Medical device with OLED illumination light source

Abstract

A medical device such as a catheter or endoscope device includes an illumination light source having one or more organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The OLEDs are energized to produce illumination light that is received by an image sensor or camera to produce images of tissue within a patient's body. A heat conductive polymer conducts heat away from the illumination light source.

1 . A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient, comprising: 
 an elongate member having a proximal end that remains outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into the body cavity;    an illumination source including one or more organic light-emitting diodes that produce light within the body cavity of the patient when energized; and    two or more conductive leads that deliver electrical energy to the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.    
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source includes a single organic light-emitting diode.  
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source includes two or more organic light-emitting diodes, each of which produces illumination light of a different wavelength.  
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lumens extending therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor at or adjacent the distal end of the elongate member for capturing images of tissue in the body cavity.  
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging light guide within the elongate member that transmits reflected or scattered illumination light to an image sensor or camera.  
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member includes a heat conductive polymer that dissipates heat produced by the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.  
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate member is at least partially formed of the heat conductive polymer and wherein the elongate member is thermally coupled to the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.  
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate member includes a length of the heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one or more organic light-emitting diodes.  
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member includes a torqueable wire that is secured at or adjacent the distal end to bend and/or rotate the distal end of the elongate member.  
     
     
         11 . A medical device, including: 
 an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;    one or more lumens extending through the elongate member;    one or more strips of an organic light-emitting diode material disposed along a length of the elongate member; and    conductive leads that supply electrical energy to the one or more strips of organic light-emitting diode material to cause the one or more strips to emit light.    
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more strips of organic light-emitting material are marked with length indications.  
     
     
         13 . A medical device for illuminating a body cavity of a patient, comprising: 
 an elongate member having a proximal end that remains outside the body cavity and a distal end that is insertable into the body cavity;    one or more LEDs that illuminate the body cavity; and    a heat conductive polymer that is thermally coupled to the one or more LEDs to dissipate heat from the one or more LEDs.    
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the elongate member is at least partially formed of the heat conductive polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the elongate member includes a length of the heat conductive polymer in thermal contact with the one or more LEDs.  
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more LEDs are organic LEDs.  
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more organic LEDs produce light of the same wavelengths.  
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more organic LEDs produce light of different wavelengths.