OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging catheter and imaging system for intracranial blood vessel

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of medical instruments, and provides an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels and an imaging system.The OCT imaging catheter for the intracranial blood vessels comprises a catheter body with a hollow inner cavity; the catheter body is divided into a near-end catheter body and a far-end catheter body in the axial direction of the catheter body, and a flexible bent pipe structure is arranged at the end, away from the near-end catheter body, of the far-end catheter body. According to the OCT imaging catheter for the intracranial blood vessels, compared with the design that the head end of a catheter in the prior art is a straight pipe, the flexible bent pipe structure is arranged at the end, away from the near-end catheter body, of the far-end catheter body, and the flexible bent pipe structure design can be more suitable for the blood vessels which are smaller in intracranial bending radius and more complex and tortuous; and in addition, the catheter can be assisted to be pushed to the far end of the blood vessel when necessary, and the blood vessel is not damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to an OCT imaging catheter and imaging system for intracranial blood vessels. Background Technology

[0002] Optical coherence tomography (OCT) combines advanced optical technology with ultra-sensitive detectors using modern computer image processing, developing into a new tomographic imaging diagnostic technique that has been successfully developed and applied in coronary artery interventional therapy. During coronary artery intervention, surgeons insert an OCT imaging catheter into the arterial lumen. Near-infrared light is emitted towards the diseased blood vessel tissue via a high-speed rotating optical microprism at the catheter's tip, and the reflected optical signals are received. Computer image processing is then used to obtain a clear and complete image of the intraluminal space. OCT imaging can accurately provide intravascular tissue structure, lesion morphology, and reference values, providing a precise and efficient diagnostic tool for preoperative assessment, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative follow-up in coronary artery interventional procedures. OCT applications in the cerebrovascular system include both extracranial and intracranial segments. Currently, extracranial segments such as the internal carotid sinus, neck, petrous segment, and the origin of the vertebral artery are frequently used, while intracranial segments such as the intracranial segment of the carotid artery and the basilar artery have also been reported. However, for the M1 segment and distal segments of the middle cerebral artery, the current OCT catheter has not yet been successfully used clinically.

[0003] Existing OCT imaging catheters mainly consist of an external catheter and an optical component located inside the catheter, with the optical component covered by a protective sleeve. During use, the catheter directly contacts the vessel wall and serves as the track for the optical component's movement, remaining stationary during the scan. Subsequently, a motor on an external device drives the entire optical component, along with the protective sleeve, to rotate and retract. However, the existing OCT catheter tip structure is straight and has a large outer diameter, making it difficult for the catheter to pass through severely tortuous or small intracranial vessels, or easily causing damage to the fiber optic structure and blood vessel during passage. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, this invention aims to solve the technical problem that the existing OCT catheter tip structure is straight and has a large outer diameter, making it difficult for the catheter to pass through severely tortuous or small intracranial blood vessels, or easily causing damage to the fiber optic structure and blood vessels during passage. Thus, this invention provides an intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter and imaging system.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0006] On the one hand, this utility model provides an OCT imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels, comprising: a catheter body having a hollow inner lumen; the catheter body being divided into a proximal tube and a distal tube along the axial direction of the catheter body, and the distal tube having a flexible curved tube structure at the end away from the proximal tube.

[0007] Furthermore, the bent pipe structure is a pigtail-shaped bent pipe structure.

[0008] Furthermore, a Luer connector is provided on the side wall of the proximal tube body, and the Luer connector is connected to the inner cavity; a contrast agent outlet is provided on the side wall of the distal tube body, and the external contrast agent enters the inner cavity through the Luer connector and flows out through the contrast agent outlet.

[0009] Furthermore, the Luer connector is a 6% Luer connector.

[0010] Furthermore, a hydrophilic coating is provided on the outer wall of the distal tube.

[0011] Furthermore, a connector is provided at the end of the proximal tube that is away from the distal tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter also includes an imaging component, which is movable in the lumen along the axial direction of the catheter body, and the imaging component does not automatically return to its original position after completing one scan in the lumen.

[0013] Furthermore, the bent tube structure has a tip mark at one end near the distal tube body.

[0014] On the other hand, the present invention provides an OCT imaging system for intracranial blood vessels, including the OCT imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels described in any of the above claims.

[0015] The technical solution of this utility model has the following advantages:

[0016] The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter provided by this utility model has a flexible curved tube structure at the distal end of the catheter body, which is far from the proximal end of the catheter body compared to the straight tube design of the prior art. This flexible curved tube structure design can better adapt to intracranial blood vessels with smaller bending radii and more complex tortuous structures, reduce damage to intracranial blood vessels, and can assist in pushing the catheter to the distal end of the blood vessel when necessary without damaging the blood vessel. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the intracranial blood vessel OCT imaging catheter in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a magnified schematic diagram of a partial structure of the OCT imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0021] 1. Catheter body; 2. Proximal tube body; 3. Distal tube body; 4. Bend structure; 5. Luer connector; 6. Contrast agent outlet; 7. Connector; 8. Imaging assembly; 9. Tip marker. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solution of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0026] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides an OCT imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels, comprising: a catheter body 1 having a hollow lumen; the catheter body 1 is divided into a proximal tube 2 and a distal tube 3 along the axial direction of the catheter body 1, and the end of the distal tube 3 away from the proximal tube 2 is a flexible curved tube structure 4. For example, the flexible curved tube structure 4 can be pigtail-shaped, hook-shaped, or U-shaped.

[0027] The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter provided in this embodiment has a flexible curved tube structure 4 at the distal end of the distal tube 3, which is away from the proximal tube 2, compared to the straight tube design of the catheter tip in the prior art. This flexible curved tube structure 4 can better adapt to intracranial blood vessels with smaller bending radii and more complex tortuous structures, reduce damage to intracranial blood vessels, and can assist in pushing the catheter to the distal end of the blood vessel when necessary without damaging the blood vessel.

[0028] Preferably, the end of the distal tube 3 away from the proximal tube 2 is a flexible pigtail-shaped bend structure 4.

[0029] The proximal tube 2 has a Luer connector 5 on its side wall, which communicates with the inner lumen. The distal tube 3 has a contrast agent outlet 6 on its side wall. External contrast agent enters the inner lumen through the Luer connector 5 and flows out through the contrast agent outlet 6. For example, the Luer connector 5 is a 6% Luer connector 5. In use, connecting a syringe to the Luer connector 5 allows sufficient contrast agent to be injected into the inner lumen of the catheter body 1. The contrast agent flows out through the contrast agent outlet 6 to empty the blood from the target blood vessel.

[0030] The distal tube 3 has a hydrophilic coating on its outer side wall. This design allows the wetted hydrophilic coating to significantly reduce friction on the surface of the distal tube 3 during interventional diagnostic procedures, thereby reducing the resistance to pushing the distal tube 3 through the blood vessel and minimizing damage to the vessel.

[0031] The proximal tube 2, away from the distal tube 3, is provided with a connector 7 for connecting to external equipment.

[0032] The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter also includes an imaging component 8. The imaging component 8 can be an existing type, with its main body being a spring tube. A lens and lens marker are located at the distal end of the spring tube, and a pull-back marker is located on the proximal end of the spring tube. The entire imaging component 8 is movable within the lumen along the axial direction of the catheter body 1, and after completing one scan within the lumen, it does not automatically return to its original position. This design prevents the imaging component 8 from automatically returning to its original position after one scan, thus preventing damage to tortuous intracranial blood vessels during automatic advancement. When a second scan is needed, the imaging component 8 can be manually pushed back to the target blood vessel for another scan, thereby reducing damage to the intracranial blood vessels.

[0033] The curved tube structure 4 is provided with a tip mark 9 at one end near the distal tube body 3, which can be used to display the position of the curved tube structure 4 in the body during the operation.

[0034] In use, a disposable OCT imaging catheter is advanced to the target intracranial vessel via the femoral or radial artery using traditional interventional methods. A certain amount of contrast agent is used to drain the blood from the target vessel and maintain this position for 3–5 seconds. Under the control of the host computer, the imaging component 8 rotates and retracts 360° within the vessel, scanning the vessel through the imaging segment. Simultaneously, the host computer emits near-infrared light from a light source, an interferometer records the reflected light from vessels of different thicknesses, and a computer reconstructs the reflected light signals to form an intravascular tomographic image. During this process, the main function of the catheter body 1's inner lumen is to restrict the radial movement space of the imaging component 8. At the same time, the "pigtail-shaped" tip design allows the distal tube body 3 to have good pushing and bending capabilities even when used in tortuous intracranial vessels, reducing damage to intracranial vessels caused by the imaging catheter.

[0035] Another embodiment provides an OCT imaging system for intracranial vessels, including the OCT imaging catheter for intracranial vessels as described in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0036] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An OCT imaging catheter for intracranial blood vessels, characterized in that, include: The catheter body (1) has a hollow inner cavity; along the axial direction of the catheter body (1), the catheter body (1) is divided into a proximal tube (2) and a distal tube (3), and the distal tube (3) is provided with a flexible bent tube structure (4) at the end away from the proximal tube (2).

2. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bent pipe structure (4) is a pig tail shaped bent pipe structure (4).

3. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, A Luer connector (5) is provided on the side wall of the proximal tube (2), and the Luer connector (5) is connected to the inner cavity; a contrast agent outlet (6) is provided on the side wall of the distal tube (3), and the external contrast agent enters the inner cavity through the Luer connector (5) and flows out through the contrast agent outlet (6).

4. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 3, characterized in that, The Luer connector (5) is a 6% Luer connector (5).

5. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, A hydrophilic coating is provided on the outer wall of the distal tube (3).

6. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, A connector (7) is provided at the end of the proximal tube (2) away from the distal tube (3).

7. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an imaging component (8), which is movable in the lumen along the axial direction of the catheter body (1), and the imaging component (8) does not automatically return to its original position after completing one scan in the lumen.

8. The intracranial vascular OCT imaging catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bent pipe structure (4) has a tip mark (9) at one end near the distal pipe body (3).

9. An OCT imaging system for intracranial blood vessels, characterized in that, The OCT imaging catheter for intracranial vessels includes any one of claims 1-8.

Images