THERMALLY STABLE ICH IMAGING DEVICE
A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).
1 . A thermally stable ICH imaging device, comprising:
an elongate tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen;
a plurality of LED light sources carried by the tubular body within about the distal most 30% of the length of the tubular body; and
a sensor mounted at the proximal end of the tubular body;
wherein the central lumen accommodates simultaneous procedures on the ICH and visualization by the sensor under illumination by the LED light sources, and operation of the LED light sources in ambient air at STP for at least 60 minutes at an intensity of at least about 2500 lumens elevates the distal end of the tubular body by no more than about 17° C.
2 . The imaging device of claim 1 , comprising at least 3 LEDs within the most distal 30% of the length of the tubular body.
3 . The imaging device of claim 1 , comprising at least a first, distal LED within the most distal 30% of the length of the tubular body, and at least a second proximal LED spaced apart proximally from the distal LED.
4 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein operation of the LED light sources in ambient air at STP for at least 60 minutes at an intensity of at least about 3600 lumens elevates the distal end of the tubular body by no more than about 17° C.
5 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the LED's is a right angle LED.
6 . The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising an optical element carried by the proximal end and positioned within an optical path between the sensor and the distal end.
7 . The imaging device of claim 6 , wherein the optical element comprises a prism.
8 . The imaging device of claim 6 , wherein the central lumen has a longitudinal axis extending concentrically therethrough;
the sensor has a sensor viewing axis; and the longitudinal axis and the sensor viewing axis intersect at the optical element at an angle.
9 . The imaging device as in claim 8 , wherein the angle is within the range of from about 70° and 110°.
10 . The imaging device as in claim 9 , wherein the angle is within the range of from about 85° and 95°.
11 . The imaging device as in claim 7 , wherein the prism bends light rays propagating proximally through the tubular body and directs them laterally to the sensor.
12 . The imaging device as in claim 7 , wherein the prism overhangs the central lumen by no more than about 25% of the inside diameter of the lumen.
13 . The imaging device as in claim 12 , wherein the prism overhangs the central lumen by no more than about 15% of the inside diameter of the lumen.
14 . The imaging device as in claim 7 , wherein the prism is rigidly mounted with respect to the tubular body.
15 . The imaging device as in claim 8 , wherein the prism comprises a planar distal optical surface, and a prism viewing axis extends at a perpendicular to the distal optical surface, and is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis.
16 . The imaging device as in claim 15 , wherein the prism viewing axis intersects the longitudinal axis at a point spaced apart from the proximal end by a distance within the range of from about 80% and 120% of the length of the tubular body.
17 . The imaging device as in claim 15 , wherein the prism viewing axis intersects the longitudinal axis at a point spaced apart from the proximal end by a distance within the range of from about 95% and 105% of the length of the tubular body.
18 . The imaging device as in claim 10 , wherein an image is central to the longitudinal axis of the central lumen.
19 . The imaging device of claim 1 , comprising at least a first LED having a wavelength within the range of from about 300 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
20 . The imaging device of claim 19 , comprising at least a second LED having a wavelength within the range of from about 300 nanometers to 1 millimeter and different from the first LED.
21 . The imaging device of claim 19 , wherein the wavelength is within the range of from about 390 nanometers to 700 nanometers.