Orthopedic pin for optically analyzing a bone region
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsJarich Willem Spliethoff, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Manfred Müller, Gerhardus Wilhelmus Lucassen
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Abstract
An orthopedic pin is for optically analyzing a bone region. An optical fiber arrangement extends within an elongate shaft from a distal end to a proximal end. There is a coupling at an intermediate position along the shaft, and the optical fiber arrangement comprises a first portion on one side of the coupling and a second portion on the other side of the coupling. The coupling allows relative rotation between portions of the shaft at opposite sides of the coupling, while maintaining optical coupling between the first and second portions of the optical fiber.
Claims15
An orthopedic pin for optically analyzing a bone region, the orthopedic pin comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a distal end configured to be inserted into bone, a proximal end for connection to an analysis unit, a distal portion of the elongate shaft, and a proximal portion of the elongate shaft;
- an optical fiber arrangement extending within the elongate shaft from the distal end to the proximal end of the elongate shaft, for transmitting optical radiation from the analysis unit to the bone region and for transmitting reflected optical radiation from the bone region to the analysis unit, when the distal end is inserted into the bone region;
- and
- a mechanical and optical coupling at an intermediate position along the elongate shaft such that the distal portion of the elongate shaft is on one side of the coupling and the proximal portion of the elongate shaft is on the other side of the coupling,
- wherein the optical fiber arrangement comprises a first portion on one side of the coupling and a second portion on the other side of the coupling, each for transmitting both the transmitted optical radiation and the reflected optical radiation,
- and wherein the coupling allows relative rotation between the distal portion and the proximal portion of the elongate shaft and relative rotation between the first portion and the second portion of the optical fiber arrangement at opposite sides of the coupling, while maintaining optical coupling between the first and second portions of the optical fiber arrangement.
A surgical tool comprising:
- the orthopedic pin for optically analyzing a bone region, the orthopedic pin comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a distal end configured to be inserted into bone, a proximal end for connection to an analysis unit, a distal portion of the elongate shaft, and a proximal portion of the elongate shaft;
- an optical fiber arrangement extending within the elongate shaft from the distal end to the proximal end of the elongate shaft, for transmitting optical radiation from the analysis unit to the bone region and for transmitting reflected optical radiation from the bone region to the analysis unit, when the distal end is inserted into the bone region;
- and
- a mechanical and optical coupling at an intermediate position along the elongate shaft such that the distal portion of the elongate shaft is on one side of the coupling and the proximal portion of the elongate shaft is on the other side of the coupling,
- wherein the optical fiber arrangement comprises a first portion on one side of the coupling and a second portion on the other side of the coupling, each for transmitting both the transmitted optical radiation and the reflected optical radiation, and
- wherein the coupling allows relative rotation between the distal portion and the proximal portion of the elongate shaft and relative rotation between the first portion and the second portion of the optical fiber arrangement at opposite sides of the coupling, while maintaining optical coupling between the first and second portions of the optical fiber arrangement;
- and
- an optical analysis unit for connection to the proximal end of the elongate shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.