Patent ID: 6463313
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A medical system configured to be guided through body tissue, said medical system comprising: a medical instrument having a first end and a second end; and at least one guidance system comprising a first optic fiber for propagating a sampling light beam, said first optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a second optic fiber for propagating a reference light beam, said second optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a reference mirror positioned adjacent said second optic fiber second end, and a detecting element communicatively coupled to said first ends of said first and second optic fibers, said first optic fiber coupled to said medical instrument so that said first optic fiber second end is adjacent said, second end of said medical instrument, wherein said medical instrument second end is configured to direct the sampling light beam substantially coaxially with respect to said medical instrument second end, wherein said detecting element is configured to determine interference between the sampling light beam and the reference light beam, and wherein said at least one guidance system is configured to determine the type of tissue positioned a distance from the second end of the first fiber and to advance said medical instrument or terminate said advancement based upon said determination.