Fiber optic catheter with twistable tip

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end;
• a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter;
• and
• a torque wire extending through the catheter such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire and the catheter share a common axis at the distal end of the catheter.

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising:

• a catheter having a distal section that is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter, wherein the distal section of the catheter is composed of a more flexible material than the remainder of the catheter;
• a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter;
• and
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end, wherein a plane of a distal face of the catheter is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter;
• a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter;
• and
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face;
• a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter;
• and
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end;
• a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter;
• and
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire tapers from a diameter of about 0.018 to about 0.008 inches and may taper further to about 0.005 inches in diameter.

A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end;
• an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter;
• optical fibers extending through the catheter from the distal to the proximal end;
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the inner lumen and the optical fibers at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded among the optical fibers in an adhesive matrix when the torque wire is bonded to the optical fibers, such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter.

A catheter assembly with twistable tip comprising:

• a catheter having a distal end;
• an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter;
• a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to the inner lumen at a point back from the distal end;
• such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the inner lumen and subsequently to the distal end of the catheter.