Optical Fiber Shape Sensing for Intravascular Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intravascular guidance methods, such as fluoroscopic methods and electromagnetic tracking systems, face challenges including radiation exposure, harmful contrast media, electromagnetic interference, and limited depth range.

Innovation Solution

A medical instrument monitoring system using optical fiber technology, where an optical fiber with sensors is integrated into a medical instrument, providing tracking information of the distal tip through wavelength shifts caused by strain and temperature changes, and combining this with other sensing modalities like ECG, impedance, and blood flow detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fluoroscopic methods are used for intravascular guidance, then tracking accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure and harmful contrast media increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electromagnetic tracking systems with optical fiber-based shape sensing technology. Optical fibers embedded in the medical instrument measure strain and curvature through wavelength shifts of transmitted light, providing tip position and orientation information without electromagnetic fields or radiation exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical fibers as an intermediary sensing element within the medical instrument. These fibers transmit light signals that reflect the mechanical state of the instrument, serving as a mediator between the instrument's physical configuration and the external monitoring system, eliminating the need for direct electromagnetic interaction with the body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electromagnetic tracking systems are used, then radiation exposure is reduced, but electromagnetic interference and signal drop out increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposureVSAvoidsignal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electromagnetic tracking with optical fiber-based shape sensing. Optical fibers measure mechanical deformation through wavelength shifts, completely avoiding electromagnetic field interactions that cause interference and signal drop-out in electromagnetic tracking systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sensing function from the electromagnetic field domain and relocates it to the optical domain. By using optical fibers to sense mechanical strain and translate it to wavelength shifts, the system removes the source of electromagnetic interference while maintaining sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electromagnetic tracking systems are used, then radiation exposure is avoided, but depth range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposureVSAvoiddepth range

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses optical fiber-based shape sensing that can measure the entire length of the medical instrument through distributed strain sensing. The optical fibers can be made sufficiently long to reach deep anatomical structures, and the wavelength shift measurements can be detected along the entire fiber length, providing unlimited depth range compared to electromagnetic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system allows for precise tracking of medical instruments within the patient's vasculature without radiation or harmful contrast media, while minimizing interference and providing comprehensive sensing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

an optical fiber with sensors is integrated into a medical instrument, providing tracking information of the distal tip through wavelength shifts caused by strain and temperature changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fiber sensing: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

providing tracking information of the distal tip through wavelength shifts caused by strain and temperature changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavelength shift:

Data Source

PatentUS20250186135A1Needle Guidance Using Fiber Optic Shape Sensing

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A system, apparatus and method directed to placing a medical instrument in a patient body, where the system includes the medical instrument having a first optical fiber, a console and an interconnect having a second optical fiber to receive incident light from the console and propagate the incident light to the medical instrument. The interconnect includes a predetermined bend along its length, such that logic of the console may determine a positioning and an orientation of the medical instrument relative to the predetermined bend. Additionally, the logic may generate a display of the medical instrument based on the reflected light signals and the determination of the positioning and the orientation of the medical instrument relative to the predetermined bend, where the display may be rendered as an overlay on an ultrasound image.