Scanning endoscopic imaging probes and related methods
OwnerJeffrey Brennan, Mark S. Humayuninventors
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Abstract
An injection device with integrated imaging capability may include a hollow, tubular needle, an optical fiber disposed in parallel to the needle, a detector, a lens structure for focusing light coupled into the lens structure from the optical fiber at a focus beyond the distal end of the needle, and an imaging engine for processing a signal received from the detector via the optical fiber and the lens structure so as to generate an image of a region about the focus.
Claims24
An injection device with integrated imaging capability, comprising:
- a hollow, tubular needle for piercing an injection site and delivering fluid thereto;
- an optical fiber disposed in parallel to the needle;
- a detector;
- mounted at a distal end of the needle and optically coupled to the optical fiber, a lens structure for focusing light coupled into the lens structure from the optical fiber at a focus beyond the distal end of the needle;
- and
- an imaging engine for processing a signal received from the detector via the optical fiber and the lens structure so as to generate an image of a region about the focus.
An injection device with integrated imaging capability, comprising:
- a hollow, tubular needle for piercing an injection site and delivering fluid thereto;
- an optical fiber coaxially disposed inside the needle;
- and
- a lens structure, optically coupled to the optical fiber and movable inside the needle from a position proximate a proximal end thereof to a position proximate a distal end thereof,
- wherein the lens structure, when positioned at the distal end, is configured to focus light coupled into the lens structure from the optical fiber beyond the distal end so as to image a region about the focus.
A method of performing an injection and simultaneously imaging using an injection device comprising a hollow, tubular needle, an optical fiber in parallel with the needle, and a lens structure optically coupled to the optical fiber, the method comprising steps of:
- piercing an injection site using the injection device;
- directing an optical beam, via the optical fiber and lens structure, to a region beyond the distal end of the needle;
- and
- delivering a fluid to the region via the needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.