Multi-channel optical coupler for spinning catheter
A system for identifying vulnerable plaque includes a catheter having a collection fiber and a delivery fiber extending therethrough. The catheter is engaged to a distal face of a housing configured to spin about an axis. The proximal face of the housing has a central aperture. First and second optical relays extend respectively between the central aperture and a central port on the distal face and between a detector and an eccentric port on the distal face. The central and eccentric ports are in optical communication with the delivery and collection fibers respectively.
1. A multi-channel optical coupler comprising:
a housing configured to spin about an axis, the housing having a proximal face and a distal face;
walls forming a central aperture on the proximal face, the central aperture intersecting the axis;
a first optical relay for guiding a first beam from the central aperture to a central port on the distal face; and
a second optical relay for guiding a second beam to a detector from an eccentric port on the distal face
wherein the first optical relay includes a stationary lens disposed to direct the first beam onto the central aperture.
2. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first optical relay further comprises a focusing lens disposed between the stationary lens and the central port.
3. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first optical relay comprises a graduated index of refraction lens seated in the central aperture, the graduated index of refraction lens being configured to direct the first beam to the central port.
4. A multi-channel optical coupler comprising:
a housing configured to spin about an axis, the housing having a proximal face and a distal face;
walls forming a central aperture on the proximal face, the central aperture intersecting the axis;
a first optical relay for guiding a first beam from the central aperture to a central port on the distal face; and
a second optical relay for guiding a second beam to a detector from an eccentric port on the distal face
wherein the second optical relay includes a collimating lens within the housing, the collimating lens being disposed to guide the second beam entering the housing at the eccentric port toward a detector mounted on an inner wall of the housing.
5. The optical coupler of claim 4 , wherein the second optical relay further comprises a light-directing element disposed to direct the second beam toward a peripheral wall of the housing.
6. A multi-channel optical coupler comprising:
a housing configured to spin about an axis, the housing having a proximal face and a distal face;
walls forming a central aperture on the proximal face, the central aperture intersecting the axis;
a first optical relay for guiding a first beam from the central aperture to a central port on the distal face; and
a second optical relay for guiding a second beam to a detector from an eccentric port on the distal face
wherein the second optical relay includes:
walls forming an eccentric aperture in the proximal face of the housing, the eccentric aperture being disposed to permit the second beam to pass therethrough; and
an annular mirror outside the housing, the annular mirror being disposed to intercept a path traced by the second beam emerging from the eccentric aperture as the housing spins.
7. The optical coupler of claim 6 , wherein the annular mirror comprises walls forming a mirror aperture disposed to permit the first beam to pass therethrough.
8. The optical coupler of claim 6 , wherein the annular mirror is disposed to direct a path traced by the second beam onto a stationary detector.
9. A multi-channel optical coupler comprising:
a housing configured to spin about an axis, the housing having a proximal face and a distal face;
walls forming a central aperture on the proximal face, the central aperture intersecting the axis;
a first optical relay for guiding a first beam from the central aperture to a central port on the distal face;
a second optical relay for guiding a second beam to a detector from an eccentric port on the distal face; and
a slip ring disposed on an outer surface of the housing, the slip ring being in electrical communication with a detector within the housing.
10. A system for identifying vulnerable plaque, the system comprising:
a catheter having a collection fiber and a delivery fiber extending therethrough; a housing configured to spin about an axis, the housing having a proximal face and a distal face, the proximal face having walls forming a central aperture and the distal face being engaged with the catheter;
a first optical relay extending between the central aperture and a central port on the distal face, the central port being in optical communication with the delivery fiber; and
a second optical relay extending between a detector and an eccentric port on the distal face, the eccentric port being in optical communication with the collection fiber.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first optical relay comprises a lens disposed to receive a delivery beam passing through the central aperture and to direct the delivery beam into the central port.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the lens comprises a graduated index of refraction lens seated in the central aperture.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second optical relay comprises a lens disposed in the housing to guide a collection beam from the eccentric port to the detector.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second optical relay comprises:
walls forming an eccentric aperture in the proximal face of the housing, the eccentric aperture being disposed to permit the second beam to pass therethrough; and
an annular mirror disposed outside the housing disposed to intercept a path traced by the collection beam emerging from the eccentric aperture as the housing spins.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the annular mirror comprises walls forming a central aperture disposed to allow the collection beam to pass therethrough.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the annular mirror is disposed to direct a path traced by the collection beam onto a stationary detector.
17. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a slip ring disposed on an outer surface of the housing, the slip ring being in electrical communication with a detector within the housing.
18. A method for providing optical coupling to a collection fiber and a delivery fiber, the method comprising:
transmitting a delivery beam into a central aperture of a housing;
guiding the delivery beam from the central aperture to a central port in the housing, the central port being in optical communication with the delivery fiber;
receiving a collection beam from an eccentric port in the housing, the eccentric port being in optical communication with the collection fiber; and
guiding the collection beam to a detector by relaying the collection beam from the eccentric port to a detector within the housing.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein guiding the delivery beam comprises relaying the delivery beam from the central aperture to the central port.
20. A method for providing optical coupling to a collection fiber and a delivery fiber, the method comprising:
transmitting a delivery beam into a central aperture of a housing;
guiding the delivery beam from the central aperture to a central port in the housing, the central Port being in optical communication with the delivery fiber;
receiving a collection beam from an eccentric port in the housing, the eccentric port being in optical communication with the collection fiber; and
guiding the collection beam to a detector by
relaying the collection beam from the eccentric port to an eccentric aperture in the housing; and
relaying the collection beam from the eccentric aperture to a detector outside the housing.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein relaying the collection beam from the eccentric aperture to the detector comprises reflecting the collection beam off an annular mirror toward the detector.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein guiding the delivery beam comprises passing the delivery beam through a hole in the annular mirror.