Optical coupler for rotating catheter
View Patent ↗An optical coupler for coupling to a rotating catheter has a housing with a rotatable distal face and a stationary proximal face. The distal face has an eccentric port and a central port. A lens is disposed inside the housing to intercept a rotating collection beam emerging from the eccentric port and to re-direct the collection beam to a focus proximal to the lens as the collection beam rotates. A beam re-director disposed between the lens and the distal face is oriented to direct a delivery beam toward the central port.
1. An optical coupler comprising:
a housing with a rotatable distal face and a stationary proximal face, the distal face having an eccentric port and a central port;
a lens disposed inside the housing to intercept a rotating collection beam emerging from the eccentric port and to re-direct the collection beam to a focus proximal to the lens as the collection beam rotates; and
a beam re-director disposed between the lens and the distal face, the beam re-director being oriented to direct a delivery beam toward the central port.
2. The optical coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a light source disposed to direct a delivery beam radially inward to the beam re-director.
3. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a penta-prism.
4. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a prism.
5. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a mirror.
6. The optical coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a detector disposed at the focus for receiving the rotating collection beam.
7. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the lens is configured to focus the collection beam on an axis of rotation of the distal face.
8. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the lens is configured to focus the collection beam off an axis of rotation of the distal face.
9. The optical coupler of claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises an axicon lens.
10. A system for identifying vulnerable plaque, the system comprising:
a rotating catheter having a collection fiber and a delivery fiber extending therethrough;
a housing with a rotatable distal face and a stationary proximal face, the distal face having an eccentric port and a central port;
a lens disposed inside the housing to intercept a rotating collection beam emerging from the eccentric port and to re-direct the collection beam to a focus proximal to the lens as the collection beam rotates; and
a beam re-director disposed between the lens and the distal face, the beam re-director being oriented to direct a delivery beam toward the central port.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a light source disposed to direct a delivery beam radially inward to the beam re-director.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a penta-prism.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a prism.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the beam re-director comprises a mirror.
15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a detector disposed at the focus for receiving the rotating collection beam.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the lens comprises an axicon lens.