U.S. patent application number 12/834588 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for ceramic fiber optic taper housing for medical devices.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey S. Melanson.
Application Number | 20100280323 12/834588 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38088440 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100280323 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melanson; Jeffrey S. |
November 4, 2010 |
Ceramic Fiber Optic Taper Housing For Medical Devices
Abstract
A system for transmitting the light required for a medical
device is disclosed generally comprising an endoscope body, a light
guide for transmitting light from a light source to the instrument
body, where the light guide includes a bundle of optical fibers
having a tapered portion, and a ceramic housing disposed around at
least part of the tapered portion of the bundle. In certain
embodiments, the ceramic has a pigment for improving insulation. In
some embodiments, the taper and ceramic housing are located in an
endoscope handle, which may be coupled to the endoscope body via an
input post, and in certain embodiments, the inner diameter of the
ceramic housing has an increase substantially equal to the decrease
of diameter of the taper.
Inventors: |
Melanson; Jeffrey S.;
(Sturbridge, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS, LLC
986 BEDFORD STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06905-5619
US
|
Family ID: |
38088440 |
Appl. No.: |
12/834588 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11287908 |
Nov 28, 2005 |
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12834588 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/12 20130101; A61B
1/00096 20130101; A61B 1/07 20130101; A61B 1/00071 20130101; A61B
1/00167 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/182 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/07 20060101
A61B001/07 |
Claims
1. A medical device, comprising: an endoscope body; a light source;
a light guide for transmitting light from said light source to said
endoscope body; wherein said light guide comprises a bundle of
optical fibers, said bundle having a tapered portion; and a ceramic
housing disposed around at least part of the tapered portion of
said bundle.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said ceramic housing is disposed
along the whole length of the tapered portion of said bundle.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said bundle includes an outer
surface having a ceramic coating applied thereon.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said bundle includes an outer
surface having a diameter that decreases in the direction of light
transmission and said ceramic housing has an inner surface with a
diameter that increases in the direction of light transmission,
further comprising a gap between the outer surface of said bundle
and the inner surface of said ceramic housing.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said light source is a Xenon
lamp.
6. A medical device, comprising: an instrument body; a light guide
for transmitting light to the instrument body; wherein said light
guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers, said bundle having a
tapered portion; and a ceramic housing disposed around at least
part of the tapered portion of said bundle.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said body includes an endoscope
body.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing is disposed
along the whole length of the tapered portion of said bundle.
9. The device of claim 6, wherein said bundle includes an outer
surface having a ceramic coating applied thereon.
10. The device of claim 6, wherein said bundle includes an outer
surface having a diameter that decreases in the direction of light
transmission and said ceramic housing has an inner surface with a
diameter that increases in the direction of light transmission,
further comprising a gap between the outer surface of said bundle
and the inner surface of said ceramic housing.
11. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
macor.
12. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
alumina silicate.
13. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
steatite.
14. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
alumina bisque.
15. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
zirconia phosphate.
16. The device of claim 6, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
cordierite.
17. A medical device, comprising; a housing; a fiber optic bundle
for transmitting light disposed in said housing; wherein said
bundle includes a tapered portion for altering an attribute of the
light transmitted therethrough; and a ceramic disposed around at
least part of the tapered portion of said bundle for at least
partially insulating the housing from energy radiating from the
tapered portion of said bundle.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic is disposed along
the whole length of the tapered portion of said bundle.
19. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
macor.
20. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
alumina silicate.
21. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
steatite.
22. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
alumina bisque.
23. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
zirconia phosphate.
24. The device of claim 17, wherein said ceramic housing comprises
cordierite.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/287,908, filed Nov. 28, 2005, which
application is currently pending and which application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for transmitting
the light required for a medical device. More specifically, the
invention relates to a ceramic housing around a tapered portion of
a fiber optic bundle for insulating other parts of the medical
device from energy radiated therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Systems for supplying light to a medical device in order to
illuminate an area that a medical practitioner is viewing or
working upon are generally well known in the art. For example,
conventional endoscopes are often supplied with such a system.
[0004] Generally, an endoscope is a medical device for insertion
into a body passageway or cavity that enables an operator to view
and/or perform certain surgical procedures at a site inside a
patient's body. As is known, endoscopes may be either rigid or
flexible, and generally include a long tubular member equipped
with, for example, a miniature viewing device, and in some cases, a
working channel for a surgical instrument. The endoscope has a
proximal end that remains external to the patient, from which the
operator can view the site and/or manipulate a surgical instrument,
and a distal end having an endoscope tip for insertion into the
body cavity of the patient.
[0005] In order to facilitate proper operation, the endoscope
typically includes a source of light for illuminating the area the
medical practitioner is trying to view and/or work upon. This
illumination is usually supplied by an external light source, which
typically comprises high powered lamps, such as, for example, a
Xenon lamp. Light is transmitted from this light source to the
distal portion of the endoscope inserted in the body by a
waveguide, such as a fiber optic light cable, in order to guide the
light to the scope. Such cables typically incorporate a fiber optic
bundle, which comprises a plurality of thin optical fibers made of
glass or optical plastic.
[0006] A general disadvantage of some scopes of this type is that
the transfer of energy from these light sources through these light
guides can cause undesired heating of the exterior components of
the device. Conventional remedies for this problem involve the use
of an infrared filter for the light source. However, in cases where
large amounts of energy are involved, undesired heating can still
occur even in the absence of excessive infrared radiation.
[0007] As further described herein, it is desirable to use in some
endoscopes a fiber optic bundle that has a tapered section, for
several reasons. First, the use of a taper allows the light guide
to receive the light from the external light source at a low
numerical aperture and then increase the numerical aperture in
order to enlarge the light angle. Second, the taper allows the
light to be received at a large diameter, and then reduces this
diameter and increases the power density.
[0008] However, a disadvantage of these arrangements is that there
is a significant loss of power that radiates from the external
glass surface of the taper. This contributes significantly to the
generation of undesirable heat as discussed above.
[0009] Additionally, another disadvantage of these arrangements is
that this thinner section of the fiber optic bundle is even more
prone to breaking or fracturing during assembly of the
instrument.
[0010] What is desired, therefore, is a system for transmitting the
light required for a medical device that can increase the numerical
aperture of the light and can increase the power density of the
light. What is further desired is a system for transmitting this
light that does not transfer excessive heat to the exterior
components of the medical device. What is also desired is a system
for transmitting this light that does not easily become damaged
during assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a system for transmitting the light required for a medical
device where the diameter of a portion of the light path
decreases.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
system for transmitting the light required for a medical device
that insulates the exterior components of the device from energy
radiated from the light guide transmitting the light.
[0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a system for transmitting the light required for a medical device
that is protected from breakage.
[0014] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and
to achieve at least some of the objects and advantages listed, the
invention comprises a medical device, including an endoscope body,
a light source, a light guide for transmitting light from the light
source to the endoscope body, wherein the light guide comprises a
bundle of optical fibers, the bundle having a tapered portion, and
a ceramic housing disposed around at least part of the tapered
portion of the bundle.
[0015] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a medical
device, including, an instrument body, a light guide for
transmitting light to the instrument body, wherein the light guide
comprises a bundle of optical fibers, the bundle having a tapered
portion, and a ceramic housing disposed around at least part of the
tapered portion of the bundle.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a medical
device, including a housing, a fiber optic bundle for transmitting
light disposed in the housing, wherein the bundle includes a
tapered portion for altering an attribute of the light transmitted
therethrough, and a ceramic disposed around at least part of the
tapered portion of the bundle for at least partially insulating the
housing from energy radiating from the tapered portion of the
bundle.
[0017] In some embodiments, the bundle includes an outer surface
having a diameter that decreases in the direction of light
transmission, the ceramic housing has an inner surface adjacent the
outer surface of the bundle that increases in the direction of
light transmission, and the diameter increase of the inner surface
of the ceramic housing is substantially equal to the diameter
decrease of the outer surface of the bundle.
[0018] In certain embodiments, where the device is an endoscope,
the ceramic housing is located in a handle coupled to the endoscope
body. In some of these embodiments, the endoscope body has an input
post extending away from the longitudinal axis of the body in a
radial direction, and the handle is coupled to the endoscope body
via the input post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away, isometric view of an
endoscopic system in accordance with the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away, isometric view in partial
cross-section showing additional detail of the fiber optic bundle
and ceramic housing of the system of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away, isometric view in partial
cross-section showing additional detail of the fiber optic bundle
and ceramic housing of the system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The basic components of one embodiment of a system 10 for
transmitting the light required for a medical device in accordance
with the invention are illustrated in FIG. 1. As used in the
description, the terms "top," "bottom," "above," "below," "over,"
"under," "above," "beneath," "on top," "underneath," "up," "down,"
"upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "back," "forward" and "backward"
refer to the objects referenced when in the orientation illustrated
in the drawings, which orientation is not necessary for achieving
the objects of the invention.
[0023] The system 10 includes a light source 12 such as, for
example, a 300 watt Xenon lamp, for generating a light beam. The
light source 12 is connected to a medical device 14, such as an
endoscope, via a light guide 16, such as a bundle of optical fibers
18 that collectively operate as a waveguide for the light supplied
by the source 12. This bundle 18 is housed within at least one
outer housing, typically in the form of a cable 30 connected to the
source 12 or a portion of the instrument, such as light guide stem
28, which may, in some embodiments, also serve as a handle. It
should be noted, however, in other embodiments, a separate handle
(not shown), separate from the light guide stem 28, may be
provided.
[0024] The endoscope 14 includes an elongated endoscope body 20
having a longitudinal axis 22, which houses various mechanical,
electrical and optical components, and includes a flexible
insertion shaft 24 that extends from the body 20. The endoscope
body 20 further includes an input post 26 that extends away from
the longitudinal axis 22 in a radial direction. A handle 28 is
coupled to the endoscope body 20 via the input post 26. The fiber
optic cable 30 is, in turn, connected to the handle 28, usually via
a detachable coupling 32. By this arrangement, the light beam is
transmitted from the source 12 to the endoscope 14 via the fiber
optic bundle 18.
[0025] As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the fiber optic bundle 18
includes a tapered portion 40 for altering at least one attribute
of the light transmitted therethrough. Accordingly, the outer
surface 42 of this portion of the bundle 18 decreases in the
direction in which the light is transmitted. As a result, the
numerical aperture of the light transmitted therethrough is
increased. Additionally, by using this arrangement, the diameter of
the light beam, which originally is large, can be decreased prior
to transmission through the necessarily thin insertion shaft 24,
simultaneously increasing the power density of the light.
[0026] A ceramic 52 is disposed around at least part of the tapered
portion 40, thereby insulating other components of the device from
energy radiating from this portion of the bundle 18, and, in some
embodiments, is disposed around the entire taper 40. Accordingly,
the space between the outer housing in which the taper
resides--such as handle 28--is filled with ceramic, such that the
rate of heat transfer from the tapered portion 40 to the handle 28
is sufficiently slowed in order to allow the handle 28 to operate
as an efficient heat sink.
[0027] It should be noted that, though the tapered portion 40 as
depicted in the drawings and described herein is located within an
endoscope handle 28, in other embodiments, the tapered portion 40
may exist in other portions of light guide 16, and thus, may be
disposed within other types of housings. For example, in some
embodiments, the tapered portion may simply be located along a
portion of a cable 30 leading directly to the device 14.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, a gap 53 exists
between the taper and the inner surface 54 of the ceramic 52, which
may be preferable for machining purposes. As illustrated in FIG. 3,
in other advantageous embodiments, the inner surface 54 of the
ceramic housing 52 is adjacent the outer surface 42 of the taper 40
and decreases in the direction in which the light is transmitted
therethrough, such that the increase in diameter of the ceramic
housing 52 is substantially equal to the decrease in diameter of
the tapered portion 40. Regardless of the correspondence between
surfaces 42 and 54, however, the ceramic housing 52 is shaped such
that an upper section of ceramic 52 provides a thermal break
between the tapered portion 40 and the input post 26 and endoscope
body 20.
[0029] Additionally, the ceramic housing 52 serves as a protective
shell for the tapered portion 40, which is otherwise more
vulnerable to fractures or breaks due to it's thinning
diameter.
[0030] The housing 52 may be comprised of any ceramic with good
insulative properties, such as, for example, Macor.RTM., alumina
silicate, steatite, alumina bisque, zirconia phosphate, or
cordierite. In some embodiments, an additional ceramic paint or
coating 41 may be applied to the outer surface 42 of the taper to
provide further insulation. The ceramic may exist in either a fired
or non-fired state. In certain advantageous embodiments, the
ceramic 52 has a pigment, such as a light gray or brown color, in
order to maximize the insulative properties of the ceramic against
both light and heat.
[0031] In certain advantageous embodiments, the bundle 18 is
affixed to the ceramic housing 52 with a durable adhesive. In some
of these embodiments, this adhesive is non-conductive in order to
further maximize insulation.
[0032] It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative
and not limiting, and that obvious modifications may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the
accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to
determine the scope of the invention.
* * * * *