Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
  • A61B1/07—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
  • A61B1/00089—Hoods
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
  • A61B1/00096—Optical elements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
  • A61B1/00101—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features the distal tip features being detachable
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00105—Constructional details of the endoscope body characterised by modular construction
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/0011—Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
  • A61B1/00121—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
  • A61B1/00126—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00131—Accessories for endoscopes
  • A61B1/00137—End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
  • A61B1/00165—Optical arrangements with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
  • A61B1/00165—Optical arrangements with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics
  • A61B1/0017—Details of single optical fibres, e.g. material or cladding
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3616—Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench
  • G02B6/3624—Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
  • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
  • G02B23/26—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes using light guides

Definitions

• the invention relates to the technical field of optical fibers, in particular functionalized optical fibers. More particularly, the invention relates to an optical fiber with a functionalized exploration end.
• the invention will be more particularly described with regard to a medical use implementing a catheter or an endoscope, without being limited thereto.
• Endoscopy in the medical field makes it possible to examine the interior of a cavity by a backscattered light detection technique using one or more optical fibers.
• an endoscope comprises a flexible envelope housing one or more optical fibers, and whose downstream distal end comprises a probe connected to the optical fibers and intended to be introduced into the cavity to be examined, and the upstream distal end opposite to the probe is intended to be connected to a light source aligned with the optical fiber (s) to transmit light to the probe and into the cavity, light detectors also arranged in alignment with the optical fibers and to the upstream end being adapted to receive backscattered light from within the cavity and transmitted back via the fibers. The backscattered and detected light is then processed and analyzed.
• an optical fiber comprises a sheath enveloping one or more fiber cores, and its distal end intended for exploration is in the form of a rigid ferrule firmly secured to the end of the sheath of the fiber. and whose outer face transverse to the axis of the fiber is transparent.
• the ferrule is for example transparent epoxy resin having been overmolded on the sheath of the fiber.
• the scanning end of the fiber may further comprise clean functional elements to accommodate the type of detection.
• a functionalized fiber exploration end which is provided with mesoporous silica microplots associated with ligands capable of interacting with biomarkers overexpressed on tumor cells; such an optical fiber makes it possible to detect cancer cells.
• the functional end of an optical fiber can also be functionalized by photosensitizers to destroy the cancer cells by dynamic photodynamic therapy (so-called PTD process).
• the plurality of applications or the need for single-use functionalized ends involves having a multiplicity of optical fibers of specific functionality, which generates a significant volume and bulk in an intervention room.
• the object of the invention is therefore to obviate, in particular, the aforementioned drawback by proposing a solution which simplifies the quantity and the management of the optical fibers to be made available whatever the intended application, while at the same time providing an implementation. easy and fast for the practitioner.
• a first object of the invention is a removable functionalized exploration head comprising adaptation means on an optical fiber.
• a second object of the invention is an optical fiber, on which is fitted a removable exploration head.
• a third object of the invention is a kit comprising an optical fiber and one or more sets of exploration heads, functionalized identically or with various functionalizations.
• the invention has many advantages, and in particular that of allowing differentiated storage of the optical fiber on the one hand, and exploration heads on the other hand.
• each exploration head may require specific storage conditions (regulation of exposure to air, light, temperature regulation, hygrometry regulation, etc.), for example when it is functionalized with Proteins or ligands sensitive to gas, light, temperature or humidity.
• the optical fiber itself can be stored more simply and conveniently.
• the conditions of sterilization thanks to the invention, they may be different and adapted for the optical fiber on the one hand, and for each exploration head on the other hand.
• the invention also provides a solution for the management of the treatment of medical waste that is a used optical fiber functionalised head: the heads can be discarded; the fibers are usually sterilized and reused.
• the functionalized exploration distal end optical fiber comprises a sheath, and a ferrule) secured to the sheath at the distal exploration end, and is characterized in that the distal exploration end comprises a functionalized head which is removably attached to the ferrule.
• the functionalized head is reported later to the provision to a practitioner of an ordinary optical fiber and before intervention.
• optical fiber means a fiber which is not equipped with a functionalized tip, but comprising only the sheath of the optical fiber surrounding one or more cores, and an end ferrule for stiffening the end of the fiber. the fiber for use.
• the “functionalized head” is the part of the fiber acting as a probe or in a general way of any technical function using the light emitted at the end of the optical fiber to cooperate or interact with the medium in which the end of the fiber fiber is introduced.
• the ferrule of the optical fiber of the invention has only one function of mechanical fixing means for the functionalized head.
• the ferrule and the functionalized head are made integral by mechanical assembly, such as crimping, booting, screwing, clipping, quarter-turn locking.
• the attachment of the functionalized head to the ferrule is designed so that the head and the ferrule can not become detached during use, particularly when the fiber has been introduced into the body of the patient.
• the ferrule and the functionalized head respectively comprise mutual cooperation fixing means, such as male-female cooperation means.
• the functionalized head has an outer face, said emission face, at least a portion of which is transparent and intended to be opposite the core or cores of the optical fiber) for the passage of light.
• the transparent portion of the outer face does not have a surface roughness; it is polished, for example.
• the functionalized head comprises a hollow body whose interior space houses the ferrule.
• the functionalized head comprises a hollow body, preferably limited by a cylindrical wall, and has an end face transverse to the wall, at least a portion of which forms a passage for the light, and means for fixing disposed at the cylindrical wall or the end face opposite to the face provided with the passage of light.
• the functionalized head has a body made of polymeric material, or glass, or ceramic-based, or based on stainless steel, or based on composite material, or a combination of several materials, the outer surface of emission the head intended to be opposite the fiber core (s) being made of material transparent to light.
• the functionalized head has a cylindrical body which may be of section between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably about 1 to 3 mm.
• the length of this cylindrical body may be 10 to 500 mm, preferably about 20 mm.
• the term "about" placed before a digit means + or - 20% the value of this figure.
• the functionalized head comprises functional elements providing at least one technical function to the optical fiber, such as micro-pads made of mesoporous silica or other attachment means to associate ligands suitable for the detection of cancer cells, or photo-sensitizing ligands for the destruction of cancer cells by photo therapy.
• functional elements providing at least one technical function to the optical fiber, such as micro-pads made of mesoporous silica or other attachment means to associate ligands suitable for the detection of cancer cells, or photo-sensitizing ligands for the destruction of cancer cells by photo therapy.
• the invention also relates to a functionalized head having the above characteristics and adapted to be removably attached to an optical fiber and be assembled.
• the invention also relates to a kit for functionalized optical fiber comprising at least one functionalized head as described above, the kit may comprise a plurality of functionalized heads with identical or different functionalities, each of the heads being removably fixed on a optical fiber.
• the invention also relates to the use of at least one optical fiber with a functionalized head of the invention in endoscopy.
• a functionalized head of the invention in endoscopy.
• the fiber of the invention applies to any type of exploration.
• the invention also relates to a device for conditioning a functionalized head according to the invention, the head comprising fastening means intended for its assembly to an optical fiber, characterized in that the device comprises a shell housing the head except the fixing means, and a cover removably attached to the shell, and capotant said fixing means.
• the invention relates to a method of assembling an optical fiber to a functionalized head of the invention through the conditioning device of said head.
• the head is delivered to the user in his packaging device (packaging).
• the assembly method consists in removing the lid of the packaging device, making the fixing means accessible, introducing (especially by pushing when the fixing means are clipping means) the ferrule of the optical fiber in the functionalized head which is dig, and dissociate the shell of the head; the head is then assembled to the fiber that is ready for use.
• FIG. 1 shows a sectional view according to the invention of an optical fiber end and a functionalized head to report removably according to the invention on the end of the optical fiber;
• Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, the functionalized head being reported and assembled on the optical fiber;
• FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of variants of functionalized heads according to the invention each assembled at the end of an optical fiber;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of a packaging device according to the invention of a removable functionalized head of the invention to ensure its assembly at the end of an optical fiber;
• FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic partial perspective view of an endoscope comprising three channels, one channel of which is intended to house an optical fiber with a functionalized head according to the invention.
• the optical fiber 1 of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a functionalized exploration head 2 which is intended to be removably attached to the body of the optical fiber.
• the optical fiber 1 with its functionalized head 2 is for example used in an endoscope E as schematically illustrated in FIG. 5.
• the example of an endoscope schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises three channels E1, E2 and E3 intended to respectively housing a light source, a camera, and a functionalized optical fiber of the invention.
• the dimensions of the functionalized head and the fiber may be different, depending on the type of endoscope used. Functionalized heads with different functions can be slid by the operating channel of the endoscope.
• the optical fiber 1 comprises a sheath 10 and at least one core 11 of longitudinal axis X; it has a downstream end, here not shown, which is intended to be connected in a known manner to a light source, and a downstream opposite end 12, constituting the scanning end of the optical fiber from which the necessary light will be emitted to the exploration in a cavity in which the fiber will be introduced.
• the scanning end 12 of the optical fiber is provided in known manner with a ferrule 3 forming a rigid end pierced at its center and in which is fixed the sheath 10 of the optical fiber.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 is attached removably to the optical fiber 1, and more particularly to the ferrule 3 of the optical fiber, by the practitioner just before use of the fiber, once the choice of the head performed according to the type of use, that is to say according to the required function of the head.
• the practitioner has available a plurality of functionalized heads and chooses the appropriate head according to the intended application, regardless of the optical fiber.
• the invention provides a functionalized exploration head 2 which is independent of the optical fiber 1 before use.
• the invention further proposes, with reference to FIG. 5, a packaging for each functionalized head before use, this packaging also constituting a support device for assembling the fiber Optical 1 to the functionalized head 2 easily and quickly by the practitioner, as will be seen later.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 has at least one technical function related to the use of the optical fiber. It thus comprises functional elements 20 which provide a technical function to the head 2 and consequently to the optical fiber.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 is not only intended to let through the light emitted by the optical fiber but to make functional the optical fiber 1.
• an exploration head 2 can comprise mesoporous silica micro-pads 20 which are provided with specific ligands capable of acting with biomarkers that the scanning head would encounter during its use. as housed in a cavity of the human body for detecting cancer cells by recognizing a light spectrum profile related to biomarkers.
• this may comprise micro-mesoporous silica microplots which are provided with photoresistisator ligands which will be used to destroy the cancer cells by dynamic phototherapy.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 21 with the same longitudinal median axis X in the assembled position of the head 2 on the body of the optical fiber 1, and a distal end outer face 22 which is transverse to the axis of the cylindrical body and from which is intended to be emitted light exiting the heart 11 of the optical fiber.
• the hollow cylindrical body 21 is closed at its emission end face 22.
• At least a portion of the transmitting end face 22 is transparent and is intended to be arranged facing the core 11 of the optical fiber.
• the functional elements 20 are in particular associated, integral with the external emission face 22.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 is made integral with the ferrule 3 by mechanical assembly.
• the functionalized exploration head 2 comprises fixing means 23 for its mechanical assembly, without tools, by mutual cooperation with the ferrule 3.
• the mechanical assembly of the head removably attached to the ferrule 3 can be made for example by crimping, without the body 21 of the head necessarily comprises fixing means as such.
• the crimping method requires at least one tool.
• the ferrule 3 comprises a cylindrical body with a smooth wall
• the functionalized exploration head 2 comprises, as attachment means 23 by mutual cooperation, spaced apart tabs and facing each other. which extend in the plane of the outer face 24 opposite the face 22 of light emission.
• the tabs 23 form hooks which cooperate with the free end edge 30 of the wall of the cylindrical body of the ferrule 3.
• the tabs 23 act as stops with said edge 30, preventing any removal of the ferrule 3, once it is housed in the inner space 21A of the hollow cylindrical body 21.
• the functionalized head 2 has for example its cylindrical body made of stainless steel, and comprises at its outer emitting face 22, a port 25 of transparent material such as glass, for the passage of the light emitted by the fiber.
• the window 25 is an optical lens.
• the functionalized head is entirely made of glass, its outer emitting face 22 thus being transparent.
• FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment with regard to the mechanical assembly of the functionalized head 2 to the ferrule 3.
• the fixing means by mutual cooperation of the functionalized head 2 with the ferrule 3, comprise on the one hand an annular rib 26 on the inside of the wall of the cylindrical body 21 of the head 2, and secondly a circular groove 31 on the outside of the wall of the cylindrical body of the ferrule 3, the rib 26 cooperating by engagement in the groove 31, locking in position the head 2 on the ferrule 3.
• the dimensions of the functionalized head 2 are for example of the order of 20 to 30 mm long and 1 to 3 mm in section. Therefore, the operation of a rapid assembly can be difficult with an optical fiber diameter generally 1 mm, especially when this operation is to be performed by the practitioner very shortly before his intervention.
• the invention further proposes a conditioning device 4, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, of a functionalized head 2 to be releasably connected to an optical fiber.
• the conditioning device 4 serves as a support means for the functionalized head 2 in order to maintain it in position during the introduction of the optical fiber 1 into the interior space 21 A of the head 2.
• the conditioning device 4 comprises on the one hand a shell 40 with a portion 40A or two parts 40A and 40B which house the cylindrical body 21 and the outer emitting face 22, while the fastening means 23 of the head are arranged outside the shell 40, and on the other hand a cover 42 which capotes the fastening means 23.
• the part 40B of the shell 40 accommodating at least the outer emitting face 22 of the functionalized head 2 is designed, for example by being provided with a cavity, so as not to bear directly on the outer emitting face 22 which includes the functional elements 20 to protect the latter.
• the lid 42 is removably attached to the shell 40.
• the shell can be in two removable parts 40A and 40B, because it can constitute the support of the head 2 during the deposition process of the functional elements 20.
• the cylindrical body 21 of the head is stuck in the first part 40A and the cover 42 is assembled, while the second part 40B is not present, leaving accessible the external emission face 22 to deposit the functional elements 20.
• the second portion 40B of the shell is assembled to close the entire packaging device 4.
• the conditioning device 4 thus protects the whole of the functionalized head 2.
• the practitioner chooses a functionalized head to assemble it to an optical fiber
• the insertion of the ferrule 3 is done by pushing, very slightly in force, to elastically remove the clipping tabs 23. Once the tabs 23 enclose the edge 30 of the ferrule, the assembly is completed and locked.
• the functionalized head 2 to report in a removable manner on an ordinary optical fiber according to the invention allows the practitioner in particular to have a significant amount of heads with a small footprint, without having to provide an equivalent amount of optical fibers. which, if not, should be equipped beforehand and would generate a large storage volume.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Endoscopes (AREA)
• Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2017
  • 2017-05-15 FR FR1770494A patent/FR3066279A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2018
  • 2018-05-15 WO PCT/FR2018/051170 patent/WO2018211210A1/fr unknown
  • 2018-05-15 EP EP18735352.9A patent/EP3624666A1/de active Pending
  • 2018-05-15 US US16/613,695 patent/US11497384B2/en active Active

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