| CPC A61B 18/24 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/2211 (2013.01); A61B 2018/2266 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
|
1. A catheter comprising:
a proximal section of the catheter;
a distal section of the catheter;
a shaft coupled between the proximal and distal sections of the catheter; and
optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter, wherein the distal section comprises:
a support structure comprising:
a proximal end comprising alignment receptacles, wherein each of the optical fibers ends in the support structure and is disposed in a corresponding one of the alignment receptacles, wherein the alignment receptacles are shaped to maintain the optical fibers straight in the support structure such that the optical fibers are unbent within the support structure; and
a distal end comprising orifices facing different directions;
reflective elements, each reflective element held in place by the support structure;
lenses, wherein each of the optical fibers is optically aligned with a corresponding one of the lenses, a corresponding one of the reflective elements, and a corresponding one of the orifices such that the optical fibers in the support structure are straight, and wherein the optical fibers are positioned to send and receive optical signals to and from an exterior of the catheter via the lenses, the reflective elements, and the orifices; and
a cap disposed over a portion of the distal end of the support structure, wherein the cap comprises optical ports aligned with the orifices.
|