Multi-channel catheter tip

• US 8,280,495 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Inventors: Furnish, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Cattungal, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US12/715,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 600309-344, 600473-480, 606 1- 19
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube

Abstract

A tip assembly for a catheter includes a housing having a recess that receives an optical bench. The optical bench accommodates adjacent fibers, one of which is in optical communication with a first beam re-director. The first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam incident thereon to travel in a direction away from the optical bench. An engaging structure coupled to the optical bench provides torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along the catheter.

Claims

1. A method for receiving light, the method comprising:

inserting, into a blood vessel, a tip assembly that seats first and second fibers extending along an axis thereof, the first and second fibers having different diameters and lying in a plane at the tip assembly;

wherein inserting a tip assembly comprises providing a catheter having a tip assembly mounted at a distal tip thereof and inserting the catheter into the blood vessel; and

wherein inserting the catheter comprises inserting a guide wire into the blood vessel and sliding the catheter along the guide wire;

directing light traveling on the first fiber along a direction away from the plane; and

receiving light incident on the plane into the second fiber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the tip assembly.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the wavelength of light traveling on the first fiber from a band selected from the group consisting of the infrared, the near-infrared, the visible, and the ultraviolet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the catheter further comprises:

mounting the guide wire to a distal tip of the catheter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting a tip assembly further includes inserting a tip assembly in which the diameter of the second fiber is larger than the diameter of the first fiber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein directing and receiving light are performed by first and second beam-redirectors, respectively, on the tip assembly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein directing and receiving light are performed by first and second mirrors, respectively, that are each inclined relative to the plane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting a tip assembly includes inserting a tip assembly in which distal ends of first and second fibers are spaced apart longitudinally.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a catheter comprises:

providing a jacket having an axially extending lumen;

inserting a torque cable in the lumen, the torque cable having a distal end on which is mounted a distal tip assembly.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having walls forming a channel extending axially therethrough, the channel being dimensioned to accommodate a guide wire.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having walls forming a channel extending through a distal end of the jacket.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a jacket comprises providing a jacket having a guide wire mounted on a distal tip thereof.