U.S. patent application number 10/737980 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for medical device with oled illumination light source.
This patent application is currently assigned to SCIMED Life Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Barbato, Louis J., Chin, Yem.
Application Number | 20050137459 10/737980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34677300 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050137459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chin, Yem ; et al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Medical device with OLED illumination light source
Abstract
A medical device such as a catheter or endoscope device includes
an illumination light source having one or more organic
light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The OLEDs are energized to produce
illumination light that is received by an image sensor or camera to
produce images of tissue within a patient's body. A heat conductive
polymer conducts heat away from the illumination light source.
Inventors: |
Chin, Yem; (Burlington,
MA) ; Barbato, Louis J.; (Franklin, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Assignee: |
SCIMED Life Systems, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34677300 |
Appl. No.: |
10/737980 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/179 ;
600/101; 600/178 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/064 20130101;
A61B 5/06 20130101; A61B 1/00096 20130101; A61B 1/0615 20130101;
A61B 1/0638 20130101; A61B 90/30 20160201; A61B 2090/062 20160201;
A61B 1/0676 20130101; A61B 1/0684 20130101; A61B 1/043 20130101;
A61B 1/128 20130101; A61B 90/361 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/179 ;
600/101; 600/178 |
International
Class: |
A61B 001/06 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient,
comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end that remains
outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into
the body cavity; an illumination source including one or more
organic light-emitting diodes that produce light within the body
cavity of the patient when energized; and two or more conductive
leads that deliver electrical energy to the one or more organic
light-emitting diodes.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the illumination source
includes a single organic light-emitting diode.
3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the illumination source
includes two or more organic light-emitting diodes, each of which
produces illumination light of a different wavelength.
4. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising one or more
lumens extending therethrough.
5. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an image
sensor at or adjacent the distal end of the elongate member for
capturing images of tissue in the body cavity.
6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an imaging
light guide within the elongate member that transmits reflected or
scattered illumination light to an image sensor or camera.
7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate member
includes a heat conductive polymer that dissipates heat produced by
the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.
8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the elongate member is at
least partially formed of the heat conductive polymer and wherein
the elongate member is thermally coupled to the one or more organic
light-emitting diodes.
9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the elongate member
includes a length of the heat conductive polymer that is thermally
coupled to the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.
10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate member
includes a torqueable wire that is secured at or adjacent the
distal end to bend and/or rotate the distal end of the elongate
member.
11. A medical device, including: an elongate member having a
proximal end and a distal end; one or more lumens extending through
the elongate member; one or more strips of an organic
light-emitting diode material disposed along a length of the
elongate member; and conductive leads that supply electrical energy
to the one or more strips of organic light-emitting diode material
to cause the one or more strips to emit light.
12. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the one or more strips
of organic light-emitting material are marked with length
indications.
13. A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient,
comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end that remains
outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into
the body cavity; one or more LEDs that illuminate the body cavity;
and a heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one
or more LEDs to dissipate heat from the one or more LEDs.
14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the elongate member is
at least partially formed of the heat conductive polymer.
15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the elongate member
includes a length of the heat conductive polymer in thermal contact
with the one or more LEDs.
16. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the one or more LEDs
are organic LEDs.
17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the one or more organic
LEDs produce light of the same wavelengths.
18. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the one or more organic
LEDs produce light of different wavelengths.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to medical devices in general,
and illuminated catheters and endoscopes in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many modem in-vivo medical devices such as catheters or
endoscopes are equipped with imaging equipment that includes a
light source and an image sensor. A light source delivers an
illumination light onto an area of interest while the image sensor
obtains an image from the reflected or scattered illumination
light. The images obtained are used by a physician to diagnose
internal body tissue or to perform surgical procedures in the
body.
[0003] The most common type of light sources used on catheters and
endoscopes are lasers or high powered white light sources. Light
from these external light sources is delivered to the distal end of
the scope by a fiber-optic illumination channel. Alternatively,
some devices have solid state light sources such as light-emitting
diodes (LEDs) that are located at or adjacent the distal tip of the
device. Both approaches have limitations. First, the optical fibers
used to form an illumination channel are relatively fragile and
limit the bending ability of the device. On the other hand, LEDs
are often encapsulated in a plastic or other transparent material
that is relatively large in comparison to the size of the
light-emitting element. Therefore, the amount of light that can be
delivered at the distal end of the device is limited by the
diameter of the device. Therefore, there is a need for a
light-emitting device that can be incorporated into a medical
device such as an endoscope that avoids these limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] To overcome the above-referenced limitations, the present
invention is a flexible in-vivo medical imaging device such as a
catheter or endoscope, having a light source made of one or more
organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). An organic light-emitting
diode is formed on the substrate between two or more
semi-transparent electrodes. The organic light-emitting diode
material produces illumination light when electrical energy is
applied to the electrodes. The light source may comprise an OLED of
a single color. Alternatively, the light source may be a stack or
other configuration of OLEDs each having a different illumination
wavelength such that one or more OLEDs can be energized at the same
time to produce a desired illumination light. In another embodiment
of the invention, the OLEDs are selected to produce excitation
light in the ultraviolet wavelength band for fluorescence or
drug-induced imaging. In yet another embodiment of the invention,
the OLEDs produce light in the infrared range for tissue
heating.
[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, the light source is
sufficiently bright to allow external imaging devices to track the
position of the light source as it is moved in the patient's
body.
[0006] In another embodiment of the invention, the OLEDs are formed
as strips that extend along the length of the device. The strips
have distance markings thereon to gauge how far the device has been
inserted into the patient.
[0007] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a catheter
includes a heat conducting polymer to conduct heat away from the
OLEDs and the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
become better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a medical device such as an endoscope having a
single OLED light source at or adjacent its distal end in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a medical device having a light source
comprising a number of OLEDs;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows components of an in-vivo medical imaging
system, including an OLED light source in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a medical device including a strip of OLED
material that can be used to gauge depth of insertion into a
patient in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] As indicated above, the present invention is an in-vivo
medical device that uses organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as a
light source to provide illumination light within a patient's body
cavity. FIG. 1 shows the distal end of an in-vivo medical device 10
such as a catheter, endoscope, bronchoscope, trocar, guidewire or
other device that is inserted into a patient's body cavity. At or
adjacent the distal end of the device is the light source 12 having
one or more organic light-emitting diodes that produce illumination
light when energized.
[0014] The light source 12 has a substrate 14 on which is formed an
electrode 16. A semi-transparent electrode 18 is formed on top of
the organic light-emitting diode material such that the diode
material is sandwiched between the electrodes 16 and 18. Electrode
wires, conductive leads, or other current carrying devices 28
connect the electrodes 16 and 18 to a power supply 30, which is
typically external. However, the medical device could have built-in
batteries to power the light source. The application of electrical
energy to the electrodes 16 and 18 cause the organic light-emitting
diode material to produce illumination light. The composition and
method of constructing an OLED light source 12 suitable for use
with the medical device of the present invention are known to those
of ordinary skill in the art of light-emitting diodes. See, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,627,333; 6,124,046; 6,127,693; and
6,495,198, which are herein incorporated by reference.
[0015] In the embodiment shown, the light source 12 is generally
cylindrical or tubular in shape such that the medical device 10 can
include one or more parallel or coaxial lumens 22 extending through
the light source 12. In addition, the medical device 10 may include
an image sensor 24 at or adjacent its distal end for capturing
images of a patient. Alternatively, the medical device 10 may
include an imaging light guide and one or more lenses that direct
reflected and back scattered illumination light to an external
image sensor or camera.
[0016] The illumination light provided by the light source 12 may
be in the visible, ultraviolet or infrared spectrum depending upon
the desired use of the medical device 10.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a medical device 50
having an OLED light source 52 at or adjacent its distal end. The
light source 52 includes a substrate 54 and a number of spaced,
semi-transparent electrodes 56, 58, 60, 62. Between the electrodes
are segments of organic light-emitting diode material of different
colors or wavelengths in order to form a stacked organic
light-emitting diode (SOLED). The color or illumination wavelength
of the light induced by the light source 52 can be adjusted by
applying a voltage to selected electrodes 56, 58, 60 or 62. The
SOLED can be manufactured with known lithographic or semiconductor
fabrication techniques such as those described in patent
application No. PCT/US98/01412, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0018] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light source 52 has
an ovoidal shape with an atraumatic distal tip to reduce the
likelihood of damaging tissue in the body. The medical device 50
also has one or more lumens 70 exiting the distal end of the device
and an imaging sensor 72 for producing images of the patient.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows an in-vivo medical imaging system including a
medical device 100 having a light source 102 formed of one or more
OLEDs that provide illumination light to a point of interest in a
patient's body. At the proximal end of the medical device 100 are
the proximal openings of one or more lumens within the medical
device 100, through which a physician can insert an instrument into
the patient. In addition, the proximal end of the medical device
includes a connector 109 that connects the light source 102 to a
supply of electrical power 110. A connector 108 allows signals from
an imaging sensor (not shown) at the distal end of the device to be
connected to a video or other display 112.
[0020] In operation, the physician can adjust the supply of
electrical power 110 to the one or more OLEDs at the distal end of
the medical device 100 in order to adjust the intensity or
illumination wavelength of the light produced. In some instances,
the power supply 110 may be automatically controlled to illuminate
the tissue with a number of different wavelengths such that images
can be obtained with illumination light of each wavelength in order
to view tissue under a variety of illumination conditions.
Alternatively, the light source may be strobed to obtain images of
moving tissue such as heart valves, etc.
[0021] Depending on the wavelength of the illumination light,
different imaging techniques may be used to view or diagnose tissue
in the body. These imaging techniques include: drug induced or
native fluorescence imaging and white light or colored light
imaging. In addition, light from the light source can be used to
activate photosensitive drugs, or infrared heat can be supplied to
tissue in the body.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention whereby a
medical device 120 has one or more strips of OLED material 122
positioned along its length. The strips 122 are preferably ruled or
otherwise marked with distance indications. The one or more strips
122 can therefore be used to gauge how far the device 120 is
inserted into a patient. The strip 122 may be integrally formed on
the medical device 120 or may be separately formed by a
semiconductor or lithographic process and secured to the device 120
with an adhesive or the like.
[0023] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, it may be desirable
to encapsulate the OLED light source with a transparent cover or
shield to prevent bodily fluids from contacting the light
source.
[0024] As will be appreciated, the OLEDs generate more light in a
smaller area and with less heat than that produced by conventional
LEDs. The light produced may be sufficient to externally view the
position of the illuminated medical device inside the body with the
naked eye or with external imaging equipment.
[0025] In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a
mechanism for removing heat from the one or more OLEDs and
transferring the heat to a point away from the patient's body. In
one embodiment of the invention, the medical device includes a heat
conducting polymer such as that described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,620,497 assigned to Cool Options, Inc. of Warwick, R.I., and
which is herein incorporated by reference. A head conductive
polymer as described in the '497 patent can be used to form the
tubular walls of the medical device or a cover of the medical
device. Alternatively, the medical device can include a strip of
such a heat conductive polymer material having one end thermally
coupled to the OLEDs and another end positioned away from the
OLEDs. The strip therefore conducts the heat produced by the OLEDs
away from the patient. The heat can be transferred outside of the
patient's body or over a large enough area such that no point of
the medical device that is within the patient becomes hot enough to
cause discomfort or burn the patient.
[0026] Furthermore, the OLED endoscope may include a torqueable
pull wire such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,736, which is
herein incorporated by reference, in order to provide the ability
of an operator to bend the distal tip and to rotate it by torquing
the wire or rotating it about its longitudinal axis.
[0027] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, although the invention has been illustrated
with endoscopes, it will be appreciated that other medical devices
such as guide catheters, guidewires, ablation devices, balloon
catheters or other devices could be equipped with such a light
source. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be
determined from the following claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *