Method and apparatus for fiber-optic cardiovascular endoscopy

Claim 2

In an improved fiber-optic catheter for use in cardiovascular endoscopy of the type including: a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; an afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said catheter to the distal end thereof; and an efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said distal end to said proximal end, the improvement comprising: said sheath having an aperture extending therethrough from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end; a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath, the distal portion of said tubular member having a distal end face and an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being longitudinally slidably movable in said lumen between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture; and means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position.

Claim 3

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is movable to a third position wherein said first-mentioned tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture and a part of the distal portion of said tubular member extends beyond said distal end of said sheath, and wherein said part of said tubular member has an additional aperture extending through the wall thereof from said channel, said additional aperture being located distally of said first-mentioned tubular member aperture.

Claim 4

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 2, wherein: said sheath distal end has an end face having an opening to accommodate passage of said tubular member therethrough; the distal end face of said sheath and the distal end face of said tubular member comprise a continuous rounded surface when said tubular member is in said second position; and said additional aperture is in the distal end face of said tubular member.

Claim 5

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 3, wherein said first tubular member aperture and said sheath aperture are perpendicular to the axis of said catheter.

Claim 6

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 4, wherein said lumen is centrally located within said sheath, and wherein the distal portion of said tubular member is removably secured to the remainder of said tubular member.

Claim 7

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 5, and further comprising means controllable from the proximal end of said catheter for securing the distal portion of said sheath in a fixed position.

Claim 8

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 6, wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of angulation cords disposed within said sheath and extending from the distal end of said sheath to the proximal end thereof.

Claim 9

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 7, and further comprising means for moving said catheter between said first, second and third positions.

Claim 10

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is movable to a third position wherein at least a part of the distal portion of said tubular member extends beyond said distal end of said sheath, said first tubular member aperture being in said part.

Claim 11

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 9, wherein said third position is said second position.

Claim 12

A fiber-optic catheter according to claim 1, and further comprising means for moving said catheter between said first and second positions.

Claim 13

A fiber-optic catheter system suitable for cardiovascular endoscopy comprising: a catheter including (a) a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end and an aperture extending through said sheath from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end; (b) at least one afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said sheath to the distal end thereof; (c) at least one efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said sheath distal end to said sheath proximal end; and (d) a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, the distal portion of said tubular member having an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath for longitudinal sliding movement between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture; a light source disposed at the proximal end of said afferent bundle; means for injecting clear fluid into said channel for ejection laterally of said catheter through said sheath aperture when said tubular member is in said first position; and means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position.

Claim 14

A fiber-optic catheter system suitable for cardiovascular endoscopy comprising: a catheter including (a) a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end and an aperture extending through said sheath from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end; (b) at least one afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said sheath to the distal end thereof; (c) at least one efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said sheath distal end to said sheath proximal end; and (d) a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, the distal portion of said tubular member having an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath for longitudinal sliding movement between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture; a light source disposed at the proximal end of said afferent bundle; means for injecting clear fluid into said channel for ejection laterally of said catheter through said sheath aperture when said tubular member is in said first position; and means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position.

Claim 15

A fiber-optic catheter system according to claim 12, and further comprising means for activating said fluid injection means at a fixed point during a cardiac cycle.

Claim 16

A fiber-optic catheter system according to claim 12, and further comprising an ocular disposed at the proximal end of said efferent fiber-optic bundle for viewing the image returned therethrough.

Claim 17

A fiber-optic catheter system according to claim 12, and further comprising means disposed at the proximal end of said efferent fiber-optic bundle for recording the image returned therethrough.

Claim 18

A fiber-optic catheter system according to claim 15, wherein said recording means is a camera.

Claim 19

A fiber-optic catheter system according to claim 12, and further comprising means disposed at the proximal end of said efferent fiber-optic bundle and synchronized with said fluid injection means for recording the image returned through said efferent fiber-optic bundle as said fluid injections pass by the distal end of said sheath.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18, wherein said fluid injecting step comprises injecting said fluid into the cardiovascular system at a predetermined point during a cardiac cycle.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18, wherein said observing step comprises visually observing said image.

Claim 24

The method of claim 18, wherein said observing step comprises photographically recording said image.