with the optical delivery fiber arrangement, the delivery re-director disposed at a distal end of the optical delivery fiber arrangement for directing light against the tissue;
an optical collection fiber arrangement extending through the lumen and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the catheter, the optical collection fiber arrangement having a diameter that is different from a diameter of the optical delivery fiber arrangement;
a collection re-director in optical communication with the optical collection fiber arrangement, the collection re-director disposed at a distal end of the optical collection fiber arrangement for receiving light from the tissue;
the collection re-director and the delivery re-director being longitudinally spaced apart from one another;
a light source in communication with the delivery fiber arrangement;
a signal detector in communication with the collection fiber arrangement for receiving and presenting the data, and a rotary optical coupler disposed between the light source and the delivery fiber arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of generating data indicative of a condition of tissue, the method comprising:
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inserting, into a catheter, an optical delivery fiber having a distal end coupled to a delivery re-director, inserting, into the catheter, an optical collection fiber having a distal end coupled to a collection re-director separated from the delivery re-director;
attaching a rotary optical pickup to proximal ends of each of the fibers to provide optical communication therewith;
attaching a light source to the rotary optical pickup to provide optical communication between the light source and the delivery re-director;
inserting the catheter into a vessel;
energizing the light source to provide light through the delivery fiber to the delivery re-director and onto the tissue;
collecting light from the tissue into the collection re-director;
receiving the collected light through the rotary optical pickup; and
directing the received light into a signal detector for analysis of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification