Rotating catheter probe using a light-drive apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body;
b. disposing at least one optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body;
c. disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the at least one optical conduit, the rotating reflecting element being coupled to a light drive apparatus including a thermal gradient in optical communication with at least one optical conduit;
d. positioning a gradient index lens proximal to the rotating reflecting element and in optical communication between at least one optical conduit and the rotating reflecting element; and
e. wherein the light drive apparatus further comprises mounting a plurality of vane members on a central rotary axle, wherein each of the vane members having a first energy absorbing surface and a second energy reflecting surface, wherein the light drive apparatus is made by the steps of;
i. filling an optically transparent tube with a light scattering material having a scattering coefficient sufficient to propagate light along an entire longitudinal length of the optically transparent tube;
ii. forming a plurality of radial vanes along the longitudinal length of the optically transparent tube;
iii. metallizing the optically transparent tube and plurality of radial vanes with a light reflective metal;
iv. removing metallization at least a portion of one side of each of the plurality of radial vanes;
v. applying an electrical charge to the metallization; and
vi. depositing a charged energy absorbing material having a charge opposite the applied electrical charge to the metallization to preferentially bind the energy absorbing material to the areas where metallization was removed in step iv.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body; b. disposing at least one optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body; c. disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the at least one optical conduit, the rotating reflecting element being coupled to a light drive apparatus including a thermal gradient in optical communication with at least one optical conduit; d. positioning a gradient index lens proximal to the rotating reflecting element and in optical communication between at least one optical conduit and the rotating reflecting element; and e. wherein the light drive apparatus further comprises mounting a plurality of vane members on a central rotary axle, wherein each of the vane members having a first energy absorbing surface and a second energy reflecting surface, wherein the light drive apparatus is made by the steps of; i. filling an optically transparent tube with a light scattering material having a scattering coefficient sufficient to propagate light along an entire longitudinal length of the optically transparent tube; ii. forming a plurality of radial vanes along the longitudinal length of the optically transparent tube; iii. metallizing the optically transparent tube and plurality of radial vanes with a light reflective metal; iv. removing metallization at least a portion of one side of each of the plurality of radial vanes; v. applying an electrical charge to the metallization; and vi. depositing a charged energy absorbing material having a charge opposite the applied electrical charge to the metallization to preferentially bind the energy absorbing material to the areas where metallization was removed in step iv. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification