Patent ID: 11857268
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 17:
18. An optical shape sensing device comprising:
an elongated outer body comprising flexible tubing configured to maneuver through a passage;
a multicore optical fiber extending through the elongated outer body, and enabling shape sensing by tracking positioning of the multicore optical fiber along a length of the multicore optical fiber;
a termination piece attached to a distal tip of the multicore optical fiber, the termination piece comprising a distal tip;
a compliant material located between a portion of the multicore optical fiber and an inner surface of a corresponding portion of the elongated outer body; and
a plurality of force sensing regions embedded in the compliant material, each force sensing region comprising a solid element, lateral forces exerted on the elongated outer body displacing at least one of the solid elements of the plurality of force sensing regions,
wherein an extent of the displacing senses the lateral forces, including lateral forces exerted on the termination piece, and
wherein the shape sensing occurs along the multicore optical fiber to the tip of the termination piece.