Needle with optical fibers

Abstract

Needle interventions are widely used in the field of oncology for taking biopsies of tissue in order to inspect whether tissue is cancerous or not. To make these interventions more reliable feedback of what kind of tissue is in front of the needle is required. A way to achieve this is by making use of optical spectroscopy. This requires integration of fibers into the needle. These fibers are used to deliver light to illuminate the tissue in front of the needle and to collect back the reflected light from the tissue. The present invention proposes to integrate the fiber distal ends in the slanted bevel of the needle in such a way that at least one source-detector fiber pair has a distance that is larger than the outer diameter of the needle.

Claims

1. A needle, comprising: a shaft; a tip at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip of the needle is formed by a bevel; a first fiber, the first fiber configured to transmit light, wherein an end surface of the first fiber is located at a top of the bevel; a second fiber configured to receive light, wherein an end surface of the second fiber is located at a bottom of the bevel; a third fiber, configured to receive light, wherein an end surface of the third fiber is located at the bottom of the bevel in the vicinity of the end surface of the second fiber; wherein the structure of the needle meets the following equation $\frac{A}{D}>\frac{\sin b+0.1}{\sin b};$ wherein A is a distance measured from a middle of the end surface of the first fiber to a middle of the end surface of the second fiber and a distance measured from the middle of the end surface of the first fiber to the middle of the end surface of the third fiber; wherein D is the outer diameter of the shaft; and wherein b is the tip angle of the bevel.

2. The needle of claim 1, wherein the distance (A) is greater than the diameter (D).

3. The needle of claim 2, wherein the distance (A) is more than 1.5 times greater than the diameter (D).

4. The needle of claim 2, wherein the outer diameter (D) of the shaft is between 0.711 mm and 2.108 mm.

5. The needle of claim 1, wherein the bevel forms an acute angle (b) with the shaft, such that the needle includes a pointed tip.

6. The needle of claim 5, wherein the acute angle (b) is 20°.

7. The needle of claim 1, further comprising: an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein a space is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and wherein the fibers are accommodated in the space.

8. A system for optical tissue inspection, the system comprising: a needle according to claim 1; a light source connected with the first fiber of the needle; a light detector connected with one of the second fiber or the third fiber of the needle; wherein light coming from the light source and being emitted from the end surface of the first fiber of the needle is detectable by the light detector when entering the one of the second fiber or the third fiber of the needle; and a processing unit for processing the data from the light detector, and a monitor for visualization of the processed data.

9. A needle, comprising a shaft having an outer diameter (D); a tip at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip of the needle is formed by a bevel; a first fiber configured to transmit light, wherein an end surface of the first fiber is located at a top of the bevel; a second fiber configured to transmit light, wherein an end surface of the second fiber is located at a bottom of the bevel, wherein an end surface of the first fiber and the end surface of the second fiber are arranged at a distance (A) to each other, and wherein the distance (A) is greater than the diameter (D); and a third fiber, configured to transmit light, wherein an end surface of the third fiber is located at the bottom of the bevel in the vicinity of the end surface of the second fiber.

10. The needle of claim 9, wherein the end surface of the first fiber and the end surface of the third fiber are arranged at the distance (A) to each other.

11. The needle of claim 9, wherein the distance (A) is more than 1.5 times greater than the diameter (D).

12. The needle of claim 9, wherein the outer diameter (D) of the shaft (110, 210) is between 0.711 mm and 2.108 mm.

13. The needle of claim 9, wherein the bevel forms an acute angle (b) with the shaft, such that the needle includes a pointed tip.

14. The needle of claim 13, wherein the acute angle (b) is 20°.

15. The needle of claim 9, further comprising: an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein a space is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and wherein the fibers are accommodated in the space.

16. A system for optical tissue inspection, the system comprising: a needle according to claim 9; a light source connected with the first fiber of the needle; a light detector connected with the second and third fibers of the needle, wherein light coming from the light source and being emitted from the end surface of the first fiber can be detected by the light detector when entering the second and third fibers; a processing unit for processing the data from the light detector, and a monitor for visualization of the processed data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the tip portion of a needle according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a front view of the needle according to the first embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a front view of a needle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a tip portion of a needle according to the second embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a system according to the invention, the system including a needle according to a third embodiment of the invention.

(6) The illustration in the drawings is schematically only and not to scale. It is noted in different figures, same or similar elements are provided with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the tip portion of a needle according to a first embodiment of the invention. The needle 100 includes a shaft 110 having a longitudinal axis or centre axis 150. Parallel to the centre axis, there are formed two bores or channels, in which fibers 130, 140 are located, respectively. These fibers, namely the first fiber 130 and the second fiber 140, include end surfaces 132, 142, respectively.

(8) Further, the shaft 110 is cut at its distal end, such that a bevel 120 is formed. The bevel 120 is a slanted surface which can be divided in an area named as top 122 of the bevel, and an area named as bottom 124 of the bevel. Further, the bevel 120 enclose an angle b with the center axis of the shaft 110. The angle b is preferably an acute angle of approximately 20°.

(9) The end surface 132 of the first fiber 130 is located at the top of the bevel and the end surface 142 of the second fiber 140 is located at the bottom of the bevel. After positioning the ends of the fibers in the channels or bores in the shaft, the bevel together with the ends of the fibers might be polished. By way of this, a smooth or even surface might be achieved including two end surfaces of fibers, wherein such polished end surfaces provide for good optical characteristics.

(10) As further depict in FIG. 1, a distance A is defined, which is measured from a middle of the end surface 132 of the first fiber 130 to the middle of the end surface 142 of the second fiber 140.

(11) FIG. 2 is a front view of the needle according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows the bevel 120 together with the end surface 132 of the first fiber and the end surface 142 of the second fiber. Furthermore, the usually circular cross section of the shaft of the needle 100 defines a diameter D. The distance A (see FIG. 1) is larger than the outer diameter D of the needle, wherein A>1.1D or even A>1.25D, and preferably A>1.5D.

(12) With b as the tip angle of the bevel, the following equation might count

(13) $\begin{array}{cc}\frac{A}{D}>\frac{\sin b+0.1}{\sin b}& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

(14) In the case of the first embodiment, in which the needle is provided with a first fiber at the top of the bevel, and with a second fiber at the bottom of the bevel, the first fiber might serve as a light source emitting light into surrounding tissue, and the second fiber might serve as a detector fiber collecting reflected light.

(15) FIG. 3 is a front view of a needle according to a second embodiment of the invention. Generally, the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. The second embodiment also includes a shaft, a bevel forming an acute angle with the shaft, a first fiber at the top of the bevel, and a second fiber at the bottom of the bevel.

(16) Additionally, the needle according to the second embodiment comprises a third fiber with an end surface 252. The third fiber is arranged in a channel or through bore which is formed parallel to the centre axis of the shaft and, thus, parallel to the channels of the first and second fibers. Further, the end surface 252 of the third fiber is located in the vicinity of the end surface of the second fiber, at the bottom 224 of the bevel 220.

(17) In the case of the second embodiment, in which the needle is provided with a first fiber at the top of the bevel, and with second and third fibers at the bottom of the bevel, the first fiber might serve as a light source emitting light into surrounding tissue, and the second and third fibers might serve as detector fibers collecting reflected light.

(18) FIG. 4 shows the tip portion of the needle according to the second embodiment as an isometric view. This view illustrates that the actual shape of the surface of the bevel as well as of the end surfaces of the fibers is substantially oval.

(19) FIG. 5 illustrates a system according to the invention. The system includes a needle 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this illustration, the needle 300 is an assembly of a tip part 310, an inner tube 352, an outer tube 350, and a holder part 360. Furthermore, two fibers 330 and 340 are shown in the needle.

(20) An important part of the needle is the needle tip, in which two or three bores are manufactured. In each bore a fiber is mounted, by gluing. The tip is fixed to both inner tube and outer tube by welding or gluing, wherein the inner and outer diameters of the inner and the outer tube are adapted to correspond respective structures at the proximal shaft section of the tip part. A space 356 between the tubes might be achieved, into which the through bores in the tip part are open out. Coming out of the bores of the tip part, the fibers 330, 340 are positioned in the hollow space 356 between both tubes.

(21) The tip, fibers and both tubes, once assembled, are fixed to a needle holder. Inside the holder the inner tube is connected with a connector to which for instance a syringe or other tubing can be fixed. In this way volumes of fluid can be dispensed through the channel 354 of the inner tube and tip part, without interaction with the fibers. The needle holder 360 also contains separate exit 362 for the fibers. After assembling tip, fibers, tubes and holder, the bevel 320 of the needle (i.e. the needle tip) is polished to obtain a proper surface quality for the fibers.

(22) To have appropriate properties of the different parts of the needle, the tip part might be made of a metal, an alloy or ceramic material, and the shaft tubes might be made of a metal material, wherein the metal material should be MRI compatible, for example titanium.

(23) Further, the system comprises a light source 332, a light detector 342, a processing unit 370 and a monitor 380. The processing unit 370 is capable of controlling the light source 332 to emit light into the fiber 330 such that light will be emitted through the distal end surface of the fiber 330 at the top of the bevel 320 into surrounding tissue. Depending on what kind of tissue is in front of the bevel, more or less of the emitted light will be reflected in the direction of the bottom of the bevel, to be received be the other fiber 340. Through the fiber 340, the light will is led to the light detector 342, which detector is adapted to transform the light into electrical signals. These electrical signals will be send by, for example, wire to the processing unit. The processing unit will process the data corresponding to the electrical signals, so that the processed data might be visualized on a monitor 380. Based on said visualized data, it might be possible to diagnose whether or not a tissue is cancerous.

(24) In the following, exemplary needles according to the invention will be described with respect to their outer diameter, their insertion length, and their preferred use.

(25) A biopsy needle might have an outer diameter of 1.27 mm up to 2.108 mm, might be inserted into tissue with 100 mm to 150 mm of its length, and might be used in soft tissue core biopsies in the neck, the head, the breast, the prostate, and the liver.

(26) A fine aspiration needle of soft tissue might have an outer diameter between 0.711 mm and 2.108 mm, might be inserted into soft tissue with 100 mm to 150 mm of its length, and might be used for aspiration of soft tissue.

(27) A brain biopsy needle might have an outer diameter of 2.108 mm, might be inserted into tissue with 150 mm up to 250 mm of its length, and might be used for diagnostic brain biopsies.

(28) A neuro puncture needle might have an outer diameter of 1.27 mm up to 2.108 mm, might be inserted into tissue with 150 mm to 200 mm of its length, wherein such needles allow a non-traumatic approach to lesions in the brain.

(29) An epidural needle might have an outer diameter between 0.711 mm and 1.473 mm, might be inserted into tissue with a length of up to 150 mm, and might be used for treatments in the spinal cord area such as steroid injections in the epidural space.

(30) Finally, a needle electrode might have an outer diameter of 2 108 mm and smaller, might be inserted into tissue up to 250 mm of its length, and might be used for radiofrequency ablation for instance of tumors.

(31) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

(32) Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A processing unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(33) 100, 200, 300 needle 110, 210 shaft 120, 220, 320 bevel 122 top of the bevel 124, 224 bottom of the bevel 130, 330 first fiber 132, 232 end surface of first fiber 140, 340 second fiber 142, 242 end surface of second fiber 150 longitudinal axis of needle 252 end surface of third fiber 310 tip part 332 light source 342 light detector 350 outer tube 352 inner tube 354 channel 356 space between inner and outer tubes 360 holder part 362 opening 370 processing unit 380 monitor