Arthroscopic probe device, system and method
An arthroscopic probe system comprises a spectrometer, a computing system connected to the spectrometer and an arthroscopic probe device comprising a probe shaft including a proximal end and probe tip positioned at a distal end, a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is connected to the proximal end of the probe shaft, a cable including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the proximal end of the handle, and at least one optical fiber, wherein a first end of the at least one optical fiber is optically connected to the probe tip, wherein the at least one optical fiber is positioned internally to the probe shaft, handle and cable, and wherein a second end of the at least one optical fiber terminates at the second end of the cable.
1 . An arthroscopic probe device, comprising:
a probe shaft including a proximal end and probe tip positioned at a distal end, wherein the probe tip includes a bent portion at an angle in the range of about 50 to 150 degrees in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the probe shaft;
a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is connected to the proximal end of the probe shaft;
a cable including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the proximal end of the handle;
at least one optical fiber, wherein a first end of the at least one optical fiber is optically connected to the probe tip, wherein the at least one optical fiber is positioned internally to the probe shaft, handle and cable, and wherein a second end of the at least one optical fiber terminates at the second end of the cable;
a prism positioned in the bent portion of the probe tip; and
an optically transmissive spacer positioned in the probe tip, wherein the prism is positioned between the at least one optical fiber and the optically transmissive spacer, such that an optical path is created from the optical fiber through the spacer in the probe tip.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the probe shaft is tapered from the proximal end to the distal end.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical fiber comprises one or more illumination optical fibers and one or more collection optical fibers.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical fiber comprises six illumination optical fibers and one collection optical fiber.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the six illumination fibers are arranged annularly.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the collection optical fiber is centrally positioned within the annular illumination fibers.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bent portion of the probe tip has a length in the range of about 0.1 mm to 10 mm.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the at least one optical fiber directly contacts the prism.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive spacer is a cylinder with a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip further includes an air gap, a vacuum cavity, a gaseous gap, or at least one second optical fiber positioned between the optically transmissive spacer and the prism.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive spacer directly contacts the prism.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes at least one groove, and the handle includes at least one orientation projection.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes a bifurcation.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises an optical cable including optical connectors connected to the proximal end.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the optical connectors comprise SubMiniature version A (SMA) connectors.