Active Multiplexer Alignment for Precise Optical Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular lesion treatments, such as drug therapy and balloon angioplasty, often require subsequent interventions and are challenging to achieve patency, especially with severe vascular lesions, and using a dedicated laser source for each optical fiber 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 probe beam to optimize optical coupling and determine the optimal firing time, reducing dependence on mechanical tolerances and improving alignment accuracy.
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 and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources into a single common laser source that shares optical coupling components among multiple optical fibers. The multiplexer aligns the single laser source with multiple optical fibers sequentially, eliminating the need for separate laser sources for each fiber while maintaining optical coupling efficiency through active realignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The single laser source is designed to serve multiple functions by being dynamically aligned with different optical fibers through the multiplexer system. The same laser source and coupling optics are reused across multiple optical fibers, reducing system complexity while maintaining performance through active realignment capabilities.
2Manufacturing precision
If active alignment with probe beam scanning is implemented, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment measurements using a probe beam before actual laser delivery. By scanning the probe beam across the optical fiber ends and measuring backscatter signals in advance, the system determines optimal coupling parameters and timing, then uses this information to actively realign the main laser source for precise optical coupling without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system uses feedback from backscatter measurements of the probe beam to determine optimal coupling conditions. The measured backscatter signal intensity provides feedback information that guides the active realignment process, allowing the system to automatically adjust and maintain precise optical coupling by maximizing the feedback signal.
3Productivity
If multiple optical fibers are treated simultaneously, then treatment speed is improved, but optical coupling stability becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic scanning of the probe beam across multiple optical fiber positions to map out optimal coupling conditions for each fiber. This periodic measurement approach allows the system to pre-determine timing and alignment parameters for multiple fibers, enabling simultaneous treatment while maintaining coupling stability through pre-planned sequential activation based on measured backscatter signals.
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 enables efficient treatment of multiple vascular lesions with a single laser source, improving alignment precision, reducing costs, and enhancing treatment speed and performance by minimizing mechanical and optical coupling dependencies.
Implementation Method 1
the multiplexer alignment system includes a second light source that generates a probe source beam that is directed by the multiplexer alignment system to scan across the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides so that a time is determined to generate the source beam so that the source beam is optically coupled to the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides
Implementation Method 2
The first beamsplitter receives (i) the source beam from the first light source, and (ii) the probe source beam from the second light source. The first beamsplitter is configured to alternately direct the probe source beam and the source beam toward the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128), a multiplexer alignment system (142), and a first beamsplitter (268). The first light source (124) generates a source beam (124A). The multiplexer (128) receives the source beam (124A), and alternatively directs the source beam (124A) 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 is directed to scan across a guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A) so that a time is determined to generate the source beam (124A) so that the source beam (124A) is optically coupled to the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The first beamsplitter (268) receives the source beam (124A) and the probe source beam (270A), and alternately directs the probe source beam (270A) and the source beam (124A) toward the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).