CN219439088U - OCT imaging catheter for protecting optical fiber distal end - Google Patents

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of medical equipment, and provides an OCT imaging catheter for protecting an optical fiber distal end, which comprises: an outer tube, an optical fiber and a spring tube; the optical fiber is arranged in the outer tube, the spring tube is movably arranged in the outer tube in a penetrating way and is coated on the optical fiber, and the optical fiber can be driven to rotate and pull back in the outer tube. Through locating the optical fiber in the outer tube, lead to the spring pipe cladding in the optical fiber, realize outer tube and spring pipe and carry out double-deck protection to the optical fiber, make OCT imaging catheter shuttle in the intracranial blood vessel in-process, greatly reduced the damage rate to the optical fiber, be favorable to improving OCT imaging catheter's imaging quality and imaging success rate, drive the optical fiber through the spring pipe and rotate in the outer tube, pull back, be convenient for carry out complete scanning formation of image to the target area of blood vessel.

Description

OCT imaging catheter for protecting optical fiber distal end

Technical Field

The application belongs to the technical field of medical instruments, and in particular relates to an OCT imaging catheter for protecting the distal end of an optical fiber.

Background

In the medical field, catheters are commonly used to observe the intravascular condition of a patient, for example, the catheter is passed through an artery to other target sites such as the heart and brain, and the target sites are imaged, so that a medical staff can observe the intravascular condition of the target sites.

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography, optical interference tomography) imaging technology is a currently mainstream blood vessel imaging mode because the acquired image is clearer, and the condition of a target part can be completely and clearly observed. At present, the OCT imaging catheter is widely applied to the fields of coronary vessels, intracranial vessels and the like.

However, since the intracranial blood vessel is thin and complex, the distal end of the optical fiber in the OCT imaging catheter is easily damaged during the shuttle process of the OCT imaging catheter in the intracranial blood vessel with multiple curves, fineness and high complexity, thereby resulting in poor imaging quality and even imaging failure.

Disclosure of Invention

An objective of the embodiments of the present application is to provide an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber, so as to solve the problem in the prior art that when an intracranial vessel is imaged, the optical fiber in the OCT imaging catheter is easily damaged during a shuttle process in the intracranial vessel with multiple curves, fineness and high complexity, thereby causing imaging failure.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical scheme adopted in the application is as follows: there is provided an OCT imaging catheter protecting a distal end of an optical fiber, comprising: an outer tube, an optical fiber and a spring tube; the optical fiber is arranged in the outer tube, the spring tube is movably arranged in the outer tube in a penetrating mode, is coated on the optical fiber, and can drive the optical fiber to rotate and pull back in the outer tube.

Optionally, a transparent window is arranged at the distal end of the spring tube, and the distal end of the optical fiber is arranged corresponding to the transparent window.

Optionally, the spring tube includes proximal and distal tube sections that link to each other, the external diameter of distal tube section is less than the external diameter of proximal tube section, transparent window locates on the distal tube section, the outer tube includes continuous proximal body and distal body, the external diameter of distal body is less than the external diameter of proximal body, just proximal body corresponds to proximal tube section, distal body corresponds to distal tube section.

Optionally, the outer tube further comprises a transition tube body connected between the proximal tube body and the distal tube body, and the outer diameter of the transition tube body gradually decreases from the proximal end of the outer tube to the distal end of the outer tube.

Optionally, the proximal tube section is spliced with the distal tube section; or, welding between the proximal tube segment and the distal tube segment; or, the proximal pipe section comprises a first pipe section layer and a second pipe section layer, the distal pipe section is coated on the first pipe section layer, the distal pipe section comprises a third pipe section layer, and the outer diameter of the third pipe section layer is equal to the outer diameter of the first pipe section layer and is integrally formed with the first pipe section layer.

Optionally, the outer tube distal end exceeds the spring tube distal end, and a portion of the outer tube distal end beyond the spring inner tube distal end has a length of 3mm to 8mm.

Optionally, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes an imaging lens, where the imaging lens is disposed in the outer tube and on the distal end of the optical fiber, and the spring is wrapped on the imaging lens.

Optionally, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a visualization member disposed on the distal end of the outer tube.

Optionally, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further comprises a guidewire connected to the distal end of the outer tube.

Optionally, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a buffer member located within the outer tube and connected to the distal end of the spring tube.

The beneficial effect that this application provided protection optic fibre distal end OCT imaging catheter lies in: compared with the prior art, through locating the optical fiber in the outer tube, the spring tube cladding is in the optical fiber, realizes that outer tube and spring tube carry out double-deck protection to the optical fiber, makes the security of optical fiber high to OCT imaging catheter shuttles in the intracranial blood vessel, greatly reduced the damage rate to the distal end of optical fiber, be favorable to improving OCT imaging catheter's imaging quality and imaging success rate, drive optical fiber through the spring tube and rotate in the outer tube, pullback, be convenient for carry out complete scanning imaging to the target area of blood vessel.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are required for the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described below, it being obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present application

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical fiber and an imaging lens according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a spring tube and an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present application.

Wherein, each reference sign in the figure:

10. an outer tube; 11. a proximal tube; 12. a distal tube; 13. a transition pipe body; 20. a spring tube; 21. a transparent window; 22. a proximal tube segment; 23. a distal tube segment; 30. an optical fiber; 31. an inclined plane; 40. an imaging lens; 41. a light reflection surface; 50. a guide wire; 60. a buffer member; 70. a light-transmitting sheath; 80. and a developing member.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical schemes and beneficial effects to be solved by the present application more clear, the present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the present application.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "mounted" or "disposed" on another element, it can be directly on the other element or be indirectly on the other element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or be indirectly connected to the other element.

It is to be understood that the terms "length," "width," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and the like indicate or are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, merely to facilitate description of the present application and simplify description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be configured and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more such feature. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more, unless explicitly defined otherwise.

The term "proximal" generally refers to the end of the corresponding assembly that is closer to the operator and "distal" refers to the end of the corresponding member that is farther from the operator.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5 together, an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present application will be described.

Referring to fig. 1, an OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber, comprising: an outer tube 10, an optical fiber 30, and a spring tube 20; the optical fiber 30 is arranged in the outer tube 10, the spring tube 20 is movably arranged in the outer tube 10 in a penetrating way, is coated on the optical fiber 30, and can drive the optical fiber 30 to rotate and pull back in the outer tube 10.

The OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes an imaging lens 40, the imaging lens 40 is disposed in the outer tube 10, the imaging lens 40 is disposed on the distal end of the optical fiber 30, and the spring tube 20 is wrapped around the imaging lens 40.

Compared with the prior art, the OCT imaging catheter for protecting the far end of the optical fiber has the advantages that the optical fiber and the imaging lens are arranged in the outer tube, the spring tube 20 is wrapped on the optical fiber 30, the outer tube 10 and the spring tube 20 are used for conducting double-layer protection on the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40, the safety of the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 is high, the damage rate of the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 is greatly reduced in the shuttling process of the OCT imaging catheter in an intracranial blood vessel, the imaging quality and the imaging success rate of the OCT imaging catheter are improved, the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 are driven to rotate and retract in the outer tube 10 through the spring tube 20, and complete scanning imaging is conducted on a target area of the blood vessel.

The outer tube 10 is the outermost layer of the OCT imaging catheter and is used to protect the spring tube 20, the optical fiber 30, the imaging lens 40, and other components. Specifically, the outer tube 10 is of a light-transmitting flexible structure, has good light transmittance, has good softness and elasticity, effectively avoids the damage to the inner wall of a blood vessel caused by the outer tube 10 when the OCT imaging catheter shuttles in the blood vessel, and is beneficial to improving the passing performance of the OCT imaging catheter in the blood vessel.

Alternatively, the outer tube 10 is made of block polyetheramidamine (PEBAX, which may also be referred to as nylon elastomer). Alternatively, the outer tube 10 may also be made of a block polyether amide, a low density polyethylene ((Low density Polyethylene, LDPE)) and a high density polyethylene (High Density Polyethylene, HDPE), specifically, the outer layer of the outer tube 10 is a block polyether amide layer, the middle layer of the outer tube 10 is a low density polyethylene layer, and the inner layer of the outer tube 10 is a high density polyethylene layer.

In some embodiments of the present application, the outer tube 10 distal end extends beyond the spring tube 20 distal end, and the portion of the outer tube 10 distal end beyond the spring inner tube distal end has a length of 3mm-8mm. Optionally, the length of the portion of the distal end of the outer tube 10 beyond the distal end of the spring inner tube is 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm or 8mm.

The outer diameter of the outer tube 10 changes with the change in the outer diameter of the spring tube 20, and the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 changes in positive correlation with the outer diameter of the spring tube 20. For example, when the outer diameter of the spring tube 20 is changed, the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 is also changed at the corresponding portion.

In some embodiments of the present application, referring to fig. 1 and 2, the overall outer diameter of the outer tube 10 is kept consistent, i.e. the outer tube 10 is in a straight tube shape with the outer diameter kept unchanged, which is beneficial to ensuring the strength of the outer tube 10.

In other embodiments of the present application, referring to fig. 3, the outer tube 10 includes a proximal tube 11 and a distal tube 12 connected together, the outer diameter of the distal tube 12 being smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11. Since the OCT imaging catheter is positioned in the anterior portion of the catheter body after entering the vessel, it is often necessary to shuttle into a finer vessel, thereby facilitating the improvement of the passage of the distal tube 12 in the narrower region of the vessel by setting the outer diameter of the distal tube 12 smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11.

Further, the outer diameters of the proximal tube 11 and the distal tube 12 are kept constant, which is advantageous for keeping the outer tube 10 as a whole. Specifically, the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11 is 0.7mm to 0.9mm and the outer diameter of the distal tube 12 is 0.45mm to 0.5mm. Alternatively, the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11 is 0.7mm and the outer diameter of the distal tube 12 is 0.5mm.

Further, the length of the distal tube 12 is 200mm-250mm, the distal end of the distal tube 12 exceeds the distal end of the spring tube 20, and the length of the portion of the distal tube 12 exceeding the distal end of the spring inner tube is 3mm-8mm.

In other embodiments of the present application, the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11 may be kept constant, and the outer diameter of the distal tube 12 gradually decreases from the proximal end of the outer tube 10 to the distal end of the outer tube 10, which is more beneficial for the trafficability of the distal tube 12 in the blood vessel.

In some embodiments of the present application, the outer tube 10 further includes a transition tube 13, the transition tube 13 is connected between the proximal tube 11 and the distal tube 12, the outer diameter of the transition tube 13 gradually decreases from the proximal end of the outer tube 10 to the distal end of the outer tube 10, the maximum outer diameter of the transition tube 13 is smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of the proximal tube 11, and the minimum outer diameter of the transition tube 13 is larger than or equal to the outer diameter of the distal tube 12. The transition pipe body 13 gradually reduced from the proximal pipe body 11 to the distal pipe body 12 is arranged between the proximal pipe body 11 and the distal pipe body 12, so that the strength of the outer pipe 10 is guaranteed, and the push performance on the distal pipe body 12 is good.

Specifically, the length of the transition pipe body 13 is 2mm-3mm, and the outer diameter of the transition pipe body 13 is 0.5mm-0.6mm. Alternatively, the length of the transition pipe body 13 is 2mm.

Referring to fig. 1 and 5, a transparent window 21 is provided at the distal end of the spring tube 20, and the distal end of the optical fiber 30 is disposed corresponding to the transparent window 21, that is, the imaging lens 40 is disposed corresponding to the transparent window 21. Since the spring tube 20 is made of opaque material, the transparent window 21 is provided on the spring tube 20, so that the light beam emitted from the imaging lens 40 can be applied to the inner wall of the blood vessel through the transparent window 21 and the outer tube 10 to perform scanning imaging.

When forming the transparent window 21, a window is first opened on the spring tube 20, and the window is sealed with a light-transmitting material to form the transparent window 21. Further, the length of the transparent window 21 is 0.8mm-1mm, the width of the transparent window 21 is 0.3mm-0.4mm, and the distance between the transparent window 21 and the distal end of the spring tube 20 is 0.4mm-0.5mm. Alternatively, the transparent window 21 has a length of 1mm, the transparent window 21 has a width of 0.3mm, and the transparent window 21 is spaced from the distal end of the spring tube 20 by a distance of 0.5mm.

It should be noted that, the distal ends of the spring tubes 20 are welded together by a laser process, specifically, since the spring tubes 20 are formed by winding a plurality of filaments in a preset spiral direction, after the distal ends of the spring tubes 20 are opened with windows, the distal end portions of the spring tubes 20 are separated, so that by welding the distal ends of the spring tubes 20 together, the distal end portions of the spring tubes 20 are effectively separated due to the opened windows.

The spring tube 20 is movably inserted into the outer tube 10, can be pulled back in the axial direction of the outer tube 10, and can also rotate around its own axis relative to the outer tube 10. Specifically, since the inner wall of the blood vessel is circumferential and the target area has a certain length, the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 need to be rotated and pulled back to obtain a complete image of the target area. The optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 are driven to move back and forth along the axial direction of the outer tube 10 by the spring tube 20, and a rotational torque force is provided for the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 to enable the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 to rotate, so that the imaging lens 40 can perform complete scanning imaging on a target area.

Alternatively, the spring tube 20 may be made of one of 304 stainless steel, 306 stainless steel, and nitinol.

The distal end of the spring tube 20 is flush with the distal end of the optical fiber 30.

In some embodiments of the present application, referring to fig. 2, the overall outer diameter of the spring tube 20 is kept consistent, that is, the spring tube 20 is in a straight tube shape with a constant outer diameter, at this time, the overall outer diameter of the outer tube 10 is also kept consistent, the overall size of the OCT imaging catheter is constant, which is beneficial to ensuring the overall strength of the catheter, and the design process is simple and convenient for processing.

Further, the length of the spring tube 20 is 1m to 1.6m, the outer diameter of the spring tube 20 is 0.45mm to 0.5mm, and the inner diameter is 0.15mm to 0.2mm. Alternatively, the spring tube 20 has a length of 1.6mm, the outer diameter of the spring tube 20 is 0.45mm, and the inner diameter is 0.18mm, and it is understood that the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 are accommodated in a space having an inner diameter of 0.18 mm.

In this embodiment, referring to fig. 3, the spring tube 20 includes a proximal tube segment 22 and a distal tube segment 23 connected to each other, the outer diameter of the distal tube segment 23 is smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal tube segment 22, at this time, the outer tube 10 includes a proximal tube body 11 and a distal tube body 12 connected to each other, the outer diameter of the distal tube body 12 is smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal tube body 11, the proximal tube body 11 corresponds to the proximal tube segment 22, and the distal tube body 12 corresponds to the distal tube segment 23. It will be appreciated that because the outer diameter of distal tube segment 23 is smaller than the outer diameter of proximal tube segment 22, the outer diameter of distal tube body 12 is smaller than the outer diameter of proximal tube body 11, allowing for better passage of the OCT imaging catheter within the blood vessel for better push interventions within the blood vessel.

Further, the length of the proximal tube segment 22 is 800mm-1500mm, the outer diameter of the proximal tube segment 22 is 0.45mm-0.5mm, the inner diameter of the proximal tube segment 22 is 0.2mm-0.3mm, the length of the distal tube segment 23 is 150mm-200mm, the outer diameter of the distal tube segment 23 is 0.3mm-0.4mm, and the inner diameter of the distal tube segment 23 is 0.15mm-0.19mm. Alternatively, the proximal tube segment 22 has a length of 1500mm, the proximal tube segment 22 has an outer diameter of 0.5mm, the proximal tube segment 22 has an inner diameter of 0.2mm, the distal tube segment 23 has a length of 150mm, the distal tube segment 23 has an outer diameter of 0.3mm, and the distal tube segment 23 has an inner diameter of 0.15mm.

It should be noted that the connection between the proximal tube section 22 and the distal tube section 23 may be various, such as the following:

the plug-in connection is plugged between the proximal tube segment 22 and the distal tube segment 23. Specifically, the proximal tube segment 22 has a first insertion segment, the outer diameter of the first insertion segment gradually decreases from the proximal end of the spring tube 20 toward the distal end of the spring tube 20, the distal tube segment 23 has a second insertion segment, the outer diameter of the second insertion segment also gradually decreases from the proximal end of the spring tube 20 toward the distal end of the spring tube 20, and the first insertion segment is sleeved on the second insertion segment, so that the insertion between the proximal tube segment 22 and the distal tube segment 23 is more accurate and firm.

A welded connection, a weld between the proximal tube segment 22 and the distal tube segment 23. Specifically, the proximal tube segment 22 has a first mating segment, the distal tube segment 23 has a second mating segment, the outer diameter of the first mating segment gradually decreases from the proximal end of the spring tube 20 toward the distal end of the spring tube 20, the outer diameter of the second mating segment also gradually decreases from the proximal end of the spring tube 20 toward the distal end of the spring tube 20, and the first mating segment is welded to the second mating segment.

The double-layer peeling type proximal pipe section 22 comprises a first pipe section layer and a second pipe section layer, the distal pipe section 23 is coated on the first pipe section layer, the distal pipe section 23 comprises a third pipe section layer, and the outer diameter of the third pipe section layer is equal to the outer diameter of the first pipe section layer and is integrally formed with the first pipe section layer. It will be appreciated that the spring tube 20 is a double-layered structure, the spring tube 20 has an outer spring tube 20 and an inner spring tube 20, the outer diameter of the outer spring tube 20 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner spring tube 20, the outer spring tube 20 is nested on the inner spring tube 20, the outer spring tube 20 at the distal end of the spring tube 20 is peeled off, the remaining inner spring tube 20, thereby forming a distal tube section 23 having a smaller outer diameter, and the portion of the outer spring tube 20 which is not peeled off forms a proximal tube section 22 having a larger outer diameter.

The optical fiber 30 is connected to the inner wall of the spring tube 20. Optionally, the optical fiber 30 is bonded to the inner wall of the spring tube 20. The optical fiber 30 is used to transmit the light beam. In this embodiment, the light beam is a laser beam, and illustratively, the OCT imaging catheter enters the target area of the intracranial blood vessel, that is, the lesion area, and the laser beam emitted by the laser is transmitted through the optical fiber 30, and is emitted to the imaging lens 40 to be reflected, and then the transparent window 21 and the outer tube 10 are emitted to the inner wall of the blood vessel.

Referring to fig. 4, a bevel 31 is disposed at a distal end of the optical fiber 30, that is, the distal end of the optical fiber 30 is polished to form the bevel 31, a light reflecting surface 41 is disposed on the imaging lens 40, the light reflecting surface 41 faces the transparent window 21, the light reflecting surface 41 is attached to the bevel 31, and the light reflecting surface 41 of the imaging lens 40 is used for total reflection of the light beam on the bevel 31. Specifically, after being reflected by the imaging lens 40, the light beam in the optical fiber 30 is emitted to the inner wall of the blood vessel through the transparent window 21 and the outer tube 10, and the light beam reflected by the inner wall of the blood vessel is emitted to the light reflecting surface 41 of the imaging lens 40 through the outer tube 10 and the transparent window 21, and is returned through the optical fiber 30 after being totally reflected by the light reflecting surface 41 of the imaging lens 40, thereby realizing scanning imaging.

Alternatively, the imaging lens 40 may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (Polyethylene terephthalate, abbreviated as PET) to better fully reflect the light beam. Of course, the imaging lens 40 may also be a prism or a lens having a light reflection function.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present application, the reflective layer may be directly coated on the inclined surface 31 of the optical fiber 30.

In some embodiments of the present application, referring to fig. 4, the OCT imaging catheter for protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a light-transmitting sheath 70, where the light-transmitting sheath 70 is sleeved on the distal ends of the imaging lens 40 and the optical fiber 30, so as to protect the distal end of the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40, thereby further preventing the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 from being damaged. Optionally, the light-transmitting sheath 70 is transparent glue.

In some embodiments of the present application, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a developing member 80, where the developing member 80 is disposed on the distal end of the outer tube 10, and the developing member 80 is used to mark the position of the distal end of the outer tube 10, i.e., the external device identifies the developing member 80 to obtain the position of the distal end of the outer tube 10, so that the medical staff can observe the position conveniently.

The distance between the developing member 80 and the distal end of the spring tube 20 is 3mm to 5mm. Alternatively, the distance between the developer member 80 and the distal end of the spring tube 20 is 3mm.

In some embodiments of the present application, referring again to fig. 2, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a guide wire 50, where the guide wire 50 is connected to the distal end of the outer tube 10, and the guide wire 50 is used to guide the OCT imaging catheter into the target area in the blood vessel, and no additional guide wire is needed to guide the OCT imaging catheter from outside the body into the blood vessel, so that the outer tube 10 can omit the space for the additional guide wire to pass through, which is beneficial to reducing the diameter of the OCT imaging catheter used to enter the blood vessel, and further beneficial to further improving the performance of the OCT imaging catheter passing through the blood vessel.

Specifically, after the whole OCT imaging catheter reaches the proximal end of the target area in the blood vessel under the support of the outer tube 10 and the guidance of the guide wire 50, the distal end of the guide wire 50 passes through the target area and reaches the distal end of the target area, and the OCT imaging catheter has better passing performance and safety performance and is more convenient to use.

Further, the guide wire 50 may be a braided structure or a spring, and of course, the guide wire 50 may be made of the same material as the outer tube 10.

Further, the distal end of the guide wire 50 is of a curved structure, which is beneficial to increasing flexibility and effectively preventing the guide wire 50 from damaging the inner wall of the blood vessel. Of course, the distal end of the guidewire 50 may also be J-shaped to ensure safety.

Further, the length of the guide wire 50 is 40-60mm, and the diameter of the guide wire 50 is 0.3-0.4 mm. Alternatively, the length of the guide wire 50 is 50mm and the diameter of the guide wire 50 is 0.36mm.

In some embodiments of the present application, the proximal end of the guidewire 50 is welded to the distal end of the outer tube 10.

In other embodiments of the present application, the guidewire 50 is bonded to the distal end of the outer tube 10, and in particular, the proximal end face of the guidewire 50 is bonded to the distal end face of the catheter by UV glue. Further, the distal end of the outer tube 10 tapers toward the direction approaching the guide wire 50, so that the bonding of the proximal end surface of the guide wire 50 and the distal end surface of the catheter can be performed in a larger area, which is beneficial to improving the bonding stability of the guide wire 50 and the distal end of the outer tube 10.

In some embodiments of the present application, the guidewire 50 is integrally formed with the outer tube 10. It will be appreciated that in making the outer tube 10, the distal end of the outer tube 10 is elongated and tapered to form the guidewire 50.

It should be noted that, the distal end of the outer tube 10 and the distal end of the guide wire 50 are both in a closed structure, so that blood and vascular tissues are effectively prevented from entering the outer tube 10 and the guide wire 50, a flushing-free function is realized, and meanwhile, artifacts generated by the guide wire 50 are effectively avoided.

In some embodiments of the present application, with continued reference to fig. 2, the OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber further includes a buffer 60, the buffer 60 being located within the outer tube 10 and connected to the distal end of the spring tube 20. Specifically, after the OCT imaging catheter enters the intracranial blood vessel, due to the complex bending of the blood vessel, the spring tube 20 will collide with the outer tube 10 during the turning, or the spring tube 20 will transitionally extend forward to collide with the inner wall of the blood vessel, so that by arranging the buffer member 60 at the distal end of the spring tube 20, when the distal end of the spring tube 20 collides with the outer tube 10 or the inner wall of the blood vessel, the distal ends of the imaging lens 40 and the optical fiber 30 can be better buffered by the buffer member 60, which is beneficial to further preventing the distal ends of the imaging lens 40 and the optical fiber 30 from being damaged.

Further, the length of the buffer 60 is about 3mm.

Alternatively, the buffer 60 may be a spring or made of other materials with buffer function.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the buffer member 60 may also be a part of the spring tube 20, i.e. by extending the spring tube 20 forward, so as to form the buffer member 60 with a buffering function.

The OCT imaging catheter protecting the distal end of the optical fiber of the present application has at least the following beneficial effects:

1. the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 are arranged in the outer tube 10 by arranging the spring tube 20 in the spring tube 20, so that the outer tube 10 and the spring tube 20 perform double-layer protection on the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40, the damage rate to the optical fiber 30 and the imaging lens 40 is greatly reduced in the shuttling process of the OCT imaging catheter in an intracranial blood vessel, the imaging quality and the imaging success rate of the OCT imaging catheter are improved, and the transparent window 21 is arranged on the spring tube 20, so that a light beam emitted by the imaging lens 40 can be acted on the inner wall of the blood vessel through the transparent window 21 and the outer tube 10 to perform scanning imaging.

2. The spring tube 20 comprises a proximal tube section 22 and a distal tube section 23 which are connected, the outer diameter of the distal tube section 23 is smaller than that of the proximal tube section 22, the outer tube 10 comprises a proximal tube body 11 and a distal tube body 12 which are connected, the outer diameter of the distal tube body 12 is smaller than that of the proximal tube body 11, the proximal tube body 11 corresponds to the proximal tube section 22, the distal tube body 12 corresponds to the distal tube, the whole size of the distal end of the OCT imaging catheter is smaller, the OCT imaging catheter has better trafficability in a blood vessel, and pushing intervention in the blood vessel is facilitated better.

3. The guide wire 50 is used for guiding the OCT imaging catheter into the target area in the blood vessel, and no additional guide wire 50 is needed to guide the OCT imaging catheter from outside the body into the blood vessel, so that the outer tube 10 can omit the space for the additional guide wire 50 to pass through, which is beneficial to reducing the diameter of the OCT imaging catheter entering the blood vessel, and further is beneficial to further improving the passage performance of the OCT imaging catheter in the blood vessel.

4. By providing the light transmissive jacket 70 and the buffer 60, damage to the imaging lens 40 and the distal end of the optical fiber 30 is further reduced.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present application is not intended to be limiting, but is intended to cover any and all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and principles of the present application.

Claims (10)

1. An OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber, comprising: an outer tube, an optical fiber and a spring tube; the optical fiber is arranged in the outer tube, the spring tube is movably arranged in the outer tube in a penetrating mode, is coated on the optical fiber, and can drive the optical fiber to rotate and pull back in the outer tube.

2. The OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein: the far end of the spring tube is provided with a transparent window, and the far end of the optical fiber is arranged corresponding to the transparent window.

3. The OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein: the spring tube comprises a proximal tube section and a distal tube section which are connected, the outer diameter of the distal tube section is smaller than that of the proximal tube section, the transparent window is arranged on the distal tube section, the outer tube comprises a proximal tube body and a distal tube body which are connected, the outer diameter of the distal tube body is smaller than that of the proximal tube body, the proximal tube body corresponds to the proximal tube section, and the distal tube body corresponds to the distal tube section.

4. An OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein: the outer tube further comprises a transition tube body connected between the proximal tube body and the distal tube body, and the outer diameter of the transition tube body gradually decreases from the proximal end of the outer tube to the distal end of the outer tube.

5. An OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein: the proximal pipe section is spliced with the distal pipe section; or, welding between the proximal tube segment and the distal tube segment; or, the proximal pipe section comprises a first pipe section layer and a second pipe section layer, the distal pipe section is coated on the first pipe section layer, the distal pipe section comprises a third pipe section layer, and the outer diameter of the third pipe section layer is equal to the outer diameter of the first pipe section layer and is integrally formed with the first pipe section layer.

6. The OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein: the outer tube distal end exceeds the spring tube distal end, and the length of the portion of the outer tube distal end exceeding the spring tube distal end is 3mm-8mm.

7. The OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein: the imaging lens is arranged in the outer tube and arranged on the distal end of the optical fiber, and the spring tube is coated on the imaging lens.

8. The OCT imaging catheter protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein: further comprising a developing member disposed on the distal end of the outer tube.

9. The OCT imaging catheter protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein: and the guide wire is connected with the distal end of the outer tube.

10. The OCT imaging catheter for protecting a distal end of an optical fiber according to claim 9, wherein: the spring tube also comprises a buffer piece, wherein the buffer piece is positioned in the outer tube and is connected with the distal end of the spring tube.