Balloon catheter with integrated optical sensor for determining balloon diameter

摘要

An apparatus and method for determining an expanded diameter of a catheter balloon. An optical sensor includes an elongated optical fiber with at least one diffraction grating formed in a core of a distal portion thereof. The fiber distal portion is coupled to the inflatable balloon. Broadband light is transmitted to the diffraction grating by an optical interrogator. A portion of the light is reflected from the diffraction grating and is received by a wavelength detector. The wavelength of the reflected portion of light is dependent on the strain applied to the diffraction grating. The wavelength detector determines the strain in the balloon and correlates the strain to the diameter of the balloon.

主权项

1. A catheter system comprising:
an elongate catheter having an inflatable balloon disposed at its distal end; an optical fiber strain sensor including an elongate optical fiber with a diffraction fiber distal portion defined by at least one diffraction grating formed in a core of a distal portion of the optical fiber, wherein the diffraction fiber distal portion is coupled to the inflatable balloon; and a wavelength detector coupled to a proximal end of the optical fiber, wherein the wavelength detector is configured to receive a reflected portion of light from the diffraction grating, to determine the strain in the balloon from the reflected portion of light, and to correlate the determined strain to a diameter of the balloon.