Variable stiffness optical fiber shaft
AssigneeMicrus Corporation
InventorsMichael J. O'Connor, David A. Ferrera, Matthew Connors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The variable stiffness optical fiber shaft includes an optical fiber and a reinforcing tube with apertures formed around the surface of the reinforcing tube, and at least one coaxial outer layer of a polymer, metal, or both for providing desired variations in stiffness along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. The apertures can be formed as axial or helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube, and the reinforcing tube can also be formed to be tapered at the point where the apertures are formed in the reinforcing tube to provide an optical fiber shaft that is torqueable and pushable at the proximal end, yet soft and flexible at the distal end.
Claims21
A variable stiffness optical fiber shaft for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising:
- an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a reinforcing tube bonded to the optical fiber, the optical fiber extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having an outer surface including a plurality of apertures to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the optical fiber.
A variable stiffness optical fiber shaft for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising:
- an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a reinforcing tube attached to the optical fiber, the optical fiber extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having an outer surface including a plurality of apertures extending in a direction between said proximal and distal ends of said optical fiber;
- and
- at least one outer coaxial sheath bonded over at least a portion of said optical fiber and said reinforcing tube, to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.