System and method for coordinated laser delivery and imaging

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for coordinated laser delivery and imaging during an interventional procedure. A method may include activating an imaging source to provide a pulsed imaging signal and activating a laser source to provide a pulsed laser signal while the imaging source remains activated. The method may include coordinating the pulsed laser signal and the pulsed imaging signal to output each pulse of the pulsed laser signal and each pulse of the pulsed imaging signal in non-overlapping time windows. A system may include a controller in communication with the laser source and the imaging source for coordinating the output of the laser signal and the imaging signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser ablation and imaging system for use in an intervention procedure comprising:
 a first source configured to generate a first type of signal comprising a pulsed imaging signal;   a second source configured to generate a second type of signal comprising a pulsed laser signal; and   a controller coupled to the first source and the second source programmed to coordinate simultaneously the generated first and second types of signals that produce a set of images comprising a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image about a target area by controlling timing and frequency of output of the first and second type signals in real-time to reduce signal interference between generated first and second signal types during the intervention procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of the generated first and second types of signals in a non-overlapping time period.   
     
     
         3 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of at least one imaging pulse signal generated from an imaging source during the time period between each consecutive laser pulse signal generated by a laser source.   
     
     
         4 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to control a laser pulse width of the laser pulse signal output during the time period when each consecutive laser pulse signal is generated by the laser source.   
     
     
         5 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to control an imaging series pulse width of at least one imaging pulse signal output during the time period when the at least one imaging pulse signal is generated by the imaging source.   
     
     
         6 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the laser pulse width is less than the imaging series pulse width in the time period. 
     
     
         7 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of at least one imaging pulse signal generated from an imaging source during the time period between each consecutive laser pulse signal generated by a laser source.   
     
     
         8 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to pause the output of the at least one imaging pulse signal generated while a laser pulse signal generated is output.   
     
     
         9 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to keep the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal at a same frequency while adjusting a duration of the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal to offset each of the signals to prevent overlap between the output of the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal.   
     
     
         10 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to collect images from an imaging device while activating a laser source to output the pulsed laser signal to perform laser ablation during the intervention procedure.   
     
     
         11 . The laser ablation and imaging system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate operation of the laser source and the imaging source to enable pulses output from the laser signal and the imaging pulse signal by at least one delivery device that includes a fiber optic catheter are prevented from overlapping.   
     
     
         12 . An intervention apparatus comprising:
 an imaging device to generate a first type of signal comprising a pulsed imaging signal;   an ablation laser device to generate a second type of signal comprising a pulsed laser signal; and   a controller coupled to the imaging device and the ablation laser device programmed to coordinate simultaneously the generated first and second types of signals that produce a set of images comprising a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image about a target area by controlling timing and frequency of output of the first and second type signals in real-time to reduce signal interference between generated first and second signal types during an intervention procedure.   
     
     
         13 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of the generated first and second types of signals in a non-overlapping time period.   
     
     
         14 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of at least one imaging pulse signal generated from the imaging device during the time period between each consecutive laser pulse signal generated by the ablation laser device.   
     
     
         15 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to control a laser pulse width of the laser pulse signal output during the time period when each consecutive laser pulse signal is generated by the ablation laser device.   
     
     
         16 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to control an imaging series pulse width of at least one imaging pulse signal output during the time period when the at least one imaging pulse signal is generated by the imaging device wherein the laser pulse width is less than the imaging series pulse width in the time period.   
     
     
         17 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate output of at least one imaging pulse signal generated from an imaging source during the time period between each consecutive laser pulse signal generated by a laser source.   
     
     
         18 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to pause the output of the at least one imaging pulse signal generated while a laser pulse signal generated is output.   
     
     
         19 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to keep the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal at a same frequency while adjusting a duration of the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal to offset each of the signals to prevent overlap between the output of the laser pulse signal and the imaging pulse signal; and   the controller programmed to collect images from the imaging device while activating the laser ablation device to output the pulsed laser signal to perform laser ablation during the intervention procedure.   
     
     
         20 . The intervention apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 the controller programmed to coordinate operation of the laser ablation device and the imaging device to enable pulses output comprising the laser signal and the imaging pulse signal by at least one delivery device that includes a fiber optic catheter wherein each signal is prevented from overlapping.