US 12,213,781 B2
Systems and methods for micro-optical coherence tomography imaging of the cochlea
Konstantina Stankovic, Boston, MA (US); Guillermo J. Tearney, Cambridge, MA (US); and Janani Iyer, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/049,362.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/538,491, filed on Jul. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0029570 A1, Jan. 31, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 5/12 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 5/12 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0066 (2013.01); A61B 5/0084 (2013.01); A61B 5/4884 (2013.01); A61N 1/0541 (2013.01); A61N 1/36038 (2017.08); A61B 2090/3614 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3735 (2016.02); A61B 2562/0233 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging tool, comprising:
a first optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end,
the first optical waveguide comprising a single mode optical fiber and configured to transmit light between the proximal end and the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
the single mode optical fiber comprising a proximal end and a distal end is tapered from a diameter of 125 μm at the proximal end to a diameter between 5 μm and 50 μm at the distal end, and
at least a portion of the first optical waveguide in which the light is transmitted disposed at the distal end of the first optical waveguide having an increased flexibility with respect to the proximal end of the first optical waveguide;
a sheath surrounding at least the portion of the first optical waveguide; and
an optical probe coupled to the first optical waveguide, the optical probe comprising:
a housing rotatably disposed within the sheath;
an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element comprising a reflective surface, the optical element being coaxially aligned with a central axis of the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
the optical element being configured to rotate about the central axis and redirect light emitted by the first optical waveguide toward a circumference of the optical probe from the central axis;
a second optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second optical waveguide being directly coupled to the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
the second optical waveguide being configured to act as a mirror tunnel that causes light that is emitted from the distal end of the first optical waveguide and received at the proximal end of the second optical waveguide with a single propagation mode to be emitted from the distal end of the second optical waveguide with multiple propagation modes; and
a spacer directly coupled to the distal end of the second optical waveguide,
the OCT imaging tool being configured to resolve micron-scale anatomical features, and
the optical probe comprising a rigid portion comprising the second optical waveguide and the spacer, and
the rigid portion of the optical probe having a length of between 0.75 mm to 1.5 mm and being configured to insert into a structure with a radius of curvature of between 2-6 mm.