# US 2010/0168587 A1 · Catheter imaging probe and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168587 A1 - Document ID: US20100168587A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/638,927 - Filed: 2009-12-15 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2003-04-28 - Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Inventors: Marc D. Feldman; Thomas E. Milner; Shaochen Chen; Jeehyun Kim; Li-Hsin Han; Jung-Hwan Oh; Ho Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168587A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00183: {for variable viewing angles} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe} - A61B 1/3137: {for examination of the interior of blood vessels} - A61N 2007/0091: {with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A catheter imaging probe for a patient. The probe includes a conduit through with energy is transmitted. The probe includes a first portion through which the conduit extends. The probe includes a second portion which rotates relative to the conduit to redirect the energy from the conduit. A method for imaging a patient. The method includes the steps of inserting a catheter into the patient. There is the step of rotating a second portion of the catheter relative to a conduit extending through a first portion of the catheter, which redirects the energy transmitted through the conduit to the patient and receives the energy reflected back to the second portion from the patient and redirects the reflected energy to the conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter imaging probe for a patient comprising: a conduit through which electromagnetic radiation is transmitted; a first portion through which the conduit extends; and a second portion which provides movement relative to the conduit to redirect the electromagnetic radiation from the conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the first portion includes an inlet tube through which fluid flows and wherein the second portion is moved by flowing fluid from the inlet tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A probe as described in claim 2 wherein the second portion includes a rotor through which the conduit extends and a capsule containing the rotor, the rotor and inner surface of the capsule defines at least one flowing route extending about the rotor and the first conduit includes at least one outlet tube through which fluid flows from the second portion, guiding the fluid flowing along the flowing route and causing the rotor to rotate about the conduit via reactive force provided by the fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A probe as described in claim 3 wherein the rotor includes a rotating center shaft through which the conduit extends, and spiral shaped inner grooves which extend from the center shaft that provide a rotating torque to the center shaft when the flowing fluid flows against the grooves that causes the center shaft to rotate about the conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A probe as described in claim 4 wherein the second portion has one or more optical redirection elements attached to the center shaft which redirects the electromagnetic radiation from the conduit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A probe as described in claim 5 wherein the conduit is a radiation waveguide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A probe as described in claim 6 wherein the radiation waveguide is a single mode fiber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A probe as described in claim 7 wherein the optical redirection element includes a prism which reflects light from the conduit, the prism rotating with the center shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A probe as described in claim 8 wherein the capsule includes knobs which support the center shaft which allows the shaft to rotate without wobbling. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A probe as described in claim 9 wherein the second portion includes a cover having at least a portion which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation which encapsulates the capsule and contacts the first portion so no fluid can escape from the second portion except through the outlet tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A probe as described in claim 10 wherein the capsule defines a cylinder attached to the first portion from which the knobs extend and that defines a chamber which fluid from the inlet tube flows through. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A probe as described in claim 11 wherein the second portion includes one or more focusing elements which reshape the electromagnetic radiation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A probe as described in claim 12 wherein the focusing element is chosen from the group consisting of a lens, mirror, lens/mirror combination, prism, and liquid crystal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A probe as described in claim 13 including a fluid source connected to the inlet tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A probe as described in claim 14 wherein the fluid source includes a pump which pumps the fluid from the fluid source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A probe as described in claim 15 wherein the fluid in the fluid source is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, CO2, saline, water, D5W, lactated ringers or artificial blood. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A probe as described in claim 16 wherein the second portion includes a wart extending from the rotor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A probe as described in claim 17 wherein the first portion includes a second radiation energy guide aligned to direct electromagnetic radiation to the wart that reflects the electromagnetic radiation back to the second radiation energy guide only when the tip of the second energy guide is aligned with the wart. ### Claim 19 A method for imaging a patient comprising the steps of: rotating a second portion of a catheter relative to a conduit extending through a first portion of the catheter, which redirects the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the conduit to the patient and receives the electromagnetic radiation reflected back to the second portion from the patient and redirects the reflected electromagnetic radiation to the conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method as described in the claim 19 wherein the rotating step includes the step of flowing fluid through an inlet tube to the second portion to turn the second portion.