# US 10,945,615 B2 · Suction tool with integrated optical probe and use thereof

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- Number: US 10,945,615 B2
- Document ID: US10945615B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/573,348
- Filed: 2017-02-24
- Published: 2018-12-27
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-24
- Assignees: Synaptive Medical Inc.
- Applicants: Synaptive Medical Inc.
- Inventors: Kresimir Franjic; Luc Gilles Charron; Siu Wai Jacky Mak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945615B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/3137: {for examination of the interior of blood vessels}
- A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography}
- A61B 5/0055: {by applying suction}
- A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging}
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/065: {Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe}
- A61B 5/14503: {invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors (A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence)}
- A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
- A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)}
- A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00})
- G02B 6/0006: {Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298)}
- G02B 23/2423: {of the distal end}
- A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)}
- A61M 2205/3313: used specific wavelengths
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A device and method is provided for a suction tool combined with an optical probe. A suction device is provided having a tip with a hollow tubular body, a plurality of optical fibers embedded in the tip and a concentric ring attached to the tip, wherein the ring end has an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical fibers. A method is provided for optically measuring tissue in a medical procedure comprising suctioning a tissue using a suction device, sending optical signals along optical fibers through the suction device; directing the signals from the optical fibers onto the tissue using a beveled surface; receiving optical signals from the tissue in optical fibers via the beveled reflective surface; measuring the received optical signals in a spectrometer or detector; and releasing, resecting or ablating the tissue through the suction device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A suction device for use in a medical procedure comprising:
an elongated tip, having a hollow tubular body, an outer wall, a tip proximal end and a tip distal end;
a plurality of optical fibers embedded in the outer wall of the tip body, extending from the tip proximal end to near the tip distal end and externally accessible at the tip proximal end and near the tip distal end;
a concentric ring attached to the tip, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the tip distal end and the first end has an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical fibers near the tip distal end;
an elongated tubular handle, having a central longitudinal passage, a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, the handle proximal end reversibly attached to a vacuum source and the handle distal end reversibly attached to the tip proximal end;
a plurality of handle optical fibers embedded in the handle, extending from the handle proximal end to the handle distal end and wherein the optical fibers at the tip proximal end align with the handle optical fibers at the handle distal end;
a light source connected to one or more of the handle optical fibers; and
a spectrometer or a detector connected to one or more of the handle optical fibers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the handle is attached to the tip by a snap mechanism or a threaded ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the inner beveled reflective surface angle is between 0 and 89 degrees.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the tip is bendable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the optical fibers comprise one or more of: single mode fibers; multi-mode fibers; photonic crystal fibers;
polarization-maintaining fibers; and metal coated fibers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the concentric ring comprises a molded plastic piece that slides on the tip distal end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, further comprising a thin sleeve sealing the tip and the ring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The suction device as in claim 1, wherein the optical fibers comprise one or more excitation fibers and one or more detector fibers.

### Claim 9

A suction device for use in a medical procedure comprising:
an elongated tip, having a hollow tubular body with a tip inner wall, a tip outer wall, a tip proximal end and a tip distal end;
one or more channels in the tip outer wall extending from the tip proximal end to near the tip distal end;
optical fibers within the channels;
optical ports through the tip inner wall and extending from the channels near the tip distal end, for optical signal passage;
a concentric ring attached to the tip, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the tip distal end and the first end has an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical ports near the tip distal end;
an elongated tubular handle, having a central longitudinal passage, a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, the handle proximal end reversibly attached to a vacuum source and the handle distal end reversibly attached to the tip proximal end;
a plurality of handle optical fibers embedded in the handle, extending from the handle proximal end to the handle distal end and wherein the optical fibers at the tip proximal end align with the handle optical fibers at the handle distal end;
a light source connected to one or more of the handle optical fibers; and
a spectrometer or a detector connected to one or more of the handle optical fibers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the optical ports are sealed with an optically transparent resin.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the handle is attached to the tip by a snap mechanism or a threaded ring.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the inner beveled reflective surface angle is between 0 and 89 degrees.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the tip is bendable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the optical fibers comprise one or more of: single mode fibers; multi-mode fibers; photonic crystal fibers;
polarization-maintaining fibers; and metal coated fibers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the concentric ring comprises a molded plastic piece that slides on the tip distal end.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, further comprising a thin sleeve sealing the tip and the ring.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The suction device as in claim 9, wherein the optical fibers comprise one or more excitation fibers and one or more detector fibers.

### Claim 18

A method for optically measuring tissue in a medical procedure, comprising:
suctioning a tissue using a suction device, the suction device comprising a tip with optical fibers in a tip outer wall and a concentric ring attached to the tip, the concentric ring having a first end and a second end, the first end having an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical fibers;
sending a first optical signal along the optical fibers in the tip outer wall through the suction device;
directing the first optical signal from the optical fibers onto a tissue using the inner beveled reflective surface;
directing a collected optical signal from the tissue onto the optical fibers using the inner beveled reflective surface;
measuring the collected optical signal in a spectrometer or a detector; and
releasing or resecting the tissue through the suction device.

### Claim 19

A method for optically measuring tissue prior to ablation in a medical procedure, comprising:
sending a first optical signal along one or more optical fibers through a suction device, the suction device comprising a tip with optical fibers in a tip outer wall and a concentric ring attached to the tip, the concentric ring having a first end and a second end, the first end having an inner beveled reflective surface opposing the optical fibers;
directing the first optical signal from the optical fibers in the tip outer wall onto a tissue using the inner beveled reflective surface;
directing a collected optical signal from the tissue onto the optical fibers using the inner beveled reflective surface;
measuring the collected optical signals in a spectrometer or a detector; and
ablating the tissue using an ablation optical signal along the optical fibers.