Active Multiplexer Alignment for Laser-Driven Intravascular Lithotripsy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular lesion treatments, such as drug therapy and balloon angioplasty, may not be ideal and often require subsequent interventions, while using a dedicated laser source for each optical fiber in laser-driven intravascular devices is impractical due to packaging, power consumption, and economic constraints.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a multiplexer that multiplexes a single laser source into multiple light guides, utilizing a second energy source to probe and optimize optical coupling, reducing dependence on mechanical tolerances and improving alignment accuracy, allowing efficient use of a single high-energy source for treating multiple vascular lesions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated laser source is used for each optical fiber, then optical coupling efficiency is improved, but device complexity, packaging requirements, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources into a single common laser source that illuminates a multiplexer. The multiplexer then distributes the laser light to multiple optical fibers (light guides) sequentially or simultaneously. This merging approach maintains adequate optical coupling efficiency while significantly reducing device complexity, packaging requirements, and power consumption compared to having dedicated laser sources for each fiber.
Solution Approach 2:
The single laser source serves multiple functions by illuminating the multiplexer, which then directs light to different optical fibers as needed. This universal laser source replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated laser sources, achieving multi-functionality with a single component while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical coupling is used to connect light guides to the multiplexer, then ease of assembly is improved, but alignment precision and optical coupling efficiency deteriorate due to mechanical tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an alignment system that performs preliminary alignment of the light guides to the multiplexer before final coupling. This alignment system uses adjustable components to pre-position the light guides correctly, compensating for mechanical tolerances and ensuring precise optical coupling. This preliminary action maintains ease of assembly while achieving high alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow adjustment and optimization of the coupling between light guides and the multiplexer. By monitoring alignment quality and making real-time adjustments, the system achieves precise optical coupling while maintaining the simplicity of mechanical assembly.
3Device complexity
If a single laser source is used for multiple light guides, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but optical coupling efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexer serves as an intermediary component between the single laser source and multiple light guides. It receives light from the common laser source and distributes it to different optical fibers with appropriate coupling efficiency. This intermediary device enables the use of a single laser source while maintaining the performance equivalent to multiple dedicated sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances optical coupling efficiency, reduces reliance on mechanical tolerances, and lowers costs by using a single laser source to treat multiple vascular lesions effectively and accurately, improving treatment speed and precision.
Implementation Method 1
the probe source beam scanning the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides produces a backscattered energy beam that is scattered off of the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides
Implementation Method 2
the multiplexer alignment system includes coupling optics that are configured to focus the probe source beam to scan the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides
Implementation Method 3
the first light source provides the light energy in the form of a source beam that is directed toward the multiplexer... the system controller is configured to control operation of the first light source to generate a single source beam in the form of pulses of light energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108) or heart valve includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128) and a multiplexer alignment system (142). The first light source (124) generates light energy. The plurality of light guides (122A) are each configured to alternatingly receive light energy from the first light source (124). Each light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). The multiplexer (128) receives the light energy from the first light source (124). The multiplexer (128) alternatingly directs the light energy from the first light source (124) to each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The multiplexer alignment system (142) is operatively coupled to the multiplexer (128). The multiplexer alignment system (142) includes a second light source (270) that generates a probe source beam (270A) that scans the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).