Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles
Abstract
A maneuverable medical catheter comprising a flexible tube having a functional tip is described. 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. 10 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7051368
- Patent Number(s):
- 5152748
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-663496
- Assignee:
- PTO; EDB-94-091155
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 4 Mar 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ANIMAL TISSUES; SAMPLING; MEDICAL SUPPLIES; DESIGN; MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS; BODY; TISSUES; 550600* - Medicine
Citation Formats
Chastagner, P. Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Chastagner, P. Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles. United States.
Chastagner, P. Tue .
"Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles". United States.
@article{osti_7051368,
title = {Medical catheters thermally manipulated by fiber optic bundles},
author = {Chastagner, P},
abstractNote = {A maneuverable medical catheter comprising a flexible tube having a functional tip is described. 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. 10 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1992},
month = {10}
}