Optical Fiber Medical Sensing for Interference-Resistant Tip Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic tracking systems for medical devices are prone to interference from consumer electronics and have limited depth range, relying on magnetic fields and exposing patients to radiation and contrast media.
Innovation Solution
An elongate medical device equipped with an optical fiber that extends distally along a flexible distal tip section, capable of determining physical states like 3D shape, temperature, pressure, and fluid flow, using sensors to reflect light signals of different spectral widths and process them to determine the device's state within the patient body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If electromagnetic tracking systems are used to avoid radiation and contrast media exposure, then patient safety is improved, but the system becomes prone to electromagnetic interference from consumer electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic field-based tracking with optical fiber-based tracking. The optical fiber transmits light signals that are reflected back from the distal tip, allowing position determination without electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates susceptibility to electromagnetic interference from consumer electronics while maintaining the ability to track the medical device tip position.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber acts as an intermediary between the proximal control system and the distal tip. Instead of using electromagnetic fields that can be interfered with, the optical fiber transmits light signals through the medium of the fiber itself, which is immune to electromagnetic interference. The reflected light signals carry position information without being affected by external electromagnetic sources.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electromagnetic tracking systems are used for tip localization, then radiation exposure is eliminated, but depth range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber-based system replaces the electromagnetic field-based system, enabling extended depth range. Optical fibers can transmit light signals over longer distances without the signal attenuation and interference issues that limit electromagnetic tracking depth. This allows accurate tip localization at greater depths within the patient's body.
3Measurement precision
If fluoroscopic methods are used for tracking, then tip localization is achieved, but harmful X-ray radiation is exposed to patients and clinicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes fluoroscopic X-ray imaging with optical fiber-based light reflection tracking. The optical fiber transmits light signals to the distal tip and receives reflected signals that carry position information. This optical method provides sufficient precision for tip localization without requiring ionizing radiation, thereby eliminating X-ray exposure to patients and clinicians.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber serves as an intermediary that transmits position information without requiring X-ray radiation. The light signals travel through the optical fiber and reflect off the distal tip, carrying positional data back to the control system. This intermediary optical transmission mechanism enables accurate tracking without the harmful radiation associated with fluoroscopy.
4Measurement precision
If optical fiber with distributed sensors is used to determine physical state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is segmented into multiple sections, each containing distributed sensors at different locations along the fiber length. This segmentation allows the system to measure physical states (such as position, temperature, pressure) at multiple discrete points along the medical device. The distributed sensors provide precise local measurements while the modular segmentation makes the complex sensor array manageable and manufacturable.
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 optical fiber system provides accurate tracking without radiation or contrast media exposure, overcoming interference issues and enabling precise medical device guidance within the patient body.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber having a plurality of core fibers extending along a longitudinal length of the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
each of the one or more core fibers including a plurality of sensors distributed along the longitudinal length and where each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to (i) reflect a light signal of a different spectral width based on received incident light
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device system includes a stylet with an optical fiber and a console operatively coupled to the stylet. The optical fiber can include an electrically conductive concentric tube configured to transmit electrical signals and a plurality of core fibers within the concentric tube. Each of the plurality of core fibers can include a plurality of sensors, and each the plurality of sensors can be configured to reflect a light signal of a different spectral width based on received incident light and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on a condition experienced by the stylet. The console includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with logic that causes operations including providing an incident light signal to the optical fiber and receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the received incident light by the plurality of sensors.