Rotating catheter probe using a light-drive apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body;
disposing an optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body and operably coupled with an optical imaging device;
disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the optical conduit;
positioning a gradient index lens proximal to the rotating reflecting element and in optical communication between the optical conduit and the rotating reflecting element;
mounting a plurality of vane members on a central rotary axle of the rotating reflecting element, wherein each of the plurality of vane members comprising an energy absorbing surface and an energy reflecting surface to provide for a thermal gradient when optical energy impinges on the plurality of vane members, and the rotating reflecting element further comprises a capillary tube having an inner lumen in optical communication with the optical conduit and the plurality of vane members are provided along the inner lumen, wherein the inner lumen includes a light scattering material for directing incident light toward the energy reflecting surface and the energy absorbing surface; and
selecting a scattering coefficient for the light scattering material that scatters light incident radially outward.
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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
11 Claims
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1. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body; disposing an optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body and operably coupled with an optical imaging device; disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the optical conduit; positioning a gradient index lens proximal to the rotating reflecting element and in optical communication between the optical conduit and the rotating reflecting element; mounting a plurality of vane members on a central rotary axle of the rotating reflecting element, wherein each of the plurality of vane members comprising an energy absorbing surface and an energy reflecting surface to provide for a thermal gradient when optical energy impinges on the plurality of vane members, and the rotating reflecting element further comprises a capillary tube having an inner lumen in optical communication with the optical conduit and the plurality of vane members are provided along the inner lumen, wherein the inner lumen includes a light scattering material for directing incident light toward the energy reflecting surface and the energy absorbing surface; and
selecting a scattering coefficient for the light scattering material that scatters light incident radially outward. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. A method of making an optical imaging device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a body having a central longitudinal lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body; disposing an optical conduit within the central longitudinal lumen of the body and operably coupled with an optical imaging device; disposing a rotating reflecting element at a distal end of the body in optical communication with the optical conduit, the rotating reflecting in optical communication with the optical conduit; positioning a gradient index lens proximal to the rotating reflecting element and in optical communication between the optical conduit and the rotating reflecting element; and mounting a plurality of vane members on a central rotary axle disposed within an optically transparent tube, wherein each of the plurality of vane members having an energy absorbing surface and an energy reflecting surface to provide for a thermal gradient when optical energy impinges on the plurality of vane members, wherein the light drive apparatus is made by the steps of; filling the 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 and doping the glass of the optically transparent tube with impurities to encase scattering within the optically transparent tube; forming the plurality of radial vanes along the longitudinal length of the optically transparent tube; metallizing the optically transparent tube and plurality of radial vanes with a light reflective metal; removing the metallizing of the optically transparent tube on at least a portion of one side of each of the plurality of radial vanes; applying an electrical charge to the metallization; and 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 areas where metallization was removed. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification