Active alignment system and method for optimizing optical coupling of multiplexer for laser-driven intravascular lithotripsy device

Abstract

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108) or heart valve includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128) and a multiplexer alignment system (142). The first light source (124) generates light energy. The plurality of light guides (122A) are each configured to alternatingly receive light energy from the first light source (124). Each light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). The multiplexer (128) receives the light energy from the first light source (124). The multiplexer (128) alternatingly directs the light energy from the first light source (124) to each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The multiplexer alignment system (142) is operatively coupled to the multiplexer (128). The multiplexer alignment system (142) includes a second light source (270) that generates a probe source beam (270A) that scans the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve, the catheter system comprising:
 a first light source that generates light energy;   a plurality of light guides that are each configured to alternatingly receive light energy from the first light source, each light guide having a guide proximal end;   a multiplexer that receives the light energy from the first light source, the multiplexer alternatingly directing the light energy from the first light source to each of the plurality of light guides; and   a multiplexer alignment system that is operatively coupled to the multiplexer, the multiplexer alignment system including a second light source that generates a probe source beam that scans the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the probe source beam scanning the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides produces a backscattered energy beam that is scattered off of the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides; and further comprising a system controller that analyzes the backscattered energy beam to determine optical coupling between the guide beams and the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter system of  claim 2  wherein the system controller is configured to control operation of the first light source to generate pulses of light energy. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of light guides are retained at least partially within a guide coupling housing, and the probe source beam is configured to scan a face of the guide coupling housing. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter system of  claim 4  wherein the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides is retained within the guide coupling housing. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the multiplexer alignment system is operatively coupled to the multiplexer so that the probe source beam scans the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides at a predetermined time prior to the individual guide beams scanning the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the multiplexer alignment system includes coupling optics that are configured to focus the probe source beam to scan the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter system of  claim 7  wherein the multiplexer is configured to utilize the coupling optics to focus each of the individual guide beams to one of the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter system of  claim 1  further comprising a first beamsplitter that receives a source beam from the first light source and the probe source beam from the second light source, the first beamsplitter being configured to direct each of the source beam and the probe source beam toward the guide proximal end of each of the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter system of  claim 9  wherein the first beamsplitter includes a dichroic beamsplitter. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter system of  claim 9  wherein the first beamsplitter is configured to transmit one of the source beam and the probe source beam and to reflect the other of the source beam and the probe source beam. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter system of  claim 9  further comprising a second beamsplitter and a photodetector, the second beamsplitter being configured to (i) receive the backscattered energy beam, and (ii) direct at least a portion of the backscattered energy beam toward the photodetector. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter system of  claim 12  wherein the photodetector generates a signal based at least in part on the at least a portion of the backscattered energy beam that is directed toward the photodetector. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter system of  claim 13  wherein the signal from the photodetector is amplified with an amplifier to provide an amplified signal that is directed to signal processing electronics to determine an intensity of light energy contained within the backscattered energy beam. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter system of  claim 14  wherein the intensity of light energy contained within the backscattered energy beam is evaluated to determine optimal optical coupling between the guide beams and the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the multiplexer includes a multiplexer base, a multiplexer stage, and a stage mover that moves the multiplexer stage in a linear degree of freedom relative to the multiplexer base. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the multiplexer includes a multiplexer stage and a stage mover that moves the multiplexer stage relative to each of the plurality of light guides. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter system of  claim 17  wherein the stage mover moves the multiplexer stage rotationally about a rotational axis. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the first light source includes a laser. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the second light source includes a laser. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the multiplexer includes a first movable redirector and a second movable redirector, at least one of the redirectors including a multi-directional scanner with an f-theta lens. 
     
     
         22 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, the method including utilizing the catheter system of  claim 1 .