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

Claim 14:
15. An optical shape sensing device comprising:
an elongated outer body configured to maneuver through a passage, the elongated outer body comprising a first substantially rigid portion, a second substantially rigid portion, and a flexible portion connected between the first and second substantially rigid portions;
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 and located within the first substantially rigid portion opposite the flexible portion; and
a force sensing region integrated with the flexible portion and configured to enable determining of an axial force exerted on a distal end of the elongated outer body by sensing changes in curvature or strain on the multicore optical fiber resulting from buckling of the flexible portion in the force sensing region in response to the axial force,
wherein the shape sensing occurs along the multicore optical fiber to the tip of the termination piece.