Torque Limiter for an OCT Catheter

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a torque wire connected to an imaging probe; and a torque limiter defining a bore, a first end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with a motor, a second end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with the torque wire, the torque wire being disposed through the bore of the torque limiter. The torque limiter comprises a member defining at least one cutout which causes the torque limiter to break when rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount, thereby decoupling the motor from the torque wire.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a torque limiter comprising a cylindrical tube defining a first bore,   the cylindrical tube comprising a wall, a first end, and a second end, the wall defining a first cutout;   a tube disposed within the first bore, the tube attached to the first end, the tube defining a second bore; and   a torque wire attached to the first end and the tube, the torque wire disposed within the second bore, the torque wire defining a third bore, the torque limiter configured to break when a rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an optical fiber disposed within the third bore. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the wall defines a second cutout. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first cutout and the second cutout define a shear region, wherein the predetermined amount is a shear strength of the torque limiter at the shear region. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the torque wire is configured to rotate when the tube rotates prior to the predetermined amount being exceeded. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical tube comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate). 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical tube has a fracture strength of between about 0.05 oz-in and about 1.0 oz-in. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising adhesive, wherein the torque wire is attached to the first end and the tube with the adhesive. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising an optical fiber disposed within the third bore. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first cutout and the second cut out define a first tapered region of the wall and a second tapered region of the wall. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical torque limiter comprising   a wall,   a first end, and   a second end, the wall defining a first cutout and a first bore;   a tube disposed within the first bore, the tube attached to the first end, the tube defining a second bore; and   a torque wire attached to the first end and the tube, the torque wire disposed within the second bore, the torque wire defining a third bore, the torque limiter configured to break when a rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising an optical fiber disposed within the third bore. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the wall defines a second cutout. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the first cutout and the second cut out define a first tapered region of the wall and a second tapered region of the wall. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the cylindrical tube has a fracture strength of between about 0.05 oz-in and about 1.0 oz-in. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus comprising:
 a torque limiter comprising a wall, a first end, and a second end, the torque limiter defining a first bore, the wall defining a first cutout;   a tube disposed within the first bore, the tube attached to the first end;   a spacer adjacent to the tube and disposed within the first bore; and   a torque wire attached to the second end,   the first cutout disposed above a junction defined by an arrangement of the tube and the spacer, the torque limiter configured to break when a rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the torque limiter has a shear region. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein a portion of the shear region is adjacent to the first cutout. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer is cylindrical. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein a second bore defined by the spacer is in concentric alignment with a third bore defined by the tube. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer and the tube are separated by a gap. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein a first end of the spacer is configured to concentrically receive at least a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising an optical fiber disposed within a second bore defined by the torque wire. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the wall defines a second cutout. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the torque limiter has a fracture strength of about 0.05 oz-in.