Laser Multiplexer for Multi-Fiber Intravascular Lithotripsy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular lithotripsy systems face challenges in efficiently treating multiple closely spaced vascular lesions with a single insertion due to limitations in energy delivery through optical fibers, including physical damage concerns and nonlinear processes like Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, making it impractical to have dedicated lasers for each fiber.
Innovation Solution
A multiplexer is used to multiplex a single high-power laser source into multiple light guides, allowing simultaneous or sequential delivery of energy to multiple treatment sites within a balloon catheter, thereby increasing energy delivery without exceeding safe limits for individual fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dedicated lasers are used for each optical fiber to treat multiple vascular lesions, then treatment efficacy and energy delivery are improved, but device complexity and risk of fiber damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser functions into a single high-power laser source. The multiplexer device distributes the laser energy from one source to multiple optical fibers, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated lasers while maintaining the capability to treat multiple vascular lesions simultaneously or sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The single high-power laser source is designed to serve multiple functions by delivering energy to multiple optical fibers through the multiplexer. This universal light source can treat different vascular lesions through different fibers, making the system more versatile and less complex than having dedicated lasers for each fiber.
2Power
If higher energy is delivered through optical fibers to treat severe calcified lesions, then treatment efficacy is improved, but risk of fiber damage and nonlinear processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total high energy requirement into multiple separate energy channels. Instead of concentrating all energy through a single fiber, the multiplexer distributes the energy from one high-power laser across multiple fibers, reducing the energy load on each individual fiber and minimizing the risk of damage and nonlinear optical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiplexer acts as an intermediary device between the single high-power laser source and the multiple optical fibers. It manages the energy distribution, ensuring that each fiber receives an appropriate energy level that is sufficient for treatment but below the threshold for damage or nonlinear effects.
3Productivity
If multiple light guides are used to treat multiple vascular lesions simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but energy distribution control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexer incorporates dynamic control capabilities that allow the system to adjust energy distribution to multiple light guides in real-time. The controller can modify which fibers receive energy and at what levels, enabling flexible adaptation to different treatment requirements while maintaining simple overall system architecture.
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
This approach enables effective treatment of multiple vascular lesions with a single insertion by distributing energy efficiently across multiple light guides, reducing the risk of fiber damage and enhancing treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer
Implementation Method 2
generating light energy in the form of a source beam... generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion
Implementation Method 3
Each of the plurality of light guides can be configured for generating pressure waves within the balloon for disrupting the vascular lesions. In particular, each of the plurality of light guides can be configured for generating a plasma
Implementation Method 4
focusing the first guide beam onto the first light guide with the coupling optics; and focusing the second guide beam onto the second light guide with the coupling optics
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient by generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion, includes the steps of (i) generating light energy in the form of a source beam with a single light source; (ii) positioning a multiplexer in a beam path of the source beam, the multiplexer including an optical element; (iii) receiving the source beam with the optical element of the multiplexer; (iv) splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer; (v) directing the first guide beam to a first light guide with the multiplexer; and (vi) directing the second guide beam to a second light guide with the multiplexer.