Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: A catheter includes proximal and distal sections, a shaft coupled between the proximal and distal sections, and optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter. The distal section includes a support structure that includes a proximal end, a distal end, reflective elements, and a cap disposed over a portion of the distal end of the support structure. The proximal end includes alignment receptacles. Each of the optical fibers is inserted into corresponding ones of the alignment receptacles and the alignment receptacles are shaped to maintain the optical fibers straight in the support structure. The distal end includes orifices facing different directions. Each of the optical fibers is optically aligned with corresponding ones of the lenses, reflective elements, and orifices such that the optical fibers in the support structure are straight. The cap includes optical ports aligned with the orifices.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: A medical instrument is described that includes an optical source, an optical fiber, and a waveguide patterned upon a substrate. The optical fiber receives radiation from the optical source and includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is rotated about an optical axis relative to the first segment. The waveguide receives radiation from the optical source and guides a beam of radiation. The waveguide includes a first waveguide segment designed to impart a first differential group delay on the beam of radiation and a second waveguide segment designed to impart a second differential group delay on the beam of radiation. A sum of the first differential group delay and the second differential group delay is substantially zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing RF ablation while monitoring the procedure using low coherence interferometry (LCI) data are described. A catheter includes a distal section, a proximal section, a multiplexer, and a sheath coupled between the distal section and the proximal section. The distal section includes several interconnected optical ports configured to transmit exposure radiation toward a sample and receive radiation that have been reflected or scattered from the sample. The interconnected optical ports are formed on a substrate having rigid sections and flexible sections arranged around the distal section. A holder maintains the interconnected optical elements in a fixed spatial relationship.

Abstract: A Time Domain Optical Coherence Tomography system using a modulation scheme multiplexes the scanning range of the delay line into different spectral bands. Such a modulation scheme may allow for power consumption reduction compared with a single delay line element since the same modulation pattern is being used for several channels. In an example, the optical coherence tomography system may include a plurality of stages, each stage having a group delay element. The distinct group delays may be introduced to scan a sample with distinct electrical frequency bands at distinct axial scanning depth ranges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing RF ablation while monitoring the procedure using low coherence interferometry (LCI) data are described. A catheter includes a distal section, a proximal section, a multiplexer, and a sheath coupled between the distal section and the proximal section. The distal section includes several interconnected optical ports configured to transmit exposure radiation toward a sample and receive radiation that have been reflected or scattered from the sample. The interconnected optical ports are formed on a substrate having rigid sections and flexible sections arranged around the distal section. A holder maintains the interconnected optical elements in a fixed spatial relationship.

Abstract: A chip package includes a housing, one or more electrical connections coupled to an exterior of the housing, a photonic integrated circuit, and a scanning unit. Both the photonic integrated circuit and the scanning unit are disposed within the housing. The photonic integrated circuit has at least one waveguide designed to guide a beam of light. The scanning unit is designed to laterally scan the beam of light across a focal plane outside of the housing. The scanning unit is aligned with the photonic integrated circuit such that the beam of light is coupled between the photonic integrated circuit and the scanning unit.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit is presented that includes a substrate, and a first and second waveguide patterned on the substrate. The first waveguide guides an input beam of radiation. The photonic integrated circuit also includes a coupling region, wherein the first and second waveguides each pass through the coupling region. One or more modulating elements are coupled to each of the first and second waveguides. The first waveguide and the second waveguide have a first facet and a second facet, respectively, and first and second reflections are generated at the first and second facets within the first and second waveguides, respectively. The one or more modulating elements coupled to each of the first and second waveguides are designed to adjust the phase of the first and second reflections before the first and second reflections pass through the coupling region.

Abstract: A Time Domain Optical Coherence Tomography system using a modulation scheme multiplexes the scanning range of the delay line into different spectral bands. Such a modulation scheme may allow for power consumption reduction compared with a single delay line element since the same modulation pattern is being used for several channels. In an example, the optical coherence tomography system may include a plurality of stages, each stage having a group delay element. The distinct group delays may be introduced to scan a sample with distinct electrical frequency bands at distinct axial scanning depth ranges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing RF ablation while monitoring the procedure using low coherence interferometry (LCI) data are described. A catheter includes a distal section, a proximal section, a multiplexer, and a sheath coupled between the distal section and the proximal section. The distal section includes several interconnected optical ports configured to transmit exposure radiation toward a sample and receive radiation that have been reflected or scattered from the sample. The interconnected optical ports are formed on a substrate having rigid sections and flexible sections arranged around the distal section. A holder maintains the interconnected optical elements in a fixed spatial relationship.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit is presented that includes a substrate, and a first and second waveguide patterned on the substrate. The first waveguide guides an input beam of radiation. The photonic integrated circuit also includes a coupling region, wherein the first and second waveguides each pass through the coupling region. One or more modulating elements are coupled to each of the first and second waveguides. The first waveguide and the second waveguide have a first facet and a second facet, respectively, and first and second reflections are generated at the first and second facets within the first and second waveguides, respectively. The one or more modulating elements coupled to each of the first and second waveguides are designed to adjust the phase of the first and second reflections before the first and second reflections pass through the coupling region.