Multipurpose lumen design for optical shape sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228199-A1
Application number	US-201415022078-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shape sensing enabled instrument includes a flexible longitudinal body ( 103 ) including an outer surface which encapsulates interior features. The interior features include an optical fiber lumen ( 105 ) configured to receive one or more optical fibers for optical shape sensing, and a mechanical member ( 107 ) forming a hollow extending longitudinally down the body. The mechanical member is configured to receive the optical fiber lumen therein to permit rotation and translation of an optical fiber and to protect the optical fiber.

First claim

1 . A shape sensing enabled instrument having one or more optical fibers, comprising:
a flexible longitudinal body including an outer surface which encapsulates interior features; the interior features including:
an optical fiber lumen configured to receive the one or more optical fibers for optical shape sensing; and
a mechanical member comprising an existing structure which provides another function for the shape sensing enabled instrument, said mechanical member forming a hollow extending longitudinally down the body, the mechanical member configured to include the optical fiber lumen therein, to permit rotation and translation of an optical fiber within the lumen during operation of the instrument and to protect the optical fiber including resisting pinching and/or kinking thereof.

2 . The instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible longitudinal body includes a guide wire and the mechanical member includes a support member of the guide wire.

3 . The instrument as recited in claim wherein the guide wire, the mechanical member and the optical fiber lumen share a common longitudinal axis.

4 . The instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible longitudinal body includes a catheter and the mechanical member includes a support member of the catheter.

5 . The instrument as recited in claim 4 , wherein the catheter includes a working channel and the mechanical member includes an off-center support member of the catheter.

6 . The instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible longitudinal body includes a catheter and the mechanical member includes a pull wire of the catheter.

7 . The instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical member includes an internal coating to reduce friction of an optical fiber in the lumen and to reduce vibrations in the optical fiber.

8 . The instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical member includes at least one of strands, braids and dampening materials configured to provide vibration-dampening features.

9 . A shape sensing system, comprising:
a shape sensing enabled medical instrument having one or more optical fibers and including a flexible longitudinal body including an outer surface which encapsulates interior features; the interior features including:
an optical fiber lumen configured to receive one or more optical fibers for optical shape sensing; and
a mechanical member comprising an existing structure which provides another function for the shape sensing enabled instrument, said mechanical member forming a hollow extending longitudinally down the body, the mechanical member configured to include the optical fiber lumen therein to permit rotation and translation of an optical fiber within the lumen during operation of the instrument and to protect the optical fiber including resisting pinching and/or kinking thereof; and
a console configured to receive optical signals from the one or more optical fibers and interpret the optical signals to determine a shape of the instrument.

10 . The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the flexible longitudinal body includes a guide wire and the mechanical member includes a support member of the guide wire.

11 . The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the guide wire, the mechanical member and the optical fiber lumen share a common longitudinal axis.

12 . The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the flexible longitudinal body includes a catheter and the mechanical member includes a pull wire of the catheter.

13 . The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the catheter includes a working channel and the mechanical member includes an off-center support member of the catheter.

14 . The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical member includes an internal coating to reduce friction of an optical fiber in the lumen and to reduce vibrations in the optical fiber.

15 . (canceled)

16 . A method for sensing a shape in a shape sensing enabled instrument having one or more optical fibers, comprising:
providing flexible longitudinal body including an outer surface which encapsulates interior features, the interior features including an optical fiber lumen configured to receive the one or more optical fibers for optical shape sensing and a mechanical member comprising an existing structure which provides another function for the shape sensing enabled instrument, said mechanical member forming a hollow extending longitudinally down the body, the mechanical member configured to include the optical fiber lumen therein to permit rotation and translation of an optical fiber within the lumen during operation of the instrument and to protect the optical fiber including resisting pinching and/or kinking thereof; receiving optical signals from the one or more optical fibers; and interpreting the optical signals to determine a shape of the instrument.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Flexman Molly Lara
• Noonan David Paul

Classifications

• G02B23/2469

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• A61M25/0102

  Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod · CPC title

• A61M2025/0915

  having features for changing the stiffness · CPC title

• A61B2017/00845

  of moving parts with respect to each other · CPC title

• A61B2017/00199

  with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display · CPC title