Systems, devices, and methods employing fiber optic shape tracking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising a) a device comprising an optical fiber, said optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core, wherein said cladding comprises a plurality of cavities such that light leakage from the core through said cavities in the cladding occurs when a bend is present in the fiber;
- and wherein said cavities contain a fluorphore that generates a fluorescent emission in response to said light leakage, and wherein the intensity of said fluorescent emission is proportional to the degree of bend in said fiber;
b) a detector that measures said fluorescent emission; and
c) a computer processor that processes fluorescent emission data associated with said fluorescent emission and tracks said device based on said fluorescent emission data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods employing fiber optic shape and position tracking. The systems, devices, and methods permit measurement of and continuous tracking of the shape and position of objects whose shape dynamically changes with time. Applications include tracking and monitoring of endoscopes for diagnostic and surgical procedures.
27 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system comprising a) a device comprising an optical fiber, said optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core, wherein said cladding comprises a plurality of cavities such that light leakage from the core through said cavities in the cladding occurs when a bend is present in the fiber;
- and wherein said cavities contain a fluorphore that generates a fluorescent emission in response to said light leakage, and wherein the intensity of said fluorescent emission is proportional to the degree of bend in said fiber;
b) a detector that measures said fluorescent emission; and
c) a computer processor that processes fluorescent emission data associated with said fluorescent emission and tracks said device based on said fluorescent emission data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- and wherein said cavities contain a fluorphore that generates a fluorescent emission in response to said light leakage, and wherein the intensity of said fluorescent emission is proportional to the degree of bend in said fiber;
-
17. A method for tracking a device, comprising:
-
a) positioning a device comprising an optical fiber, said optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core, wherein said cladding comprises a plurality of cavities such that light leakage from the core through the cladding occurs when a bend is present in the fiber; and
wherein said cavities contain a fluorphore that generates a fluorescent emission in response to said light leakage into an environment, and wherein the intensity of said fluorescent emission is proportional to the degree of bend in said fiber;b) directing light through the optical fiber such that when the optical fiber is bent, light lost through bendloss excites said fluorophore; c) measuring fluorescent emission from said fluorphore with a detector that measures said fluorescent emission; and d) tracking said device from said measured fluorescent emission with a computer processor that processes data associated with said fluorescent emission. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification