The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 09, 1997
Frederick L Coe, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Michel Tuan Tran, Ventura, CA (US);
BioEnterics Corporation, Carpinteria, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for transilluminating a tubular tissue within the body. The apparatus comprises an elongate catheter having a fiber optic substantially coextensive with the length thereof which provides diffuse illumination laterally along at least a portion of the length of the catheter. The fiber optic terminus at the proximal end of the catheter is flared to form a light receiving aperture for collecting illuminating light. The flared proximal end of the optical fiber presents an effectively greater light input aperture and enables the fiber to conduct more light to the distal delivery end than would otherwise be possible with a fiber having a flat cut end and receiving light from a divergent light source. The distal end of the catheter is dimensioned to fit within a tubular tissue and be advanced therethrough. A portion of the distal end of the fiber optic is adapted to redirect the light laterally away from the optical axis along a length thereof to provide diffuse cylindrical illumination directed radially outward from the optical axis. The catheter is particularly adapted for transilluminating the wall of a length of a tubular tissue for visualization during surgical procedures such as laparoscopic surgery.