Oct probe with pivoting fiber

Abstract

An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue may include an actuation system arranged to displace an optical fiber within a cannula. The actuation system may include a driver actuatable to displace a portion of the optical fiber, with the driver acting in an angled direction relative to the axis of the cannula. The actuation system also may include a pivot feature operably engaged with the optical fiber in a manner permitting the optical fiber to pivot on the pivot feature when the driver actuates to displace the portion of the optical fiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue, comprising:
 a cannula having a cannula axis;   a selectively displaceable light-carrying optical fiber disposed within the cannula and having a distal end, the optical fiber being adapted to emit light from the distal end and;   an actuation system arranged to displace the optical fiber within the cannula, the actuation system comprising:
 a driver actuatable to displace a portion of the optical fiber, the driver acting in an angled direction relative to the cannula axis; and 
 a pivot feature operably engaged with the optical fiber, the optical fiber pivotable about the pivot feature in response to a displacement of the portion of the optical fiber by the driver; and 
   a stiffening tube disposed about the optical fiber and separating the optical fiber and the pivot feature, the stiffening tube directly engaging the pivot feature in a pivot relationship.   
     
     
         2 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening tube extends from at least the pivot feature to the driver. 
     
     
         3 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a constraining feature disposed in the cannula, the constraining feature being shaped to constrain displacement of the optical fiber to a particular range of motion. 
     
     
         4 . The OCT probe of  claim 3 , wherein the particular range of motion is within a plane. 
     
     
         5 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the constraining feature is a localized constriction permitting a higher amount of cross-lateral displacement and a relatively lower amount of lateral displacement. 
     
     
         6 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot feature is a crimp in the cannula. 
     
     
         7 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot feature is an insert disposed in the cannula. 
     
     
         8 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot feature is disposed at a location proximal of the cannula. 
     
     
         9 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , wherein the driver is disposed at a side of the optical fiber and arranged to displace the portion of the optical fiber in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the cannula. 
     
     
         10 . The OCT probe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a probe housing, the cannula extending from the probe housing and the driver being disposed in the probe housing.   
     
     
         11 . An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue, comprising:
 a cannula adapted to penetrate patient tissue and having a cannula axis;   a selectively displaceable light-carrying optical fiber disposed within the cannula and having a distal end, the optical fiber adapted to emit light from the distal end; and   an actuation system comprising a driver adapted to displace a portion of a the optical fiber a first distance and to displace the distal end of the optical fiber a second distance greater than the first distance, wherein the actuation system comprises a pivot feature that forms a fulcrum for the optical fiber and wherein the pivot feature is disposed between the driver and the distal end of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         12 . The OCT probe of  claim 11 , further comprising a lens disposed in the cannula distal of the optical fiber and moveable with the optical fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The OCT probe of  claim 11 , wherein the pivot feature is a crimp in the cannula. 
     
     
         14 . The OCT probe of  claim 11 , wherein the pivot feature is an insert disposed in the cannula. 
     
     
         15 . A method of scanning with an OCT probe, comprising:
 emitting light from a distal end of an optical fiber in a cannula of the OCT probe; and   actuating a driver to pivot the optical fiber about a pivot feature, the pivot feature being disposed relative to the driver and relative to the distal end of the optical fiber to create a positive mechanical advantage that displaces the distal end of the optical fiber a distance greater than the actuation distance of the driver, wherein the pivot feature comprises one of a crimp in the cannula and an insert in the cannula.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein actuating a driver to pivot the optical fiber about a pivot feature comprises actuating the driver in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the cannula. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot feature is disposed proximal of the cannula. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising restricting lateral movement of the optical fiber with a constraining feature while actuating the driver to pivot the optical fiber about the pivot feature.