Optical imaging catheter for aberration balancing

Abstract

An Optical imaging catheter that balances optical aberrations and allows recording of high quality optical images while relaxing the requirement of a fluid occupying the space between the prism and the inner sheath of the catheter.

1 . An optical imaging catheter comprising:
 a prism to receive and direct optical radiation through a catheter sheath; and   a space is between the prism and the catheter sheath to balance optical aberrations in optical images obtained from a sample.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the space is occupied by air or gas. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter sheath includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and outer surface include an optical power and a refractive index. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the absolute value of the optical power of the inner surface is higher than the outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the catheter sheath includes a refractive index matched to the refractive index of a medium exterior the outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the inner surface includes a radius between about 0.3000 to 0.4000 mm and the outer surface includes a radius between about between about 0.4100 to 0.5100 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the prism includes a bi-cylindrical micromirror/microlens comprising a reflective cylindrical surface to collect the optical radiation diverging longitudinally out of an optical fiber and redirect the optical radiation with a cylindrical surface into a radial component, and a second cylindrical transmissive/lensing surface to focus the optical radiation along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the prism is a toroidal minor including a mirrored surface with a toroidal surface to collect, refocus, and tilt the optical radiation into a radial component non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is coupled to an imaging modality. 
     
     
         10 . A method for performing optical imaging through a catheter, comprising:
 directing optical radiation through a prism and a catheter sheath, wherein a space is between the prism and the catheter sheath to balance optical aberrations in an optical image obtained from a sample.   
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the space is occupied by air or gas. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catheter sheath includes an index of refraction matched to the refractive index of a medium exterior the outer surface of the catheter sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catheter sheath includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface and outer surface include an optical power and a refractive index. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the absolute value of the optical power of the inner surface is higher than the outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the catheter sheath includes a refractive index matched to the refractive index of a medium exterior the outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface includes a radius between about 0.3000 to 0.4000 mm and the outer surface includes a radius between about between about 0.4100 to 0.5100 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the prism includes a bi-cylindrical micromirror/microlens comprising a reflective cylindrical surface to collect the optical radiation diverging longitudinally out of an optical fiber and redirect the optical radiation with a cylindrical surface into a radial component, and a second cylindrical transmissive/lensing surface to focus the optical radiation along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the prism is a toroidal minor including a mirrored surface with a toroidal surface to collect, refocus, and tilt the optical radiation into a radial component non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catheter is coupled to an imaging modality. 
     
     
         20 . A system for performing optical imaging through a catheter, comprising: a prism to receive and direct optical radiation through a catheter sheath; a space is between the prism and the catheter sheath to balance aberrations in optical images obtained from a sample; the space is occupied by air or gas with a refractive index of about 1; the catheter sheath includes an inner surface and an outer surface; the inner surface and outer surface include an optical power and a refractive index, wherein the absolute value of the optical power of the inner surface is higher than the outer surface; and the catheter sheath includes a refractive index matched to the refractive index of a medium exterior the outer surface.