Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868485

Chastagner, Philippe ^[1]

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1. 608 Aumond Rd., Augusta, GA 30909

A maneuverable medical catheter comprising a flexible tube having a functional tip. The catheter is connected to a control source. The functional tip of the catheter carries a plurality of temperature activated elements arranged in parallel and disposed about the functional tip and held in spaced relation at each end. These elements expand when they are heated. A plurality of fiber optic bundles, each bundle having a proximal end attached to the control source and a distal end attached to one of the elements carry light into the elements where the light is absorbed as heat. By varying the optic fiber that is carrying the light and the intensity of the light, the bending of the elements can be controlled and thus the catheter steered. In an alternate embodiment, the catheter carries a medical instrument for gathering a sample of tissue. The instrument may also be deployed and operated by thermal expansion and contraction of its moving parts.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: Chastagner, Philippe (608 Aumond Rd., Augusta, GA 30909)
• Patent Number(s): US 5152748
• OSTI ID: 868485
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

medical
catheters
thermally
manipulated
fiber
optic
bundles
maneuverable
catheter
comprising
flexible
tube
functional
tip
connected
control
source
carries
plurality
temperature
activated
elements
arranged
parallel
disposed
held
spaced
relation
expand
heated
bundle
proximal
attached
distal
carry
light
absorbed
heat
varying
carrying
intensity
bending
controlled
steered
alternate
embodiment
instrument
gathering
sample
tissue
deployed
operated
thermal
expansion
contraction
moving
optic bundle
spaced relation
optic fiber
thermal expansion
fiber optic
alternate embodiment
flexible tube
elements arranged
functional tip
medical catheter
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