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AssigneeThe Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
InventorsJonathan E. Aviv, Shunichi Homma, Marco R. DiTullio, Steven Corwin
Estimating the term…
The present invention concerns an optical transesophageal echocardiography probe (OPTEE) having an optical fiber bundle, a suction channel and light channels for illumination, wherein the OPTEE has a circumference along its distal tip that allows both safe insertion and insures the stability of the probe. The probe tip is generally circular in circumference, but levels off to a flat surface for a portion of the circumference, and is provided with beveled edges and corner throughout so that there are no sharp edges to traumatize the patient. The invention also concerns an optically-recessed OPTEE comprising an optical transesophageal probe comprising a longitudinally extending main body having an outer surface and a substantially circular cross-section and a distal portion having an outer surface and a distal tip, wherein an optical bundle having a distal tip is positioned on the outer surface of the main body and the outer surface of the distal portion and the distal tip of the optical bundle does not extend as far as the distal tip of the distal portion.
An optical transesophageal echocardiography probe comprising
An optical transesophageal probe comprising a longitudinally extending, flexible tubular main body having an outer surface and a substantially circular cross-section and a distal portion having an outer surface and a distal tip, wherein an optical bundle having a distal tip is positioned on the outer surface of the main body, wherein the outer surface of the distal portion and the distal tip of the optical bundle do not extend as far as the distal tip of the distal portion and wherein the probe configuration facilitates visualization distal to the probe tip during insertion into a patient's esophagus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.