Active alignment system and method for laser optical coupling

Abstract

A method for treating a treatment site ( 106 ) within or adjacent to a vessel wall ( 108 A) or a heart valve using a catheter system ( 100 ) includes the steps of generating light energy ( 224 A, 224 B, 324 A, 324 B, 424 B) using a light source ( 124 ); directing the light energy ( 224 A, 224 B, 324 A, 324 B, 424 B) toward at least one of a first guide proximal end ( 122 P) of a first light guide ( 122 A) and a second guide proximal end ( 122 P) of a second light guide ( 122 A); determining an alignment of the light energy ( 224 A, 224 B, 324 A, 324 B, 424 B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends ( 122 P) of the light guides ( 122 A) with an optical alignment system ( 257 ); and adjusting a positioning of the light energy ( 224 A, 224 B, 324 A, 324 B, 424 B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends ( 122 P) of the light guides ( 122 A) with the optical alignment system ( 257 ) based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy ( 224 A, 224 B, 324 A, 324 B, 424 B).

1 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve using a catheter system, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating light energy using a light source;   directing the light energy toward at least one of a first guide proximal end of a first light guide and a second guide proximal end of a second light guide;   determining an alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with an optical alignment system; and   adjusting a positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the optical alignment system based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of controlling the optical alignment system with a system controller so that the light energy is substantially coupled to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of aligning the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with an optical aligner of the optical alignment system; and controlling the optical aligner with the system controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of illuminating the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with an illuminator of the optical alignment system to provide improved image quality and brightness; and controlling the illuminator and adjusting an image brightness and contrast with the system controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the alignment includes the steps of sensing the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with an image sensor of the optical alignment system; and providing a visualization of the alignment with the image sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of capturing images of a focal point of the light source with an imaging system of the optical alignment system, the imaging system including an imaging sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of capturing images includes the step of simultaneously capturing images of the focal point of the light source and a scattered energy beam scattered off the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the imaging system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of directly computing a distance offset from the center of the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the imaging system utilizing an image reference frame. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of computing a compensation adjustment of the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the imaging system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of adjusting the positioning includes adjusting the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends with an alignment positioner of the optical alignment system based on the computed compensation adjustment to substantially couple the light source and the at least one of the guide proximal ends. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of directing the light energy includes directing the light energy toward the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with a multiplexer; and further comprising the step of controlling an actuator that positions the multiplexer and aligns the light source relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with a system controller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of generating the light energy includes generating the light energy in the form of a source beam; and further comprising the steps of splitting the source beam into at least two guide beams with a dichroic beamsplitter of the multiplexer; and reflecting a reflected light energy with a shorter wavelength than the light energy emitted by the light source with the dichroic beamsplitter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of generating the light energy includes generating the light energy in the form of a source beam; and further comprising the steps of splitting the source beam into at least two guide beams with a dichroic beamsplitter of the multiplexer; and wherein reflecting a portion of the light energy emitted by the light source with a dichroic coating of the dichroic beamsplitter so that between 99% and 0.01% is reflected. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of generating the light energy includes generating the light energy in the form of a source beam; and further comprising the steps of splitting the source beam into at least two guide beams with a dichroic beamsplitter of the multiplexer; reflecting a portion of the light energy emitted toward the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the dichroic beamsplitter as an imaging beam; and directing the light energy reflected from the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides toward a detector for analysis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adjusting a yaw, pitch, and roll of at least one of the light guides with one of a stepper motor and a piezo actuator of the optical alignment system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of generating the light energy includes generating the light energy in the form of an individual guide beam; and further comprising the step of adjusting the positioning of the individual guide beam relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with optical compensators of the optical alignment system, the optical compensators including a plurality of optical steering wedges that are positioned in the path of the light source, the plurality of optical steering wedges being configured to improve the coupling of the light source and the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of moving a reflector with a reflector mover to guide the light energy relative to the guide proximal end of one of the light guides. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the light guides is an optical fiber; and wherein the light source is a laser. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light source is a pulsed IR laser. 
     
     
         20 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve using a catheter system, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining an alignment of light energy relative to at least one of a first guide proximal end of a first light guide and a second guide proximal end of a second light guide with an optical alignment system; and   adjusting a positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends of the light guides with the optical alignment system based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy.