Deformable Optical Connector for Sterile Guidewire Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connections for guidewires in minimally invasive medical procedures face challenges in aligning connectors optically and maintaining sterility, while also providing good optical performance and mechanical stability, especially when backloading catheters over the guidewires.
Innovation Solution
An optical connection device comprising a plug part with an elongated shaft and a cap, and a clamp part that deforms to securely hold the connector in position and orientation, along with an optical window for sterility and alignment, and a drape or sock for enhanced sterility measures, ensuring proper alignment and sterility during medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GRIN lenses are used in optical connectors for backloadable guidewires, then optical performance is improved and compactness is achieved, but maintaining sterility and enabling backloading become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connector is divided into two separate components: a sterile connector attached to the guidewire and a non-sterile connector attached to the patch cord. These connectors can be independently assembled and sterilized, then connected through a sterile barrier (drape or sock). This segmentation allows the optical components to maintain high optical performance while enabling straightforward backloading procedures and sterilization processes.
2Ease of operation
If optical connectors are made small enough to allow backloading, then ease of operation is improved, but mechanical stability and alignment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A sterile barrier (drape or sock) is introduced as an intermediary element between the sterile and non-sterile connectors. This intermediary allows the connectors to be separated into distinct assemblies that can be independently optimized: the sterile connector can be made compact for backloading while the non-sterile connector can incorporate alignment features. The sterile barrier maintains optical coupling while enabling precise alignment through separate connector designs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a sterile barrier is introduced between connectors, then sterility is maintained, but optical performance and connection stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sterile barrier in the form of a drape or sock is used to maintain sterility between the sterile and non-sterile connectors. These thin film structures are optically transparent and can be made from materials with refractive indices optimized for light transmission. The flexible nature of these films allows them to conform to the connector interfaces while maintaining both sterility and optimal optical coupling, thus preserving connection stability and optical performance.
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 solution provides a secure, sterile, and optically well-performing connection between optical fiber devices, enabling accurate alignment and repeated use without compromising sterility, thus enhancing the effectiveness of minimally invasive medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp part is configured to, when the plug part is at least partially inserted in the clamp part and when the first connector is inserted into the lumen of the shaft of the plug part, exert a force onto the plug part that deforms the plug part upon tightening the clamp part so as to clamp and hold the first connector in position and orientation
Implementation Method 2
the plug part having an optical window which has a solid body element that closes the interior of the shaft including the lumen against the environment
Implementation Method 3
The GRIN lens has a radial refractive index profile that makes that, within its working range, (given by the aperture and numerical aperture), light is bent, within the lens, towards the optical axis
Implementation Method 4
The GRIN lens has a radial refractive index profile that makes that, within its working range, (given by the aperture and numerical aperture), light is bent, within the lens, towards the optical axis (this means the light is focused)
Implementation Method 5
the plug part is at least in part deformable
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical connection device for optically connecting a first connector (42) of a first optical fiber device (44) with a second connector (46) of a second optical fiber device (48) along an optical axis, which comprises a plug part (40) having an elongated shaft (58) having a longitudinal shaft axis (62) and a lumen (60) extending through the shaft (58) along the shaft axis (62) for receiving the first connector (42), the plug part (40) further having a cap (64) at a first end of the shaft (58) which has an insertion opening (66) for insertion of the first connector (42) into the lumen (60), the opening (66) being aligned and communicating with the lumen (60), the plug part (40) having an optical window (68) having a solid body element (69), wherein the plug part (40) is at least in part deformable; and a clamp part (18), wherein the plug part (40) is configured to be at least partially inserted into the clamp part (18), and the clamp part (18) is configured to, when the plug part (40) is at least partially inserted in the clamp part (18) and when the first connector (42) is inserted into the lumen (60) of the shaft (58) of the plug part (40), exert a force onto the plug part (40) which deforms the plug part (40) upon tightening the clamp part (18) so as to clamp and hold the first connector (42) in position and orientation with respect to the optical axis.