Fiber optic guide wire and support catheter therefor

A fiber optic guide wire apparatus comprising:

• a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination;
• a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly;
• an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle extending through said plug and having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug;
• said plug surrounding said optical fibers in said bundle and bonding said fibers to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly;
• means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle;
• a torque knob disposed on said hypo tube, said torque knob engaging said guide wire assembly to transmit torque applied to said knob to said distal end of said guide wire assembly;
• an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube;
• and
• a tail tube having a distal end covering at least a proximal end of said exchange lead and a proximal end connected to said means for introducing light energy;
• wherein said torque knob is disposed distal to a distal end of said tail tube and may be freely slid along said hypo tube and said exchange lead to remove said tail tube.

A fiber optic guide wire apparatus, comprising:

• a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube, and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination;
• a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly;
• an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug;
• a mandrel, disposed within said hollow guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly;
• and
• means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle;
• and
• an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube;
• wherein said plug surrounds said optical fibers in said optical fiber bundle and said mandrel and bonds said optical fibers and said mandrel to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly;
• and
• wherein a proximal end of said mandrel terminates proximate to a proximal end of said exchange lead.

A fiber optic guide wire apparatus, comprising:

• a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube, and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination;
• a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly;
• an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug;
• a mandrel, disposed within said hollow guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly;
• and
• means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle;
• and
• a torque knob disposed on said hypo tube, said mandrel being coupled to said hypo tube, said torque knob engaging said guide wire assembly to transmit torque applied to said knob through said mandrel to said distal end of said guide wire assembly;
• wherein said plug surrounds said optical fibers in said optical fiber bundle and said mandrel and bonds said optical fibers and said mandrel to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly.