EP0266858A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable control apparatus for optical fibers
Assignee: GV Medical Inc
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Filing: 1987-05-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for advancing an optical fiber (22) in a laser enhanced transluminal angioplasty catheter (18), and for controlling the introduction of laser energy into the fiber. The device includes a catheter (18) and a fiber advance housing (24). The optical fiber (22) runs through the catheter (18) and housing (24) and is optically connected to a source (26) of laser energy. A fiber advance assembly (90), mounted in the housing (24), reciprocates to advance and retract the fiber (22) relative to the catheter (18) and housing (24). An actuator member (80) is provided inside the housing (24) to slide independently of the fiber advance assembly (90). A switching means (162), provided in the housing (24), is closed to enable introduction of laser energy into the optical fiber (22) whenever the fiber advance assembly (90) is disposed forwardly of a select position relative to the actuator member (80). The switching means (162) is open, thereby preventing introduction of laser energy into the fiber (22), whenever the fiber advance assembly (90) is disposed rearwardly of the select position. The actuator position is adjustable through a zero adjust slide (40), connected to the actuator (80) and slidable relative to the housing (24).
Inventors
- 👤 James V. Kauphusman
- 👤 Bruce H. Neilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
Apparatus for advancing and retracting an energy transmitting- fiber within a catheter lumen, and for selectably transmitting energy through the fiber, including: a fiber advance housing; a catheter having at least one lumen, and means for securing a proximal end of said catheter integrally with respect to said housing, with said lumen open to the housing; and a source for generating energy; an energy transmitting fiber partially contained in said lumen, running through said housing, and optically connected to said source; a fiber advance assembly, mounted to reciprocate longitudinally with respect to said housing and fixed to said fiber, for alternatively advancing and retracting said fiber relative to the housing and catheter; a distel end portion of said fiber extending beyond the forward end of said catheter when the fiber is fully advanced, said distal end portion being entirely contained in said lumen when said fiber is retracted; an actuator member inside said housing and mounted to slide longitudinally with respect to said housing over a limited range and independently of said fiber advance assembly; a moving member movable longitudinally relative to the housing and extended outside of said housing; and a linking means for joining said moving member and said actuator member whereby the actuator member moves longitudinally with said moving member; a locking means along the path of travel of said moving member, including at least one first locking surface on said moving member, a complementary second locking surface integral with the housing and facing each first locking surface, and a biasing means for urging said first and second locking surfaces into engagement with each other; and a switching means in said housing, said switching means being closed whenever said fiber advance assembly is disposed forwardly of a select position with respect to said actuator member, and open whenever said fiber advance assembly is disposed rearwardly of said select position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
Apparatus for advancing and retracting an energy transmitting- fiber within a catheter lumen, and for selectably transmitting energy through the fiber, including: a fiber advance housing; a catheter having at least one lumen, and means for securing a proximal end of said catheter integrally with respect to said housing, with said lumen open to the housing; and a source for generating energy; an energy transmitting fiber partially contained in said lumen, running through said housing, and optically connected to said source; a fiber advance assembly, mounted to reciprocate longitudinally with respect to said housing and fixed to said fiber, for alternatively advancing and retracting said fiber relative to the housing and catheter; a distel end portion of said fiber extending beyond the forward end of said catheter when the fiber is fully advanced, said distal end portion being entirely contained in said lumen when said fiber is retracted; an actuator member inside said housing and mounted to slide longitudinally with respect to said housing over a limited range and independently of said fiber advance assembly; a moving member movable longitudinally relative to the housing and extended outside of said housing; and a linking means for joining said moving member and said actuator member whereby the actuator member moves longitudinally with said moving member; a locking means along the path of travel of said moving member, including at least one first locking surface on said moving member, a complementary second locking surface integral with the housing and facing each first locking surface, and a biasing means for urging said first and second locking surfaces into engagement with each other; and a switching means in said housing, said switching means being closed whenever said fiber advance assembly is disposed forwardly of a select position with respect to said actuator member, and open whenever said fiber advance assembly is disposed rearwardly of said select position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein: said switching means includes a Hall effect switch comprised of a permanent magnet integral with said fiber advance assembly, and a sensor integral with said actuator member and responsive to its position relative to the magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said means for securing the proximal end of said catheter integrally with respect to said housing includes a catheter manifold having one end to which the proximal end of said catheter is attached, and means for substantially rigidly securing the other end of said manifold to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to either one of Claims 2 and 3 wherein: said energy is laser energy and said transmitting fiber is an optical fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein: the distal end of said cathode extends beyond the distal end of said fiber when the fiber is fully retracted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 including: first stop means for preventing advancement of said fiber advance assembly beyond a second select position with respect to said actuator member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein: said stop means includes a bar integral with said actuator member, and a leg extended from said fiber advance assembly and positioned to contact said bar when the fiber advance member reaches the second select position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to Claim 7 including: a second stop means for preventing advancement of said fiber advance assembly beyond a third, adjustable select position with respect to said actuator member, comprising said leg and an adjustable stop mounted slidably with respect to said actuator member, and an interlocking means for releasably fixing said stop with respect to said actuator member at a plurality of locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to either one of Claims 7 and 8 wherein: said permanent magnet is mounted on said leg.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein: said actuator member slides on a first rail provided in said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein: said linking means includes a plurality of pins integral with said actuator member, each pin extended through a cut-away portion in said moving member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein: said biasing means includes a coil spring surrounding each pin and under compression between said actuator member and moving member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein: said first locking surface includes a plurality of first teeth formed in a first surface of the moving member, and said second locking surface includes a plurality of complementary teeth formed in a second surface in said housing and facing said first surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein: said first teeth and complementary teeth are oriented to particularly prevent rearward travel of said moving member when said pluralities of teeth are engaged.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for advancing and retracting an energy transmitting fiber within a catheter lumen and selectively transmitting energy through the fiber comprising a fiber advance housing and a catheter of which one end portion is secured to the housing with the lumen open to the housing, an energy transmitting fiber extending through the catheter to the housing and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of energy, a fiber advance assembly mounted in the housing by which the fiber can be advanced or retracted relative to the catheter, and switching means provided in the housing so constructed and arranged to be closed to enable introduction of energy to the fiber when the fiber I advance assembly is forward of a preselected position and to be opened when the fiber advance assembly is rearward of said preselected position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for advancing and retracting an energy transmitting fiber within a catheter lumen and selectively transmitting energy through the fiber comprising a fiber advance housing and a catheter of which one end portion is secured to the housing with the lumen open to the housing, an energy transmitting fiber extending through the catheter to the housing and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of energy, a fiber advance assembly mounted in the housing by which the fiber can be advanced or retracted relative to the catheter, and switching means provided in the housing so constructed and arranged to be closed to enable introduction of energy to the fiber when the fiber I advance assembly is forward of a preselected position and to be opened when the fiber advance assembly is rearward of said preselected position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to Claim 15 comprising means for adjusting said preselected position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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