Guidewire catheter and apparatus for diagnostic imaging

A guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a distal end, said guidewire/optical fiber catheter comprising:

• a metal guidewire tube having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a first and second end,
• a metal extension tube having a first and a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter generally equal in size to the inner diameter of said guidewire tube,
• means fastening said first end of said extension tube within the inner diameter of said guidewire tube at said second end of said guidewire tube, said extension tube thereby forming an extension of said guidewire tube with said second end of said extension tube being positioned adjacent to the distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter,
• an optical fiber extending generally concentrically within said guide wire tube and said extension tube, said optical fiber having a second end that extends a short distance beyond said second end of said extension tube,
• a metal wire coil having a first and a second end, said coil having an outer diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said guidewire tube, and an inner diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said extension tube,
• means fastening said first end of said coil to the outer diameter of said extension tube such that said second end of said coil is generally coextensive with said second end of said optical fiber, and
• lens means proximate said second end of said optical fiber, said lens means for positioning said second end of said optical fiber so that said optical fiber is generally concentric with said second end of said coil.

Diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a distal end, said guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a metal guidewire tube having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a first and second end, a metal extension tube having a first and a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter generally equal in size to the inner diameter of said guidewire tube, means fastening said first end of said extension tube within the inner diameter of said guidewire tube at said second end of said guidewire tube, said extension tube thereby forming an extension of said guidewire tube with said second end of said extension tube being positioned adjacent to the distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, an optical fiber extending generally concentrically within said guide wire tube and said extension tube, said optical fiber having a first end proximate said first end of said guidewire tube and a second end that extends a short distance beyond said second end of said extension tube, a metal wire coil having a first and a second end, said coil having an outer diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said guidewire tube, and an inner diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said extension tube, means fastening said first end of said coil to the outer diameter of said extension tube such that said second end of said coil is generally coextensive with said second of said optical fiber, and lens means proximate said second end of said optical fiber, said lens means for positioning said second end of said optical fiber so that said optical fiber is generally concentric with said second end of said coil,
• a low coherent source of illumination adjacent the first end of said optical fiber,
• beam splitting means intermediate said source of illumination and the first end of said optical fiber,
• said beam splitting means operating to provide a first beam path that extends into the first end of said optical fiber, and operating to provide a second beam path extending off of said beam splitting means,
• said beam splitting means also operating to receive illumination from said second end of said optical fiber and to direct said illumination along a third beam path extending off of said beam splitting means,
• a movable mirror in said second beam path,
• motive means operable to move said movable mirror to a sequence of positions to thereby vary the length of said second beam path, and
• illumination interferometer means operable to receive said illumination from said third beam path and to receive illumination from said second beam path, said interferometer means being operable to provide an output facilitating diagnosis of said tissue as a function of said sequence of positions of said movable mirror.

Tissue diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and having elongated guidewire means for serving as a guide wire and elongated light conducting optical fiber means for illuminating tissue that is adjacent to the distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, to thereby produce reflected illumination from the tissue;
• a low coherent source of illumination adjacent the proximal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, said source of illumination further comprising means for providing said illumination at a plurality of wavelengths;
• beam splitting means intermediate said source of illumination and the proximal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter;
• said beam splitting means operating to provide a first beam path that extends into the proximal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, and operating to provide a second beam path extending from said beam splitting means;
• said beam splitting means also operating to receive reflected illumination from said distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, and to direct said reflected illumination along a third beam path extending from said beam splitting means;
• a coupler intermediate said beam splitting means and said proximal end of said gadder/optical fiber catheter;
• a movable mirror in said second beam path;
• motive means operable to move said movable mirror to a sequence of positions to thereby vary the length of said second beam path;
• and
• illumination interferometer means operable to receive said reflected illumination from said third beam path and to receive illumination from said second beam path, said interferometer means being operable to provide an output comprising an amplitude signal plot as a function of said sequence of positions of said movable mirror.

A guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a distal end, said guidewire/optical fiber catheter comprising:

• a metal guidewire tube having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a first and second end, said outer diameter having a maximum of about 0.014 inches;
• a metal extension tube having a first and a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter generally equal in size to the inner diameter of said guidewire tube;
• means fastening said first end of said extension tube within the inner diameter of said gadder tube at said second end of said gadder tube, said extension tube thereby forming an extension of said guidewire tube with said second end of said extension tube being positioned adjacent to the distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter;
• an optical fiber extending generally concentrically within said guide wire tube and said extension tube, said optical fiber having a first end proximate said first end of said guidewire tube and a second end that extends a short distance beyond said second end of said extension tube;
• a metal wire coil having a first and a second end, said coil having an outer diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said guidewire tube, and an inner diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said extension tube;
• means fastening said first end of said coil to the outer diameter of said extension tube such that said second end of said coil is generally coextensive with said second end of said optical fiber;
• a coupler proximate said first ends of said guidewire tube and said optical fiber, said coupler providing means for connecting said guidewire/optical fiber catheter to a source of illumination;
• lens means proximate said, second end of said optical fiber is said lens means for positioning said second end of said optical fiber so that said optical fiber generally concentric with said second end of said coil, for expanding illumination exiting said second end of said optical fiber, and for focusing illumination striking said distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter on said second end of said optical fiber;
• an optically clear elastomer coating said lens means;
• and
• means for increasing the lubricity and lowering the surface friction of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, said means comprising a hydrophilic coating over said guidewire/optical fiber catheter.

Diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a distal end, said guidewire/optical fiber catheter having a metal guidewire tube having an inner diameter, an outer diameter with a maximum of about 0.014 inches, and a first and second end, a metal extension tube having a first and a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter generally equal in size to the inner diameter of said guidewire tube, means fastening said first end of said extension tube within the inner diameter of said guidewire tube at said second end of said gadder tube, said extension tube thereby forming an extension of said guidewire tube with said second end of said extension tube being positioned adjacent to the distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter, an optical fiber extending generally concentrically within said guide wire tube and said extension tube, said optical fiber having a first end proximate said first end of said guidewire tube and a second end that extends a short distance beyond said second end of said extension tube, a metal wire coil having a first and a second end, said coil having an outer diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said guidewire tube, and an inner diameter that is generally equal in size to the outer diameter of said extension tube, means fastening said first end of said coil to the outer diameter of said extension tube such that said second end of said coil is generally coextensive with said second of said optical fiber, and lens means proximate said second end of said optical fiber, said lens means for positioning said second end of said optical fiber so that said optical fiber is generally concentric with said second end of said coil, said lens means also for expanding illumination exiting said second end of said optical fiber and said lens mens further for focusing illumination striking said distal end of said guidewire/optical fiber catheter on said second end of said optical fiber;
• a low coherent source of illumination adjacent the first end of said optical fiber, said source of illumination further comprising means for providing said illumination at a plurality of wavelengths;
• beam splitting means intermediate said source of illumination and the first end of said optical fiber;
• said beam splitting means operating to provide a first beam path that extends into the first end of said optical fiber, and operating to provide a second beam path extending off of said beam splitting means;
• said beam splitting means also operating to receive illumination from said second end of said optical fiber and to direct said illumination along a third beam path extending off of said beam splitting means;
• a coupler intermediate said beam splitting means and said first ends of said guidewire tube and said optical fiber, said coupler providing means for connecting said guidewire/optical fiber catheter to said source of illumination;
• a movable mirror in said second beam path;
• motive means operable to move said movable mirror to a sequence of positions to thereby vary the length of said second beam path;
• and
• illumination interferometer means operable to receive said illumination from said third beam path and to receive illumination from said second beam path, said interferometer means further comprising photodetector means for detecting each of said plurality of wavelengths, said interferometer means further being operable to provide an output facilitating diagnosis of said tissue as a function of said sequence of positions of said movable mirror.