Methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips

A catheter comprising:

• a proximal section;
• a distal section;
• a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section, and
• a plurality of optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter, wherein the distal section comprises:
• a support structure comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a body;
• and
• a distal end comprising:
• a plurality of alignment orifices, wherein each optical fiber in the plurality of optical fibers is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice;
• and
• a plurality of lenses, wherein each lens is coupled to an end of a corresponding optical fiber in the plurality of optical fibers and located at the corresponding alignment orifice;
• and
• a cap positioned over a portion of the distal end of the support structure, wherein the cap comprises a plurality of optical ports, wherein locations of the plurality of optical ports are aligned with locations of the plurality of lenses in the plurality of alignment orifices, and
• wherein the support structure is configured to hold the plurality of optical fibers in place and align each optical fiber with the corresponding alignment orifice in the plurality of alignment orifices.

A support structure for an ablation catheter comprising:

• a proximal end;
• a body;
• and
• a distal end comprising a plurality of alignment orifices, wherein:
• each optical fiber in a plurality of optical fibers is threaded through a corresponding optical port in the plurality of alignment orifice, and
• each lens in a plurality of lenses is coupled to an end of a corresponding optical fiber in the plurality of optical fibers, resulting in a plurality of lenses, each lens being located at the corresponding alignment orifice;
• and
• a cap positioned over a portion of the distal end of the support structure, wherein:
• the cap comprises a plurality of optical ports, and
• locations of the plurality of optical ports are aligned with locations of the plurality of lenses in the plurality of alignment orifices, and
• wherein the support structure is configured to hold the plurality of optical fibers in place and align each optical fiber with the corresponding alignment orifice in the plurality of alignment orifices.