Micro-optic probes for neurology

Abstract

An imaging system for a patient comprises an imaging probe. The imaging probe comprises: an elongate shaft for insertion into the patient and comprising a proximal end, a distal portion, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal portion; a rotatable optical core comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the rotatable optical core configured to optically and mechanically connect with an interface unit; a probe connector positioned on the elongate shaft proximal end and surrounding at least a portion of the rotatable optical core and an optical assembly positioned in the elongate shaft distal portion and proximate the rotatable optical core distal end, the optical assembly configured to direct light to tissue and collect reflected light from the tissue. A shear-thinning fluid can be provided between the elongate shaft and the rotatable optical core, such as to reduce undesired rotational variations of the rotatable optical core.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An imaging system for a patient comprising:
 an imaging probe comprising:   an elongate shaft for insertion into the patient and comprising a proximal end, a distal portion, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal portion;   a rotatable optical core comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the rotatable optical core configured to optically and mechanically connect with a console;   a probe connector positioned on the elongate shaft proximal end and surrounding at least a portion of the rotatable optical core; and   an optical assembly positioned in the elongate shaft distal portion and proximate the rotatable optical core distal end, the optical assembly configured to direct light to tissue and collect reflected light from the tissue;   wherein the imaging probe is constructed and arranged to collect image data from a patient site based on the directed light and the reflected light,   wherein the optical assembly is configured to be positioned within a first blood vessel proximate a patient site and to collect the image data from the patient site, and   wherein the patient site comprises a location outside of the blood vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the patient site comprises a location within the intrathecal space of the spine. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the patient site comprises a location within a second blood vessel that is outside of the first blood vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the patient site comprises a location within tissue that is outside of the first blood vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the imaging probe is configured to access blood vessels of the brain. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the optical assembly comprises an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of at least a portion of the elongate shaft proximal to the optical assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the imaging system includes a sensor that receives a signal related to the tissue, the console configured to process the signal, and a display configured to display a three-dimensional image from an output of the console in response to a retraction of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the elongate shaft distal portion comprises an optically transparent window, and wherein the optical assembly is positioned within the optically transparent window. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging system according to  claim 9 , wherein the optically transparent window comprises a length less than 20 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable optical core is constructed and arranged to rotate in a single direction. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a retraction assembly constructed and arranged to retract the elongate shaft and the optical assembly while the imaging probe collects data from a target area. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the imaging probe of the imaging system is configured to provide to the console quantitative or qualitative information used to determine the size of a flow diverter of an implant to be implanted in the patient or position a flow diverter in the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging system according to  claim 13 , wherein the quantitative and/or qualitative information comprises information related to a parameter selected from the group consisting of: perforator location; perforator geometry; neck size; flow diverter mesh density; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the imaging probe of the imaging system is configured to provide implant site information, and wherein the implant site information is used to select a particular implantable device for implantation in the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the imaging probe further comprises a torque shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the torque shaft is fixedly attached to the rotatable optical core such that rotation of the torque shaft rotates the rotatable optical core. 
     
     
         17 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a rotation assembly constructed and arranged to rotate the rotatable optical core. 
     
     
         18 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the console comprises:
 a rotation assembly constructed and arranged to rotate the rotatable optical core; and   a retraction assembly constructed and arranged to retract at least one of the rotatable optical core or the elongate shaft.