Optical fiber conduit with temperature monitoring function based on grating effect

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber conduit based on grating effect band temperature monitoring, and relates to the technical field of optical fiber conduits. The optical fiber conduit module is used for transmitting laser with different wavelengths and irradiating the laser in a preset area; the optical fiber temperature sensor is arranged at a laser exit port of the optical fiber conduit module and is used for feeding back a wavelength change value in the preset area in real time; and the optical fiber temperature demodulation module is connected with the optical fiber temperature sensor on an optical path and is used for demodulating the temperature change value in real time according to the wavelength change. The temperature information of the laser irradiation area is measured in real time while laser outputs energy, the safety in the laser thermal therapy process is improved, and the healing speed of the laser irradiation area is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber catheters, and in particular to an optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring. Background Art

[0002] Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is a procedure that uses a laser of a special wavelength to insert an optical fiber into the great saphenous vein trunk and then perform thermal closure of the vein. The optical fiber's transmitting tip has a tapered optical fiber that emits energy radially at 360 degrees. The laser irradiates the inner wall of the vein, which causes the vein to shrink, and then the optical fiber is slowly withdrawn. During the process, the great saphenous vein collapses and closes along its entire length.

[0003] During laser thermal therapy, temperature detection is the key to safe treatment. If the temperature is too high and too fast, the tissue will carbonize, damage normal tissue, and there will be a problem of low safety. If the temperature is maintained too low, the treatment effect will not be achieved. In addition, laser energy is also the core that affects the entire treatment process, which directly determines the scope and safety of the treatment area. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect, which can realize real-time measurement of temperature information of the laser irradiation area while the laser outputs energy, improve the safety during laser thermal therapy, and increase the healing speed of the laser irradiation area.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present invention provides the following solution:

[0006] An optical fiber catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect, comprising:

[0007] The optical fiber catheter module is used to transmit lasers of different wavelengths and irradiate the lasers in a preset area;

[0008] An optical fiber temperature sensor is arranged at the laser outlet of the optical fiber catheter module, and is used to provide real-time feedback of the wavelength change value within the preset area; the wavelength change value is used to characterize the temperature change value within the preset area;

[0009] The optical fiber temperature demodulation module is connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor on the optical path, and is used for demodulating the temperature change value in real time according to the wavelength change value.

[0010] Optionally, the optical fiber catheter module comprises:

[0011] A light transmission optical fiber, annularly covering the outer side of the single-mode optical fiber, for transmitting the laser;

[0012] The cladding is annularly covered on the outside of the light transmitting optical fiber and is used to provide a reflecting surface, optical isolation and mechanical protection.

[0013] Optionally, the optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring further comprises:

[0014] A protective cover is used to protect the optical fiber catheter module and the optical fiber temperature sensor.

[0015] Optionally, the optical fiber temperature demodulation module includes:

[0016] A monitoring unit, connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor on an optical path, and configured to generate the temperature change value according to the wavelength change value;

[0017] A laser light source is connected to the optical fiber catheter module on another optical path and is used to output laser light; the laser light enters the optical fiber catheter module from an incident port.

[0018] Optionally, the exit port of the optical fiber catheter module is a tapered tip optical fiber segment; the exit angle of the laser when passing through the tapered tip optical fiber segment is 360 degrees.

[0019] In the embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber catheter module is used to transmit lasers of different wavelengths and irradiate the lasers in a preset area; the optical fiber temperature sensor is arranged at the laser outlet of the optical fiber catheter module, and the optical fiber temperature sensor is used to feedback the wavelength change value in the preset area in real time; the optical fiber temperature demodulation module is connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor in the optical path, and the optical fiber temperature demodulation module is used to demodulate the temperature change value in real time according to the wavelength change. The present invention realizes the real-time measurement of the temperature information of the laser irradiation area while the laser outputs energy, improves the safety during laser thermal therapy, and improves the healing speed of the laser irradiation area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0021] Figure 1 A detailed structural diagram of an optical fiber catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Explanation of symbols:

[0023] Optical fiber catheter module module-1, single-mode optical fiber-11, light transmission optical fiber-12, cladding-13, optical fiber temperature sensor-2, optical fiber temperature demodulation module-3, protective cover-4, laser light source-5, focusing lens-6, beam combining mirror-7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The venous system of the lower limbs is mainly divided into two groups: deep veins and superficial veins, as well as the lower limb communicating veins and lower limb muscular veins between the deep and superficial veins, and the superficial veins will eventually flow into the deep veins. There are many valves in the deep, superficial and communicating veins. The valves are generally located on the distal side of the main branches of the veins. Their function is to ensure the unidirectional return of venous blood. Under normal circumstances, when blood flows back to the heart, the valves are attached to the vein wall and the veins are unobstructed. When standing or other reasons cause the venous pressure to increase, under the impact of the reverse blood flow, the two leaflets open to prevent the blood from flowing back. The venous valve is the mitral valve. When the cusps of the mitral valve cannot seal properly under the retrograde pressure, the mitral valve becomes nonfunctional, allowing retrograde blood flow to occur. When retrograde blood flow occurs, the pressure in the lower venous part increases, which in turn can dilate the blood vessels and cause additional valve failure.

[0026] Peripheral venous disease refers to a syndrome characterized by a series of symptoms and signs caused by structural or functional abnormalities of the veins, which result in poor venous blood return and excessive venous pressure. The main clinical manifestations are lower limb heaviness, pain, swelling, varicose veins, skin discoloration and ulcers.

[0027] According to "China Cardiovascular Health and Disease 2020", the prevalence of lower extremity venous disease is 8.89%, which means there are nearly 100 million patients in China. Varicose veins are the most common venous disease with high incidence and recurrence rates. Varicose veins are caused by factors such as blood stasis and weak venous walls, resulting in tortuosity and dilation of the veins, and the main manifestation is protrusion of blood vessels on the skin surface.

[0028] Varicose veins are more common in women, mainly due to the effects of estrogen on the structure of the veins or because pregnancy increases pressure on the veins in the pelvis and legs.

[0029] At present, the treatment of varicose veins in the lower extremities is mainly based on destroying the veins. Most medical institutions in my country use traditional surgical treatments: great saphenous vein trunk stripping and sclerosant injection. Traditional great saphenous vein stripping has a long incision, large trauma, and much pain, so the patient's hospitalization time is generally about one week. Since the complete vein trunk is removed, this treatment has the most thorough therapeutic effect. However, the risk of stripping is relatively high. When stripping the vein, it may cause damage to the surrounding tissues, and the patient may also develop deep vein thrombosis after surgery. In recent decades, there have been improvements in stripping instruments and methods. However, the principle of stripping treatment has not changed in essence.

[0030] Compared with open surgery, intracavitary thermal ablation closure can achieve treatment through percutaneous puncture, with less trauma, and patients can walk on the same day of surgery. Radiofrequency / laser ablation has been used for many years abroad, and has only gradually become popular in China in recent years. It is a truly minimally invasive surgery.

[0031] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect to solve the problems of excessively high temperature and rapid carbonization of tissues, damage to normal tissues, low safety, and failure to achieve therapeutic effects during existing laser thermal therapy.

[0032] In order to solve the problem of temperature rise during the ablation process without real-time monitoring in intravenous laser treatment (exemplary wavelength ranges include 980nm, 1470nm and 1950nm), the embodiment of the present invention proposes a fiber optic catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect. A fiber optic temperature sensor (grating, wavelength range is 1550nm) for monitoring temperature is added to the original laser fiber used for treatment. The catheter has a simple structure, high precision, strong practicality, and realizes the integration of light transmission and sensing.

[0033] The fiber optic catheter can achieve high-precision temperature measurement of the treatment area and real-time monitoring of the ambient temperature inside the blood vessel wall. This can avoid excessively high or low energy during intravenous laser treatment, which may cause thermal damage to the blood vessels or incomplete closure of the treatment, thereby achieving safe and effective treatment.

[0034] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] Figure 1 An exemplary structure of the optical fiber conduit with temperature monitoring based on grating effect is shown. Each module is introduced in detail below.

[0036] The optical fiber catheter module 1 is used to transmit lasers of different wavelengths and irradiate the lasers in a preset area;

[0037] The exit port of the optical fiber catheter module 1 is a tapered tip optical fiber segment; the exit angle of the laser when passing through the tapered tip optical fiber segment is 360 degrees.

[0038] The optical fiber catheter module 1 comprises:

[0039] The single-mode optical fiber 11 is used to characterize the optical fiber temperature sensor 2;

[0040] The light transmission optical fiber 12 is annularly covered on the outer side of the single-mode optical fiber 11, and the light transmission optical fiber 12 is used to transmit the laser;

[0041] The cladding 13 is annularly covered on the outer side of the light transmitting optical fiber 12 , and the cladding 13 is used to provide a reflecting surface, light isolation and mechanical protection.

[0042] The optical fiber temperature sensor 2 is arranged at the laser outlet of the optical fiber catheter module 1, and the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 is used to feed back the wavelength change value in the preset area in real time; the wavelength change value is used to characterize the temperature change value in the preset area;

[0043] The optical fiber temperature demodulation module 3 is connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 in the optical path, and is used to demodulate the temperature change value in real time according to the wavelength change value. The broadband light source is transmitted to the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 through the beam combiner 7 and the focusing lens 6, and the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 feeds back the central wavelength change value in the preset area;

[0044] The optical fiber temperature demodulation module 3 comprises:

[0045] The monitoring unit is connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 on an optical path, and the monitoring unit is used to generate a temperature change value according to the central wavelength change value;

[0046] The laser light source 5 is connected to the optical fiber catheter module 1 on another optical path, and the laser light source and the broadband light source for the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 are simultaneously transmitted to the optical fiber catheter module 1 through the beam combiner 7 and the focusing lens 6. The laser light source is used to output the laser; the laser enters the optical fiber catheter module 1 from the incident port.

[0047] The optical fiber catheter module based on grating effect band temperature monitoring also includes:

[0048] The protective cover 4 is used to protect the optical fiber catheter module 1 and the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 .

[0049] In one example, the front end of the optical fiber catheter module is provided with an optical fiber temperature sensor 2, and the rear end of the optical fiber catheter module is connected to an optical fiber temperature demodulation module 3 (optical fiber temperature demodulator) and a laser light source 5 on the optical path, and a quartz protective sleeve 4 is coated on the outside of the light transmission optical fiber 12 and the optical fiber temperature sensor 2. The light transmission optical fiber 12 has a tapered tip optical fiber segment for 360-degree circular emission, and the therapeutic laser is transmitted at a wavelength and power so that it is substantially completely absorbed in a preset area of ​​the blood vessel wall to fully damage the blood vessel endothelium, and the blood vessel is not cleanly closed.

[0050] During the ablation process, the light transmission optical fiber 12 guides the laser into the optical fiber catheter module 1 (laser probe), and the laser probe converts the light energy into heat energy, which is conducted and radiated to the surroundings to form a certain temperature distribution field (preset area).

[0051] The optical fiber temperature sensor 2 monitors the temperature change information of the temperature field in real time. During treatment, the laser thermotherapy probe is placed in the tissue to be treated. The laser thermotherapy probe will strongly reflect the central wavelength of the laser introduced by the sensing optical fiber, and due to the temperature change in the environment inside the tissue, the central wavelength preset by the optical fiber temperature demodulation module 3 will also change with the temperature change. The optical fiber temperature sensor 2 can fully measure the temperature information around the treatment tissue in real time, thereby achieving the purpose of effective treatment and safety.

[0052] In summary, in the embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber catheter module is used to transmit lasers of different wavelengths and irradiate the lasers in a preset area; the optical fiber temperature sensor is arranged at the laser emission port of the optical fiber catheter module, and the optical fiber temperature sensor is used to feedback the wavelength change value in the preset area in real time; the optical fiber temperature demodulation module is respectively connected to the optical fiber catheter module and the optical fiber temperature sensor in the optical path, and the optical fiber temperature demodulation module is used to demodulate the temperature change value of the preset area in real time according to the change of the central wavelength. The present invention realizes the real-time measurement of the temperature information of the laser irradiation area while the laser outputs energy, improves the safety during laser thermal therapy, and improves the healing speed of the laser irradiation area.

[0053] The embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0054] 1. The fiber optic catheter module is integrated, which can easily achieve laser ablation of tissues and monitor the temperature information in the tissues in real time, avoiding complicated manufacturing processes.

[0055] 2. Compared with the technology of using light-guiding optical fiber to introduce therapeutic laser and temperature sensor to perform treatment and temperature measurement respectively, the embodiment of the present invention only needs one optical fiber catheter module 1 to achieve energy transmission and sensing at the same time.

[0056] 3. The optical fiber temperature sensor is not affected by the input laser and is resistant to interference from electromagnetic waves, and can be used in more scenarios.

[0057] 4. Real-time and complete temperature measurement around the treated tissue is achieved by demodulating laser light signals with different central wavelengths, avoiding the tediousness of measuring temperature alone and the problem of tissue damage, ensuring the safety of tissues or sensitive areas around the treated tissue and reducing the risk of surgery.

[0058] 5. Fiber optic catheter module 1 realizes high-precision temperature measurement of the treatment area and real-time monitoring of the environmental temperature inside the blood vessel wall. It can avoid excessive or low energy during intravenous laser treatment, causing thermal damage to the blood vessels or incomplete closure of the treatment effect, thereby achieving the purpose of effective treatment and safety.

[0059] 6. Fiber Optic Catheter Module Module 1 is easy to manufacture, has high precision and strong practicality.

[0060] During laser ablation, on the one hand, the optical fiber temperature sensor 2 realizes real-time and complete measurement of temperature, and can feedback the temperature rise during the treatment of the tissue, and can adjust the speed of pulling back the optical fiber catheter module 1 to keep the optical fiber catheter module 1 at the set temperature. On the other hand, the optical fiber catheter module 1 can convert light energy into heat energy to form a heat source point, avoiding uneven temperature distribution caused by the directionality of the laser.

[0061] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0062] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the embodiments of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the methods and core ideas of the embodiments of the present invention. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the ideas of the embodiments of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber catheter with temperature monitoring based on grating effect, characterized in that: include: The optical fiber catheter module is used to transmit lasers of different wavelengths and irradiate the lasers in a preset area; An optical fiber temperature sensor, arranged at the laser outlet of the optical fiber catheter module, for real-time feedback of wavelength change value within the preset area; The wavelength change value is used to represent the temperature change value in the preset area; The optical fiber temperature demodulation module is connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor on the optical path, and is used for demodulating the temperature change value in real time according to the wavelength change value.

2. The optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber catheter module comprises: A light transmission optical fiber, annularly covering the outer side of the single-mode optical fiber, for transmitting the laser; The cladding is annularly covered on the outside of the light transmitting optical fiber and is used to provide a reflecting surface, optical isolation and mechanical protection.

3. The optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring also includes: A protective cover is used to protect the optical fiber catheter module and the optical fiber temperature sensor.

4. The optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber temperature demodulation module comprises: A monitoring unit, connected to the optical fiber temperature sensor on an optical path, and configured to generate the temperature change value according to the wavelength change value; A laser light source is connected to the optical fiber catheter module on another optical path and is used to output laser light; the laser light enters the optical fiber catheter module from an incident port.

5. The optical fiber catheter based on grating effect band temperature monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exit port of the optical fiber catheter module is a tapered tip optical fiber segment; the exit angle of the laser when passing through the tapered tip optical fiber segment is 360 degrees.

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