Medical device with OLED illumination light source
A medical device such as a catheter or endoscope device includes an illumination light source having one or more organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The OLEDs are energized to produce illumination light that is received by an image sensor or camera to produce images of tissue within a patient's body. A heat conductive polymer conducts heat away from the illumination light source.
1. A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end that remains outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into the body cavity;
a substrate having a first electrode formed thereon;
one or more LEDs that illuminate the body cavity, each of the one or more LEDs radially surrounding a length of an outer surface of the elongate member and extending distally of the substrate and first electrode; and
a heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one or more LEDs to dissipate heat from the one or more LEDs.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more LEDs are organic LEDs.
3. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more LEDs produces light of the same wavelength.
4. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprises at least two LEDs, and one of the LEDs produces light of a different wavelength than at least one other LED of the at least two LEDs.
5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more LEDs are disposed at or adjacent to the distal end of the elongate member.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one of an image sensor and an imaging light guide configured to capture images of the body cavity.
7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body defines a lumen extending through each of the one or more LEDs.
8. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second electrode positioned distally to the first electrode, wherein the one or more LEDs extends between the first electrode and the second electrode.
9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one of more LEDs comprises only one LED, and the only one LED completely encircles a length of the outer surface of the elongate member.
10. A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end that remains outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into the body cavity;
one or more LEDs that illuminate the body cavity, wherein each of the one or more LEDs extends distally of an electrode on the elongate member; and
a heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one or more LEDs to dissipate heat from the one or more LEDs;
wherein the elongate member defines one or more lumens extending through each of the one or more LEDs.
11. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more LEDs encircle a length of the outer surface of the elongate member.
12. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more LEDs are organic LEDs.
13. The medical device of claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one of an image sensor and an imaging light guide configured to capture images of the body cavity.
14. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more LEDs is organic and produces light of the same wavelength.
15. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprises at least two LEDs, and is organic and produces light of a different wavelength than at least one other LED of the at least two LEDs.
16. A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end that remains outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into the body cavity;
one or more LEDs that illuminate the body cavity, wherein each of the one or more LEDs extends distally of an electrode on the elongate member;
at least one of an image sensor and an imaging light guide configured to capture images of the body cavity; and
a heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one or more LEDs to dissipate heat generated by the one or more LEDs.
17. The medical device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more LEDs are strip-shaped organic LEDs extending along an exterior surface of the elongate member.
18. The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more strip-shaped organic LEDs include a plurality of indicia spaced at predetermined distances.
19. The medical device of claim 16 , wherein each of the one or more LEDs encircles a length of an outer surface of the elongate member.
20. The medical device of claim 16 , wherein the elongate body defines a lumen extending through the one or more LEDs.