Illuminating guidewire with optical sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016287083-A1
Application number	US-201514824377-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A guide member system includes a guide member, a light source, and a detector. The guide member comprises at least one illumination fiber. The at least one illumination fiber distally transmits the light projected by the light source from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member. The distal end of the guide member is projects the distally transmitted light. The distal end of the guide member receives light projected from the distal end of the guide member and reflected back toward the distal end of the guide member. The at least one illumination fiber proximally transmits the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member. The proximal end of the guide member projects the proximally transmitted light toward the detector. The detector detects the proximally transmitted light.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . A guide system comprising:
(a) a guide member, wherein the guide member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guide member comprises at least one illumination fiber; (b) a light source, wherein the light source is operable to project light to the proximal end of the guide member, wherein the at least one illumination fiber is operable to distally transmit the light projected by the light source from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member, wherein the distal end of the guide member is operable to project the distally transmitted light, wherein the distal end of the guide member is further operable to receive light projected from the distal end of the guide member and reflected back toward the distal end of the guide member, wherein the at least one illumination fiber is operable to proximally transmit the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member; and (c) a detector, wherein the proximal end of the guide member is operable to project the proximally transmitted light toward the detector, wherein the detector is operable to detect the proximally transmitted light.

2 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the guide member comprises an atraumatic lens.

3 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the guide member comprises a preformed bend.

4 . The guide system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter is interposed between the light source and the at least one illumination fiber.

5 . The guide system of claim 4 , wherein the beam splitter is operable to redirect the light projected by the light source toward the proximal end of the guide member.

6 . The guide system of claim 4 , wherein the beam splitter is interposed between the at least one illumination fiber and the detector, wherein the beam splitter is operable to transmit the light projected by the proximal end of the guide member toward the detector.

7 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one illumination fiber consists of a single illumination fiber, wherein the single illumination fiber is operable to both:
(i) distally transmit the light projected by the light source from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member, and (ii) proximally transmit the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member.

8 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the guide member comprises a guidewire.

9 . The guide system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one illumination fiber comprises a first illumination fiber and a second illumination fiber, wherein the first illumination fiber is operable to distally transmit the light projected by the light source from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member.

10 . The guide system of claim 9 , wherein the second illumination fiber is operable to proximally transmit the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member.

11 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is further operable to determine the presence of an anatomical structure based upon the reflected light.

12 . The guide system of claim 11 , wherein the detector is further operable to determine the distance between the anatomical structure and the distal end of the guide member based upon the reflected light.

13 . The guide system of claim 11 , wherein the detector is further operable to determine the color of the anatomical structure based upon the reflected light.

14 . The guide system of claim 11 , wherein the detector is further operable to determine the type of the anatomical structure based upon the reflected light.

15 . The guide system of claim 11 , wherein the detector is further operable to determine the pathology of the anatomical structure based upon the reflected light.

16 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is further operable to provide indications and/or feedback to an operator based upon the reflected light.

17 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a guide catheter, wherein the guide member is configured to pass through the guide catheter.

18 . The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a balloon dilation catheter, wherein the balloon dilation catheter is configured to slide along the guide member.

19 . A guide member positioning system comprising:
(a) a guide member, wherein the guide member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guide member comprises at least one illumination fiber, wherein the at least one illumination fiber is operable to transmit light from the proximal end to the distal end; (b) a light source, wherein the light source is operable to project light to the proximal end of the guide member; (c) a beam splitter, wherein the beam splitter is operable to redirect the light projected by the light source toward the proximal end of the guide member, wherein the at least one illumination fiber is operable to distally transmit the light redirected by the beam splitter from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member, wherein the distal end of the guide member is operable to project the distally transmitted light, wherein the distal end of the guide member is further operable to receive light projected from the distal end of the guide member and reflected back toward the distal end of the guide member, wherein the at least one illumination fiber is operable to proximally transmit the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member, wherein the proximal end of the guide member is operable to project the proximally transmitted light toward the beam splitter; and (d) a detector, wherein the beam splitter is operable to transmit the light projected by the proximal end of the guide member toward the detector, wherein the detector is operable to detect the proximally transmitted light.

20 . A guide member positioning system comprising:
(a) a guide member, wherein the guide member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guide member comprises a first illumination fiber and a second illumination fiber; (b) a light source, wherein the light source is operable to project light to the first illumination fiber, wherein the first illumination fiber is operable to distally transmit the light projected by the light source from the proximal end of the guide member to the distal end of the guide member, wherein the distal end of the guide member is further operable to receive light projected from the distal end of the guide member and reflected back toward the distal end of the guide member, wherein the second illumination fiber is operable to proximally transmit the reflected light from the distal end of the guide member to the proximal end of the guide member; and (c) a detector, wherein the proximal end of the guide member is operable to project the proximally transmitted light toward the detector, wherein the detector is operable to detect the proximally transmitted light.

Assignees

• Acclarent Inc

Inventors

• Kesten Randy J
• Chamness Scott O
• Jenkins Thomas R

Classifications

• A61M25/10

  Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) · CPC title

• A61B5/6853

  with a balloon · CPC title

• A61M2025/09175

  having specific characteristics at the distal tip · CPC title

• A61M2210/0618

  Nose · CPC title

• A61B5/1032

  Determining colour of tissue for diagnostic purposes · CPC title