Optical fibre with a functionalised exploration end

Abstract

An optical fibre having a functionalised distal exploration end including a sheath, and a ferrule rigidly connected to the sheath at the distal exploration end, characterised in that the distal exploration end has a functionalised head which is removably attached on the ferrule. Also, a method of assembling the optical fibre.

Claims

1. A packaging device for packaging a functionalised head, the functionalised head comprising removable attachment means intended for its assembly to an optical fibre to form a device comprising: the optical fibre having: a functionalised distal exploration end comprising a sheath, and a ferrule rigidly connected to the sheath at the distal exploration end; and the functionalised head configured to be removably attached on the ferrule, wherein the functionalised head comprises anchoring means for associating ligands, or wherein the functionalised head is functionalised with proteins or ligands, wherein the packaging device comprises a shell housing the functionalised head except for the removable attachment means, and a cover removably attached to the shell and capping said removable attachment means.

2. A method for assembling a device, using a packaging device for packaging the functionalised head, the functionalised head comprising attachment means intended for its assembly to an optical fibre, wherein the device as assembled comprises: the optical fibre having: a distal exploration end comprising a sheath, and a ferrule rigidly connected to the sheath at the distal exploration end; and the functionalised head configured to be removably attached on the ferrule, wherein the functionalised head comprises anchoring means for associating ligands, or wherein the functionalised head is functionalised with proteins or ligands, wherein the packaging device comprises a shell housing the head except for the attachment means, and a cover removably attached to the shell and capping said attachment means, said method comprising: a step of removing the cover making the removable attachment means accessible, a step of introducing the ferrule of the optical fibre into the functionalised head which is hollow, and a step of separating the shell from the functionalised head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The present invention is now described with the help of embodiments, which are for illustration only and do not limit the scope of the invention, and based on the attached illustrations, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view according to the invention of an optical fibre and of a functionalised head to be removably connected according to the invention, on the end of the optical fibre;

(3) FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, the functionalised head being connected and assembled on the optical fibre;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of variants of functional heads according to the invention each assembled at the end of an optical fibre;

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the packaging device according to the invention for a removable functionalised head of the invention for ensuring its assembly at the end of an optical fibre; and

(6) FIG. 6 shows a partial schematic view, in perspective, of an endoscope comprising three channels, one channel of which is intended to house the optical fibre with functionalised head according to the invention.

(7) The optical fibre 1 of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a functionalised exploration head 2 which is intended to be removably connected to the body of the optical fibre.

(8) The optical fibre 1 equipped with its functionalised head 2 is used, for example, in an endoscope E, such as that schematically illustrated in FIG. 5. The endoscope example schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises three channels E1, E2 and E3, intended to respectively house a light source, a camera and an optical fibre with functionalised head of the invention. The dimensions of the functionalised head and of the fibre can vary depending on the type of endoscope used. Functionalised heads with different functions can be slid via the operative channel of the endoscope.

(9) With regard to FIG. 1, the optical fibre 1 comprises a sheath 10 and at least one core 11 with longitudinal axis X; it has a downstream end (not illustrated here) which is intended to be connected in known manner to a light source and an opposite downstream 12, forming the exploration end of the optical fibre from which the light necessary for the exploration will be emitted into a cavity into which the fibre will be introduced.

(10) The exploration end 12 of the optical fibre is equipped, in known manner, with a ferrule 3 forming a rigid tip pierced at its centre and in which the sheath 10 of the optical fibre is attached.

(11) According to the invention, the functionalised exploration head 2 is removably connected to the optical fibre 1, and more particularly to the ferrule 3 of the optical fibre, by the practitioner just before use of the fibre, once the choice of head has been made depending on the type of use, in other words depending on the required function of the head. Hence, the practitioner has available a plurality of functionalised heads and chooses the head with the appropriate function for the intended application, independently of the optical fibre.

(12) In contrast to the prior art which proposes an exploration head that is already attached to the optical fibre with a view to its use, the invention provides a functionalised exploration head 2 which is independent of the optical fibre 1 before use.

(13) Advantageously, the invention also proposes, with regard to FIG. 5, a packaging for each functionalised head before use, this packaging also constituting a support device for ensuring the assembly of the optical fibre 1 to the functionalised head 2 in a quick and easy manner by the practitioner, as will be seen below.

(14) The functionalised exploration head 2 has at least one technical function related to the use of the optical fibre. It thus comprises functional elements 20 which impart a technical function to the head 2 and consequently to the optical fibre. The functionalised exploration head 2 does not have the sole task of allowing the passage of light emitted by the optical fibre, but rather also to make the optical fibre 1 functional.

(15) By way of a non-limiting example, an exploration head 2 may comprise mesoporous silica micropads 20 which are equipped with specific ligands suitable for reacting with biomarkers which the exploration head will encounter during its use, such as those placed in a cavity of the human body for detecting cancer cells by recognition of a light spectrum profile linked to the biomarkers. In another example, a functionalised head may comprise mesoporous silica micropads 20 which are equipped with photosensitiser ligands which enable the destruction of cancer cells by dynamic phototherapy.

(16) The functionalised exploration head 2 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 21 with the same central longitudinal axis X in the assembled position of the head 2 on the body of the optical fibre 1, and a distal end outer face 22 which is transverse to the axis of the cylindrical body and from which the light leaving the core 11 of the optical fibre is intended to be emitted.

(17) The hollow cylindrical body 21 is closed on its emission end face 22.

(18) At least one portion of the emission end face 22 is transparent and intended to be arranged facing the core 11 of the optical fibre.

(19) The functional elements 20 are in particular associated, secured to the emission end face 22.

(20) The functionalised exploration head 2 is secured to the ferrule 3 by mechanical assembly.

(21) The functionalised exploration head 2 preferably comprises attachment means 23 for its mechanical assembly, without tools, by mutual interaction with the ferrule 3.

(22) The mechanical assembly of the head removably connected on the ferrule 3 can be carried out, for example, by crimping, without the body 21 of the head necessarily comprising attachment means per se. However, the method of assembly by crimping requires at least one tool.

(23) In the illustrated examples, a mechanical assembly by mutual interaction without a tool is preferred, such as clipping.

(24) In the present example, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ferrule 3 comprises a smooth-walled cylindrical body, whereas the functionalised exploration head 2 comprises, as attachment means 23 by mutual interaction, lugs spaced apart and facing each other which extend in the plane of the outer face 24 opposite the light emission face 22. The lugs 23 form hooks which interact with the edge 30 of the free end of the wall of the cylindrical body of the ferrule 3. The lugs 23 play a role as stops with said edge 30, preventing any withdrawal of the ferrule 3, once it is housed in the inner space 21A of the hollow cylindrical body 21.

(25) The functionalised head 2 has, for example, its cylindrical body made of stainless steel, and comprises on its outer emission face 22, a window 25 made of transparent material, such as glass, for passage of the light emitted by the fibre. In a variant, the window 25 is an optical lens.

(26) In the variant of FIG. 3, the functionalised head is entirely made of glass, its outer emission face 22 thus being transparent.

(27) FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the mechanical assembly of the functionalised head 2 to the ferrule 3. The means for attachment by mutual interaction of the functionalised head 2 with the ferrule 3 comprises an annular rib 26 on the inside of the wall of the cylindrical body 21 of the head 2, and a circular groove 31 on the outside of the wall of the cylindrical body of the ferrule 3, the rib 26 interacting by engaging in the groove 31, locking the head 2 in position on the ferrule 3.

(28) The dimensions of the functionalised head 2 are, for example of order 20 to 30 mm in length and 1 to 3 mm in diameter. Consequently, the quick assembly procedure may be delicate with an optical fibre generally of diameter 1 mm, especially when this operation is to be carried out by the practitioner very shortly before his operation. In order to ensure a quick and simple assembly, the invention also provides a packaging device 4, such as schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, for a functionalised head 2 to be removably connected to an optical fibre.

(29) The packaging device 4 serves as a support means for the functionalised head 2 in order to hold it in position during the introduction of the optical fibre 1 into the inner space 21A of the head 2.

(30) The packaging device 4 comprises, on the one hand, a shell 40 with a part 40A or two parts 40A and 40B which house the cylindrical body 21 and the outer emission face 22, while the attachment means 23 of the head are arranged outside of the shell 40, and on the other hand a cover 42 which caps the attachment means 23.

(31) The part 40B of the shell 40 receiving at least the outer emission face 22 of the functionalised head 2 is designed, for example, equipped with a cavity, so as not to press directly on the outer emission face 22 which comprises the functional elements 20, in order to protect these functional elements.

(32) The cover 42 is removably attached on the shell 40.

(33) The shell may be in two removable parts 40A and 40B, because it may form the support of the head 2 during the procedure of depositing the functional elements 20. During the depositing procedure, the cylindrical body 21 and the head are wedged in the first part 40A and the cover 42 is assembled, while the second part 40B is not present, leaving the outer emission face 22 accessible for depositing the functional elements.

(34) After depositing, the second part 40B of the shell is assembled to close the assembly of the packaging device 4.

(35) The packaging device 4 thus protects the assembly of the functionalised head 2. When the practitioner chooses a functionalised head in order to assemble it on an optical fibre, he grips the packaging device with one hand, undoes the cover 42 of the shell 4 with the other hand, and captures the optical fibre by introducing the optical fibre 1 from the side of the ferrule 3 into the hollow inner space 21A of the head. The ferrule 3 is inserted by pushing, with a very gentle force, to elastically move apart the clipping lugs 23. Once the lugs 23 clasp the edge 30 of the ferrule, the assembly is finished and locked.

(36) Consequently, the functionalised head 2 that is to be removably connected on an ordinary optical fibre according to the invention, enables the practitioner in particular to have a significant number of heads with a reduced bulk, without having to provide an equivalent quantity of optical fibres which, otherwise, would be previously fitted and take up a significant storage volume.