US-20260126641-A1 - IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH FIBER OPTIC LIGHT SOURCES

Abstract

Imaging instruments and related methods are disclosed. In some examples, an elongated body may include a channel extending through at least a portion of the elongated body and an articulable portion extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body. A fiber optic bundle may be disposed in and extend through the channel of the elongated body. A sheath may be disposed in the channel along at least a portion of the elongated body including the articulable portion. At least a portion of the fiber optic bundle may be disposed in the sheath. The axial compressive stiffness of the sheath may be greater than an axial compressive stiffness of the fiber optic bundle to at least partially shield the fiber optic bundle from axial forces and limit axial movement of the fiber optic bundle during articulation of the elongated body.

Inventors

• S. Christopher Anderson

Assignees

• Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20221206

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An imaging instrument comprising: an elongated body including a channel extending through the elongated body, wherein the elongated body includes an articulable portion extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body; a fiber optic bundle configured to be operatively coupled to a light source, wherein the fiber optic bundle is disposed in and extends through the channel of the elongated body; and a sheath disposed in the channel, wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic bundle is disposed in the sheath, and wherein an axial compressive stiffness of the sheath is greater than an axial compressive stiffness of the fiber optic bundle.
2. 2 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein a lateral stiffness of the sheath is less than the axial compressive stiffness of the sheath.
3. 3 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sheath is axially fixed relative to both the elongated body and the fiber optic bundle at a distal location positioned distal from the articulable portion of the elongated body.
4. 4 . The imaging instrument of claim 3 , wherein the sheath extends from the distal location to a proximal location positioned proximal to the articulable portion of the elongated body.
5. 5 . (canceled)
6. 6 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic bundle and the sheath are laterally offset from a central longitudinal axis of the channel in at least one configuration of the articulable portion.
7. 7 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic bundle is a first fiber optic bundle and the sheath is a first sheath, and wherein the imaging instrument further comprises: a second fiber optic bundle configured to be operatively coupled to the light source, wherein the second fiber optic bundle is disposed in and extends through the channel of the elongated body, and a second sheath disposed in the channel, wherein at least a portion of second fiber optic bundle is disposed in the second sheath, wherein the fiber optic bundle and the second fiber optic bundle form a primary fiber optic bundle at a location proximal to the articulable portion of the elongated body.
8. 8 . (canceled)
9. 9 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sheath comprises a solid coil spring.
10. 10 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sheath comprises a plurality of joined serially arranged rings.
11. 11 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sheath comprises a hollow core cable.
12. 12 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a photosensitive detector disposed on a distal portion of the elongated body located distally from the articulable portion of the elongated body.
13. 13 . The imaging instrument of claim 12 , wherein the photosensitive detector is oriented in a distal direction, and wherein the fiber optic bundle extends up to a distally oriented surface of the distal portion of the elongated body.
14. 14 . The imaging instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is configured to pass through an internal lumen of an endoscope.
15. 15 - 16 . (canceled)
16. 17 . A method of illuminating a surface, the method comprising: articulating an articulable portion of an elongated body including a channel extending through the elongated body; illuminating the surface with light emitted from a fiber optic bundle disposed in and extending through the channel of the elongated body; and limiting axial movement of at least a portion of the fiber optic bundle disposed in the articulable portion of the elongated body with a sheath disposed in the channel.
17. 18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising at least partially shielding the fiber optic bundle from axial stresses with the sheath.
18. 19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising imaging the surface.
19. 20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein imaging the surface includes imaging the surface with a photosensitive detector disposed on a distal portion of the elongated body located distally from the articulable portion of the elongated body.
20. 21 . (canceled)

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority to and the filing date benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/287,446, filed Dec. 8, 2021, entitled “IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH FIBER OPTIC LIGHT SOURCES,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD Disclosed examples are related to imaging systems with fiber optic light sources. BACKGROUND Minimally invasive medical techniques are aimed at reducing the amount of extraneous tissue that is damaged during diagnostic or surgical procedures, thereby reducing patient recovery time, discomfort, and deleterious side effects. The average length of a hospital stay for a standard surgery may also be shortened significantly using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Thus, an increased adoption of minimally invasive techniques could save millions of hospital days, and millions of dollars annually in hospital residency costs alone. Patient recovery times, patient discomfort, surgical side effects, and time away from work may also be reduced with minimally invasive surgery. A common form of minimally invasive surgery is endoscopy. Endoscopic instruments generally include an endoscope (for viewing the surgical field) and working tools. In endoscopic procedures, the working tools may be similar to those used in conventional (e.g., open) procedures, except that the working end or end effector of each tool may be separated from its handle by an extension tube. In some instances, an endoscope, or other medical instrument, may include an imaging instrument to permit the medical practitioner to view the procedure within the surgical site. SUMMARY In one example, an imaging instrument includes: an elongated body including a channel extending through the elongated body, where the elongated body includes an articulable portion extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body; a fiber optic bundle configured to be operatively coupled to a light source, where the fiber optic bundle is disposed in and extends through the channel of the elongated body; and a sheath disposed in the channel, where at least a portion of the fiber optic bundle is disposed in the sheath, and an axial compressive stiffness of the sheath is greater than an axial compressive stiffness of the fiber optic bundle. In another example, a method of illuminating a surface includes: articulating an articulable portion of an elongated body including a channel extending through the elongated body; illuminating the surface with light emitted from a fiber optic bundle disposed in and extending through the channel of the elongated body; and limiting axial movement of at least a portion of the fiber optic bundle disposed in the articulable portion of the elongated body with a sheath disposed in the channel. In yet another example, an articulating instrument includes: an elongated body including a channel extending through the elongated body, where the elongated body includes an articulable portion extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body; a fiber optic bundle configured to be operatively coupled a light source, where the fiber optic bundle is disposed in and extends through the channel of the elongated body; and a solid coil spring disposed in at least a portion of the channel, wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic bundle is disposed in the solid coil spring. It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting examples when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic of one example of an imaging system; FIG. 2A is a schematic side view of one example of a distal articulable portion of an imaging instrument; FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the imaging instrument of FIG. 2A taken along line 2B; FIG. 3A is a schematic top view of one example of a distal articulable portion of an imaging instrument; FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the imaging instrument of FIG. 3A taken along line 3B; FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective partial cross-sectional of a distal articulable portion of an imaging instrument; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of parallel fiber optic bundles extending distally from a primary fiber optic bundle both with and without an elastic jacket bundling the separate fiber optic bundles together; FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a f