Data transmission system

A system for transmitting data, which comprises:

• a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• means for directing light into said optical fibers;
• a first selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said first filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a first selected color and to transmit other colors;
• a second selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said second filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a second selected color and to transmit other colors;
• a third selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said third filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a third selected color and to transmit other colors;
• each of said filter-mirror means being movable relative to said optical fibers in response to a variation of a selected parameter, to vary the quantity of light being reflected by said filter-mirror means, whereby variation of different parameters causes movement of corresponding selective wavelength filter-mirror means and concomitant reflection of corresponding selected colors;
• means for directing the light reflected by the filter-mirror means to detecting means, said detecting means comprising
• a first selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said first selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the first selected color, and first sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said first selective wavelength transmission means;
• a second selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said second selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the second selected color, and second sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said second selected wavelength transmission means;
• and
• a third selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said third selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the third selected color, and third sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said third selected wavelength transmission means.

A process for transmitting data which comprises the steps of:

• directing light through a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• reflecting the light so directed with filter-mirror means which reflect only a selected color and transmit other colors, to provide selected colors of light each representing a selected parameter;
• varying the amount of the selected color light to be reflected in response to variations in the quantity of a respective selected parameter;
• and
• detecting the color and quantity of the light that is reflected, whereby the respective selected parameter variations are detected.

A process for transmitting data which comprises the steps of:

• directing light through a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• reflecting the light so directed with filter-mirror means which reflect only a selected color and transmit other colors, to provide selected colors of light, each representing a selected parameter;
• providing the filter-mirror means in an order of location so that the first one of said filter-mirror means to receive the directed light is adapted to reflect the shortest wavelength color and the last one of said filter-mirror means is adapted to reflect the longest wavelength color;
• moving each of said filter-mirror means relative to the optical fibers in response to variations in the quantity of a respective selected parameter;
• directing the light reflected by said filter-mirror means to a plurality of selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with each selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only a selected color;
• and
• sensing the quantity and color of the light transmitted by each selected wavelength transmission means.

An optical pressure catheter for use in a system for transmitting data, which comprises:

• a catheter having located therein a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• means for directing light into said optical fibers;
• a plurality of selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of said optical fibers, each of said filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a selected color and to transmit other colors;
• and
• means for moving each of said filter-mirror means relative to said optical fibers in response to a variation of a selected pressure parameter, to vary the quantity of light being reflected by said filter-mirror means, whereby variation of different selected pressure parameters causes movement of corresponding selective wavelength filter-mirror means and concomitant reflection of corresponding selected colors.

A process for transmitting pressure data by means of a catheter inserted within the body, which comprises the steps of:

• locating within a catheter a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• directing light through the optical fibers;
• coupling a plurality of filter-mirror means which each reflect only a selected color and transmit other colors, to the locations at which pressures are to be sensed;
• reflecting the light so directed with the filter-mirror means to provide selected colors of light each representing a selected pressure parameter;
• varying the amount of the selected color light to be reflected in response to variations in the quantity of a respective selected pressure parameter;
• and
• detecting the color and quantity of the light that is reflected, whereby the respective selected pressure parameter variations are detected.

An optical pressure catheter for transmitting data, which comprises:

• a catheter having located therein a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end to end;
• means for directing light into said optical fibers;
• a first selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said first filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a first selected color and to transmit other colors;
• a second selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said second filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a second selected color and to transmit other colors;
• a third selective wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of two of said optical fibers, said third filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a third selected color and to transmit other colors;
• means for moving each of said filter-mirror means relative to said optical fibers relative to said optical fibers in response to a variation of a selected pressure parameter, to vary the quantity of light being reflected by said filter-mirror means, whereby variation of different pressure parameters causes movement of corresponding selective wavelength filter-mirror means and concomitant reflection of corresponding selected colors;
• means for directing the light reflected by the filter-mirror means to detecting means, said detector means comprising:
• a first selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said first selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the first selected color, and first sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said first selected wavelength transmission means;
• a second selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said second selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the second selected color, and second sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said second selected wavelength transmission means;
• a third selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with said third selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only the third selected color, and third sensing means for sensing the quantity of the light transmitted by said third selective wavelength transmission means.

An optical pressure catheter system for transmitting data, which comprises:

• a catheter having located therein a plurality of aligned optical fibers positioned end-to-end;
• means for directing light into said optical fibers;
• a plurality of selected wavelength filter-mirror means interposed between the ends of said optical fibers, each of said filter-mirror means being operable to reflect only a selected color and to transmit other colors;
• means for moving each of said filter-mirror means relative to said optical fibers in response to a variation of a selected pressure parameter, to vary the quantity of light being reflected by said filter-mirror means, whereby variation of different selected pressure parameters causes movement of corresponding selective wavelength filter-mirror means and concomitant reflection of corresponding selected colors;
• means for detecting the quantity and color of the light being reflected, whereby pressure parameter variations are detected;
• means for directing the light reflected by said filter-mirror means to said detecting means;
• said detecting means comprising a plurality of selected wavelength transmission means for receiving light that has been reflected, with each selected wavelength transmission means being operable to transmit only a selected color, and means for sensing the quantity and color of the light transmitted by each selected wavelength transmission means.