Electro-optical instruments and methods for producing same

Improvements in catheters, particularly of the electrooptical type employing light energy and detect and measure body variables, such as blood pressure and flow and the composition of body fluid. Catheter head and medical instrument structures are provided which may be easily fabricated at low cost to receive and hold light pipes and to contain or define optical components, such as reflectors, lenses and the like, to permit their use in detecting such variables while the instrument or catheter is located in the body. Improvements are also provided in the structures of instrument capsules adapted to be swallowed and allowed to pass through the digestive tract for the purpose of detecting body variables such as the composition of body fluid and tissue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention is in the field of medical instruments including catheters, 
which are particularly useful in sensing variables existing in living 
beings, such as the composition of blood and body fluid, contents of the 
digestive tract and the like, fluid pressure in a body duct and the 
condition of tissue, such as the lining of the digestive tract and the 
condition of blood vessels and their contents by visual and computer 
analysis. 
2. The Prior Art 
The prior art consists of catheters and instruments provided with light 
transmission and receiving means for viaually inspecting body ducts. Such 
devices as boroscopes and endoscopes as well as other medical instruments, 
have employed means, insertable into a body duct through a natural opening 
or incision made by a tool, for illuminating a portion of the interior of 
the duct and receiving light energy for providing a visual indication of 
the material in the duct and the duct wall to a person using such 
instrument. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to new and improved structures in medical 
instruments and methods for fabricating same whereby they are improved in 
their operation and simplified in their structure and assemblyin a manner 
suchas to reduce their cost to manufacture. 
It is known in the art to produce medical instruments, such as catheters 
and a variety of other instruments which employ light for the purpose of 
performing viewing and detecting operations with respect to body fluid and 
tissue associated with a living being for the purpose of detecting 
specific elements or compositions and diagnosing various conditions and 
maladies. Light pipes, such as flexible bundles of optical fibers, have 
been used in endoscopes and the like to permit a physician to view matter 
within a body such, such as select portions of the digestive tract 
including the wall thereof, on a viewing screen located at the end of the 
instruments which is exterior of the body during its use. Light pipe 
containing catheters have also be employed to view the interiors of body 
ducts and to direct laser generated light energy to select locations of 
body ducts for performing such operations as destroying blood clots, 
corterizing wounds and the like. 
The instant invention is concerned with improving the constructions of 
medical instruments which are particularly used to transmit and receive 
light, to render them easier to assemble, calibrate, use and maintain than 
similar instruments of the prior art and to fabricate at lower cost. The 
improved medical instruments, including catheters, may be employed to 
perform either or both of two primary functions, to inspect a body duct 
and/or its contents and to provide and direct intense radiation, such as 
laser generated light, against select matter existing within bodyducts for 
the purpose of operating on same, such as by heating, vaporinzing or 
buring same, such as in the performance of a tissue repair or removal 
operation thereon, a corterizing operation, a blood clot removing 
operation, or an inspection operation involving the vaproization or 
burning of tissue or body fluid. 
Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide new and 
improved structures and constructions in medical instruements including 
catheters and other instruments which are intended to be partly inserted 
into a body cavity or duct and utilize optical and/or electro-optical 
means for inspecting or viewing and/or otherwise operating on body matter 
with light. 
Another object is to provide improvements in catheters employing 
photooptical means for detecting body tissue and body fluid variables. 
Another object is to provide electro-optical instruments of simplified 
construction. 
Another object is to provide medical catheters and the like which may 
detect a plurality of variables employing light energy which is varied or 
modulated to effect such detection. 
Another object is to provide photo-optical devices which are simple in 
structure and relatively low in cost. 
Another object is to provide low cost expendable catheters for use in 
detecting biological elements in body fluids. 
Another object is to provide improved constructions in medical instruments 
which utilize light to detect body variables wherein housing for such 
instruments are of molded construction and contain select molded portions 
which receive and guide light for detection purposes. 
Another object is to provide a medical instrument capable of simultaneously 
detecting body fluid pressure and one or more variables defining the 
composition of body fluid. 
Another object is to proide improved constructions in electro-optical 
instruments employing one or more light pipes, such as fiber optic 
bundles, wherein such light pipes are supported and aligned within a 
molded housing by portions of the housing. 
Another object is to provide a medical instrument which is capable of 
detecting both body temperature and fluid pressure or heart rate 
simultaneously. 
Another object is to provide improvements in the construction of medical 
capsules. 
Another object is to provide improved methods for detecting fluid pressure 
and flow simultaneously using a single instrument. 
With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully 
appear from studying the specification and drawings, the invention 
consists of the novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be 
more fully described hereafter, but it is to be understood that changes 
and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the 
claims.

In FIG. 1 is shown the operating end of an instrument or device 10, such as 
a catheter or other form of instrument which is adapted to be inserted 
into a body cavity, a wound or incision formed by surgery in a living 
being. The device 10 may also be utilized, as described hereafter, to 
measure a plurality of variables with respect to non-living material. 
Device 10 includes an elongated housing 11, illustrated as having a 
cylindrical wall with a tapered forward end 12, the end 13 of which is 
smoothly rounded to permit it to pass through, for example, a body cavity 
of similar or greater diameter than the diameter or cross section of the 
device. 
If the device 10 is a catheter, a cable 21 extending from the rear end [not 
shown] of the flexible catheter tube assembly, terminates near the end 13 
of the operating hed, as shown, and is formed of four separate flexible 
light pipes denoted 22, 24, 26 and 28. The ends of such flexible light 
pipes are formed with respective lenses denoted 23, 25, 27 and 29 and are 
held in fixed longitudinal attitudes in respective receptacles formed of 
passageways extending through an interior bulkhead or wall 12S which is 
illustrated as being molded of the same material forming the side wall of 
the operating head, it being noted that such material is preferably a 
rigid or semi-rigid transparent, light transmitting plastic and the 
operating head is molded of two half-sections, of substantially 
semi-cylindrical shape, which are aligned and joined together to form the 
cylindrical housing, preferably by adhesive bonding, ultrasonic or radio 
frequency welding. 
Formed in the front end portion 13 of the housing 11 is an indentation or 
cavity 16 having a somewhat cylindrically shaped circumscribing side wall 
17 containing laterally opposed and aligned flat wall portions 17A and 17B 
which define windows through which light energy may pass to be directed 
through and across the cavity 16 for scanning fluent material, such as 
body fluid, existing in such cavity. The bottom wall 18 of the indentation 
defining the cavity 16 is formed with a central recess 18A or opening 
therein across which opening is disposed a thin, disc-shaped plate or 
membrane 19 which may deflect with variations in fluid pressure applied 
thereto through the fluid in the cavity 16. Such variations in fluid 
pressure may be detected photo-optically exterior of the operating head or 
catheter 11 by means of light, such as laser light, directed through the 
light pipe or fiber optic bundle 24 from a laser disposed at the other end 
of such light pipe, such as exteriorallyof the instrument or catheter. 
Such light is directed by means of lens 25 against the inside surface of 
the thin plate or membrane 19 and is reflected therefrom to the receiving 
lens 27 of the light pipe 26 whereafter it passes along the light pipe to 
the other end thereof at which other end is located a photoelectric 
detector, such as a photo-diode [not shown] which converts variations in 
such reflected light to variable electrical signals which are computer 
processed and analyzed to provide digital electrical signals indicative of 
the degree of deflection of the diaphragm 19, which are an indication of 
the fluid pressure applied thereto. 
The apparatus 10 also contains a plurality of reflecting surfaces 14 and 
15, formed by properly molding the front end of the inside surface of the 
housing, for respectively receiving light energy passed through the lens 
23 of the light pipe 22 from a source of light, such as a laser or other 
source, located at the other end of light pipe 22, which light is directed 
as a beam against the reflecting surface 14 as reflected through the flat 
window portion 17A of the side wall, then passes through the interior of 
the cavity 16 to the flat window portion 17B formed in the opposite 
portion of the side wall 17 where it passes into the interior volume at 
the end of the operating head and is reflected off reflecting surface 15 
formed of the inside surface of the end wall 13, then, such light is 
directed to the receiving lens 29 of the light pipe 28 along which it 
passes to a photoelectric detector [not shown] which is coupled to the 
other end of light pipe 28. In other words, light directed along and from 
the end of light pipe 22 is reflected through fluid, such as body liquid 
existing in cavity 16 and is nodulated by the physical and chemical 
contents of such body fluid, causing variations in the content of such 
light, which variations may be detected by one or more techniques 
including computerized signal analysis of the electrical signals generated 
when themodulated light is converted to electrical signals. Furthermore, 
such received light may also be spectrographically analyzed to permit the 
light passing through the fluid sample to detect both physical and 
chemical variables present in the fluid being scanned thereby. 
By utilizing the detection means and arrangement of components illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 and 2, fluid pressure and one or a number of physical and 
chemical variables present in such fluid, may be simultaneously detected 
within a duct, such as a blood vessel, intestinal tract or other body 
duct, without resort to a plurality of devices and assemblies. 
Also illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, is a flexible cable 30 
secured to and extending along the outside surface of the instrument or 
catheter 11 by means of a band 33, such as a strap or plastic film shrunk 
around the two assemblies, holding the cable tightly against the outside 
surface of the housing defining the instrument. Cable 30 contains a light 
source 31 and a viewing optical assembly 32 of a multitude of light pipes, 
for receiving light from such light source after it has reflected off 
surfaces in the vicinity of the end of the assembly 11 to permit a person 
at the other end of the instrument or light pipe to view the wall of the 
body duct so as to properly locate the catheter and position the operating 
head thereof at a select location within the body duct. Accordingly, 
coupled to the opposite end of the cable 30 is a light source for 
directing light along the flexible light pipe 31 and an eyepiece with 
suitable optics for providing an image on a viewing screen thereof, of 
light directed through themultiple optical fibers of the light pipe 32. 
In FIG. 3 is shown a modified form of the instrument illustrated in FIGS. 1 
and 2 which comprises a catheter 34 or otherform of instrument, having a 
cylindrical wall 35 defining the operating end of such catheter or 
instrument and formed of a transparent rigid or semi-rigid self-supporting 
plastic. The end wall 36 of the operating head of the instrument is 
rounded and contains a centrally formed cavity 37 in the circumscribing 
side wall 38 formed in the manner of the side wall 17 of the cavity 16 of 
FIG. 1 and operable to permit a beam of light to pass laterally across 
such cavity, as illustrated. A plurality of light pipes or fiber optic 
bundles, denoted 46 and 47, respectively conduct light, such as laser 
light, froma source of such light to the end 48 of the assembly of light 
pipes and receive such light after it has passed throug hfluid or liquid 
in the cavity 37 for conducting same back along the light pipe 47 to a 
photoelectric detector. 
Notation 42 refers to a support for a lens formation 43 which, together 
with such support, are integrally molded of the same light-transmitting 
plastic forming the side wall 35. The lends formation 43 is operable to 
receive light from the light pipe 46, direct same along the path 
illustrated to a reflecting surface 40 formed in the upper portion of the 
end wall 36, which reflects such light through the flat portion of the 
side wall 38 surrounding the cavity 37 and across such cavity through the 
opposite flat formation of the side wall, thence against a reflecting 
surface 41 forming the inside surface of the end wall 36 and therefrom to 
the lens formation 43 which directs such reflected light to certain of the 
fibers of the optical fiber bundle 47 which fibers extend to a receiving 
photoelectric detector or array of such detectors for either image signal 
analyzing and/or spectrographic signal analyzing such light to determine 
certain physical and chemical characteristics. of the matter scanned. 
A portion of the light directed from the end of fiber optic bundle 46 is 
directed through a convex or focusing portion 44 of the lens formation 43 
which directs such light against the inside surface of a thinwall or 
diaphragm forming part of or sealingly attached to the bottom wall 39 of 
the cavity 37 and communicating with the interior volume of the head of 
the instrument through an opening therein which opening is positioned to 
permit such plate or diaphragm to variably deflect with variations in 
pressure of the body fluid in the cavity 37. Thus light focused by lens 
formation 44 against the inside surface of the diaphragm 19, is reflected 
back to such lens formation 44 which refocuses such light through the lens 
43 to a second group of receiving optical fibers forming the riber optic 
bundle 47 and such latter fibers direct such reflected light to a 
respective photoelectric detector at the other end thereof for detecting 
same and generating electrical signals which are analyzed to determine the 
pressure of fluid and/or other variations which occur therein with time. 
Reflecting surfaces 40 and 41 which respectively direct light to the 
cavity 37 and from the cavity back to the lens formation 43, are each 
formed of respective opposed portions of the end wall 36 by molding thus 
eliminating the need for assembling small mirrors inside the housing. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 
1-3 and comprises an instrument 50 for electro-optically detecting 
characteristics of matter, such as body fluid existing outside of the 
instrument, and fluid pressure. The instrument 50 includes an elongated 
housing 51 having a closed end wall 52 made of light transmitting resin or 
glass material and having a portion 53 thereof shaped in the form of a 
focusing lens and a plurality of portions of the end wall interiorally 
shaped to define respective flat surfaces 54 and 55 which serve to reflect 
light from one to the other and then along a select path parallel to the 
central axis of the housing. 
Supported by a plurality of spacers, one denoted 61 of which is illustrated 
and is either formed of or secured to the inside surface of the housing, 
are five light pipes, preferably formed of bundles of optical fibers and 
extending parallel to the central axis of the housing from the opposite 
end thereof [not shown]. A first light pipe 62 is optically coupled to a 
source of light, such as a laser, and directs light therefrom against a 
reflecting-transmitting mirror-like formation 59 which may be formed 
integral with the wall of the housing by molding or may be secured thereto 
and is operable to pass a portion of the light beam emitted from the light 
pipe 62 to the mirror surface 54 and a second portion of said light beam 
to a focusing lens portion 60 which directs such light against the inside 
surface of a diaphragm 19 which is supported by opposite flat wall 
portions 57A and 57B which define a lateral channel or recess 57 in the 
lower portion of the housing 51. The diaphragm, which is mounted in wall 
57C joingin the wall portions 57A and 57B, deflects as described, with 
variations in fluid pressure and such deflections are detected when light 
which is reflected therefrom passes back through the lens 60 and is 
reflected off the upper portion of the reflecting surface of the mirror 59 
back to the input of the light pipe 63 which directs such light to the 
other end thereof at which end a photoelectric detector detects and 
converts the variable light energy to a variable electrical signal which 
is analyzed as to the volume surrounding the end of the housing 51. 
A portion of the light emitted from the end of the light pipe 63 passes 
completely through the mirror 59 and, as described,is reflected from 
surfaces 54, 55 and directed laterally through the recess 57 to the input 
end of the light pipe 66, which pipe extends to a second photoelectric 
detector located at the other end thereof, which generates a variable 
electrical signal which varies in accordance with variations in the 
optical characteristics of the fluid in the recess 57, such as caused by 
particles and biological elements therein. 
Light, such as generated by a laser, is also directed along light pipe 64, 
through lens 53, a formation molded in the end wall 52 which focuses light 
against matter exterior of thehousing, such as blood or other fluid 
containing chemical and biological elements which modulate such focused 
light and reflect same back to the lens formation 53 which directs such 
reflected light to the input end of light pipe 65 which extends to a 
photoelectric detector and/or a spectrographic detector connected to means 
for analyzing the spectroscopic characteristics of the fluid as defined by 
the characteristics of the reflected light passed along light pipe 65. 
It is briefly noted that a variety of light directing devices, such as lens 
formations, collecting and transmitting mirror formations, prisms and 
prismatic formations, diffusers, and light pipes, may be integrally 
precision molded of light transmitting resinous material forming part of a 
housing or an insert in a housing, such as one of the types illustrated 
herein, to properly direct light from one or more sources or light pipes 
within such housing for performing one or a plurality of different 
measurement functions of the types described, such as detecting variations 
in fluid pressure, the physical and chemical contents of fluid disposed 
exterior of and/or within such housing. Certain of such optical components 
may also be provided as inserts whch are precision aligned within the 
optical component or housing by means of extensions of the inside surface 
of the wall or walls of the housing and/or indentations or channels molded 
therein to effect the fabrication of the instrument or its components in 
an efficient, low-cost manner. By way of example, one or more light pipes 
may be fabricated by extrusion or by molding same integral with the inside 
surface or surfaces of a tubular housing or housing linner of an 
instrument or operating head of a catheter and may be utilized for the 
purposes described to direct light along one or more select paths into 
such housings and to receive and direct reflected light out of the 
housing. 
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate modifications to an instrument housing or operating 
head of a catheter which employs a plurality of optical beams to detect 
physical and/or chemical characteristics of the fluid exterior of the 
housing and fluid pressure. In FIG. 5, the end wall portion 72 of the 
tubular housing 71 of an instrument or head 70 of a catheter, is provided 
with a laterally extending or passageway 73 across which light is directed 
in two directions from either a single source or two sources thereof as 
described, one of which passes between opposite wall portions of the 
channel, while the other isfocused by means of a lens formation of the 
type illustrated in FIG. 4, beyond the end of the housing and reflected 
back to the bottom wall of the channel for the purpose illustrated in FIG. 
4 and described above. 
In FIG. 6, a cylindrical housing 75 defining the operating head of a 
catheter or enclosure of an instrument, contains a channel 77 extending 
around a portion of the end wall thereof to the side wall thereof. A light 
beam is illustrated as being projected laterally across such channel, 
preferably between the ends of respective transmitting and receiving light 
pipes or mirror-like surfaces as described which direct such light from 
the transmitting end of one light pipe to the receiving end of the other 
as described. Notation 78 referes to a lens formation centrally formed in 
th end wall 77 of the housing 75 for focusing light directed against its 
inside surface, as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 5 showing a similar lens formation 78 formed 
in the bottom wall of the channel 73 for focusing the light beyond the end 
of the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
In FIG. 8, an instrument or operating head 80 of a catheter is formed with 
a cylindrical wall 81 having an end wall 82 containing a cavity 83 with a 
shelf molded in such end wall for supporting a diaphragm or thin disc 19 
as described, to detect variations in fluid pressure by detecting 
variations in light reflected off the inside surface thereof. A cable 87 
containing at least three light pipes extends axially along the central 
portion of the housing and terminates at a fitting 86 containing lens 
formations 89, 90 and 91 to its central lens formation 90 directs light 
from an external source through a convex lens 85 attached to and molded 
integral with an extension 84 of the inside surface of the side wall 81 of 
the housing and directs a portion of the light emitted from the central 
light pipe lens 90 against the inside surface of diaphragm 19 and a second 
portion thereof throughthe transparent end wall 83 of the housing. 
Reflections of said second portion of light are transmitted from the fluid 
medium outside of the housing back through the end wall 83 and through the 
lens 85 which is shaped to redirect such light through the end lens 91 of 
the third light pipe. Light received by the lens formations 89 and 91 are 
passed along respective light pipes of the cable 87 to respective 
deflection analyzing means located at the other end thereof. Notation 86 
refers to a spacer or solid plug inserted into the housing 81 for 
retaining the cable 87 and the end fitting 88 thereof predeterminately 
within the housing for performing the functions described. 
In FIG. 9, an instrument or operating head 92 of a catheter is formed of a 
circumscribing side wall 93 by injection molding a light transmitting 
plastic with an end wall 4 having a lens formation 95 bonded therein and a 
cavity 96 molded adjacent thereto. A first pair of light pipes 97A and 97B 
are supported by an insert or spacer 97 and terminate near the inside 
surface of the lens formation 95 for respectively transmitting light from 
an external source through such lens formation and receiving the reflected 
light therefrom after it has passed through a portion of the fluid medium 
adjacent the end wall 94 and transmitting such reflected light to a 
photoelectric detector for spectrographic analyzing means. A pair of light 
pipes 98 and 99 respectively terminate at a fitting 100 which contains a 
molded lens cap 101 having lens formations 101A and 101B formed of a 
single molding and operable for respectively focusing and receiving light 
directed to the head along pipe 98 directing such focused light against 
the rear surface of a diaphragm-like thin portion 94M of the molded front 
wall 94 of the head, which thin wall portion is operable to deflect with 
pressure aplied thereto by body fluid exterior of the head, as described, 
and to variably reflect such light to the lens formation 101B which 
directs same to the end of the light pipe 99 for transmission to the other 
end therefor to a sensor the output of which is computer processed and 
analyzed for detecting the pressure or pressure variations in the body 
fluid. 
It is noted that certain of the features of the emdobiments of FIGS. 1 to 9 
may be eliminated therefrom or combined with one or more of the other 
embodiments thereof as well as embodiments of one or more of the copending 
patent applications listed under Related Applications. For example, the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 may include, in addition to means for 
electrooptically analyzing light passed through body fluid in the cavity 
16 to determine such variables as identification of specific 
microorganisms such as specific cells, phages and virus existing in such 
fluid, the identification,by spectographic analysis with a computer, of 
certain chemical and biological elements and compounds in body fluid, such 
a blood and lymph fluid, digestive fluid and the like existing the the 
body duct in which the instrument or catheter is disposed. Additionally, 
it is noted that focused laser light of the type illustrated, may be 
employed at sufficient intensity to heat body fluid, specific elements 
therein such as specific cells, groups of cells, bacteria and virus, 
tissue cells, clot formations or other matter existing adjacent the end of 
side wall of the catheter for the purpose of killing, rendering 
ineffective or vaporizing same. Light directed along the same or a 
different path as that employed to vaporize or destroy select organisms or 
virus may be employed to detect same followed by a pulse or pulses of more 
intense radiation operable to effect such function of killing or 
vaporizing of individual organism. Detection of such individual cells, 
organisms or virus may be effected by computerized analysis of theimage 
signals derived by photoelectrically detecting the light reflected from 
and/or passed through such organisms and computer controlled analysis of 
the resulting image signals and their comparison with signals of known 
organisms derived from a memory with or without direct optical correlation 
between the light which is modulated with the image information derived 
from its reflection from such organisms. Employed per se or in combination 
with such computer controlled analysis of image signals and optical 
correlation to identify such organisms as exist in the body fluid scanned 
as described, may be automatic computer controlled spectographic analysis 
of the chemical and biological contents of the fluid by means of automatic 
spectography. Any of such techniques may be employed per se or in 
combination with one or more of the other two to generate a control 
signals upon detecting the presence of a particular organism in the fluid 
scanned, which control signal may be employed to pulse an auxilliary laser 
or to cause the scanning laser to increase the intensity of its beam or 
generate an auxilliary beam and direct same along substantially the same 
path as the detection beam so as to intersect and destroy or otherwise 
affect the organism just detected. 
It is also noted that the light beam sensing means described may be 
employed with an instrument or catheter which is adapted to ingest a small 
quantity of body fluid by means of a valve controlled to open and admit 
such fluid to a chamber which is closed when the valve is closed 
thereafter, utilizing suction or capillary action to admit such sample of 
body fluid, after which the described light beam(s) is generated and 
passed through and/or reflected from such sample for the purpose 
described. If the cavities 16, 37, 56, 73, 74, etc. are replaced by 
capillary cavities, body fluid may be sampled and analyzed with light 
passed through such cavities as described. 
In FIG. 10 is shown constructional details of a medical instrument in the 
form of a capsule to be ingested by swallowing and operable for sensing 
one or more physiological variables, as described and shortwave 
transmitting signals, either continuously or periodically, defining the 
variables sensed, to a shortwave receiver outside of the body. The device 
102 includes electrical and optical means supported within a housing 103, 
which may be entirely or partly made of molded light transmitting material 
in two or more sections. The housing may vary from about 1/4" to about 1" 
in diameter and 1/2" to 11/2" long for use in the digestive tract or may 
be smaller for use in an artery. Centrally supported across and betwen 
opposite wall portions of housing 103 is an electrical assembly 110 
including a circuit board or chip 111 defining a flat, multilayer 
rectangular substrate containing a thin disc shaped battery 112 secured 
thereto and connected for electrically energizing and powering circuit 
elements supported by such substate including one or more layers of 
microelectronic signal processing circuits which are connected to one or 
more pairs of photosensor-light source sensing arrangements supported 
along one or more borders or edges of such substrate. In FIG. 10 two 
sensing arrangements are shown, each at an opposite end of the flat 
rectangular substrate 111 and preferably defined by small flat chips or 
layers of respective light emitting and light sensing semiconducting 
material deposited on or preformed and automatically assembled along such 
edge portions of the substrate and electrically connected to corresponding 
circuit elements of the circuitry thereof. A light source 115 is secured 
to or formed in situ against an edge of the circuit board or chip 111 and 
is adapted to transmit its light through a lens formation 120 molded in a 
lens sheet 118 which is secured or molded against the edge of 111. The 
light is reflected from the rear surface of a thin wall portion 19 of the 
end wall of the capsule back through a second lens formation 119 molded in 
the sheet 118 to a photoelectric detector 117 which is similarly formed 
against or secured to the edge or border of substrate 111 and is connected 
to signal processing and analyzing circuitry of the substrate. A similar 
light source 114 and photoelectric detector or light sensor 115, supported 
along the other edge of the flat sunstrate 111 respectively transmit light 
through a lens formation 107 molded in the other end wall 106, are 
rereceive reflections of such light from the exterior fluid through a 
second lens formation 108 molded therein. The electrical signal output by 
sensor 115 is computer processed and analyzed by computing electrical 
circuits on the substrate 111 which generates electrical code signals 
indicative of the characteristics of the fluid and tissue so scanned and 
such code signals are shortwave transmitted to a shortwave receiver 
located exterior of the body, such as immediately adjacent the skin. A 
plurality of additional photoelectric detectors or sensor pairs, as shown 
in FIG. 11, may be provided along portions of the substrate 19 such as 
other edge portions thereof, for sensing light from one or more light 
sources located within the housing. Notation 113 refers to a shortwave 
antenna formed of a wire or a thin, flat metal strip-like conductor 
deposited against or etched from metal film bonded to either or both the 
major surfaces of circuit board 111. It is noted that while the housing 
103 is preferably made of two half-sections, each injection molded of a 
light transmitting plastic resin, such as a polycarbonate, 
methyl-methacrylate or other suitable resin, just the end walls 104 and 
106 thereof may be molded of such transparent plastic and may be shaped to 
easily assemble to the tubular central wall portion which may be made of 
two or more moldings of similar but not necessarily light transmitting 
resin. The interior surface of the central and end wall portions of the 
housing 103 may contain one or more formations, such as a ridge or ridges 
109 shaped and located to align and retain the circuit board 111 and/or 
one or more lens sheets, such as 118, aligned with the circuit board and 
the end wall formations against or through which light is to be projected. 
Light from source 116 is focused onto the rear surface of a thin sheet 
portion 19 of the front wall 104 of the housing 103. Such sheet 19 may 
comprise a separate thin sheet or membrane, as described, the border 
portion of which sheet is sealed or welded to a shelf behind an opening 
105 in the front wall 104 in a manner to permit the thin sheet to deflect 
with pressure and such deflection to be photoelectrically detected by 
detecting variations in the light from light source 116 reflected and 
received by photosensor 117 which outputs corresponding electrical 
signals, which vary in accordance with variations in received light. Such 
variable electrical signals are processed and analyzed by microelectronic 
circuits located on or within the board or chip substrate 111. Substrate 
111 also contains signal processing and analyzing electrical circuitry 
[not shown] which analyzes signals received from one or more of the 
sensors it mounts and generates coded electrical signals indicative of the 
variable sensed. 
The circuit board 111 also contains formed on or assembled along the 
opposite edge or border portion thereof a second solid state light source 
114 and photosensor 115 operable to receive light from said light source 
reflected from body fluid and tissue exterior of the housing. An end wall 
106 of housing 103, molded of transparent plastic material, has a 
plurality of lens formations 107 and 108 molded therein for respectively 
directing light from light source 114, such as by focusing same at a point 
or area exterrior of the housing. Reflected light modulated with 
information on the body fluid or tissue it passes through and/ or is 
reflected off, is received by sensor 115 and detected by and modulates the 
sensing element of the sensor and causes a variable electrical signal to 
be generated on the output of the sensor. 
It is noted that the capsule 102 may also contain and employ other types of 
sensors to sense different variables, such as bioelectrodes and the like 
exposed to fluid exterior thereof or injested therein through capillaries 
or controlled valves. 
In FIG. 11, a substrate 122, such as the described printed circuit board or 
chip, has an edge portion 122E thereof abutting atransparent lens strip or 
sheet 125 containing individual focusing lens formations 126 formed in 
either or both surfaces thereof and operable to direct light from 
respective light sources 124 to a plurality of locations or points 
exterior of the housing and to receive reflections of such respective 
light beams and direct same to respective photoelectric sensors 127 formed 
along the edge of sheet 122E. Each of said light sources and photoelectric 
detectors may have the same characteristics or respective different 
operational characteristics for detecting different optical variables 
present in a body fluid being scanned. The lens sheet 125 may also contain 
different filter elements, defined by thin sheet-like formations of a 
filter material or materials deposited on either surface thereof to serve 
as filter media for transmitted and/or reflected light. 
In FIG. 12, a circular disc 131 forms an assembly 130 of photoelectric 
sensors 133, denoted 133A, 133B, etc., which are circularly arrayed and 
assembled on or deposited around a surface of disc 131 about a central 
light source 132. The disc assembly 130 may be disposed at either or both 
ends of the capsule of FIG. 10 adjacent the circular end wall thereof 
containing corresponding lens formations aligned with light source 132 and 
photoelectric sensors 133 or may be disposed at the ends of the operating 
heads of the catheters of FIGS. 1 to 9. The photosensors 133A-133N, may 
each be operable to detect a different physiological phenomenon, such as a 
different microbiological element, enzyme or other chemical when such 
sensors operate per se or in combination with respective specially shaped 
lens formations aligned therewith on a lens sheet or end wall of the 
container 103, with or without corresponding filters applied to such lens 
sheet, in or on the sensors. 
The structures and sensor arrays illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be 
employed in modified forms of the capsule of FIG. 10 or in modified forms 
of the catheters of FIGS. t to 9. For example, one or two of the arrays of 
FIG. 11 or the disc shaped assembly of FIG. 12 may be mounted at one end 
or both ends of the capsules of FIG. 10 while one of such sensor 
assemblies may be provided at the end of any of the catheters of FIGS. 1 
to 9 for sensing a plurality of body fluid or tissue variables as 
described, by projecting and receiving light energy reflected from 
different portions of such fluid and transmitting the resulting electrical 
signals or light energy through the described conducting means, light pipe 
or electrical conductor, back along the catheter to a suitable receiving 
and detecting means at or beyond the other end of the catheter for 
analysis and control purposes as described. 
In FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown details of a modified operating head of a 
medical instrument 140, such as a catheter adapted to be worked througha 
body duct and disposed at a select location therein or a rigid tube 
adapted to be inserted, for example, in a body cavity such as the mouth or 
anal cavity to dispose the end portion 142 thereof in contact with body 
tissue and fluid for the purpose of simultaneously detecting body 
temperature and fluid pressure or heartbeat. 
Secured to and supported within the cylindrical wall 141 of the tube or 
capsule 140 is a mount 149 which centrally retains an electrical cable 150 
within the interior volume of the container. Such electrical cable 
contains at least two insulated wire pairs in respective subcables 146 and 
148. Wire pair 146 extends to a first transducer 145, such as a thermistor 
operable to sense temperature, the sensing end 145A of which extends to 
and slightly beyond the exterior surface 142S of the end wall 142 of the 
container so that it may engage body fluid and tissue of the cavity into 
which the instrument is inserted. The sensor 145 is preferably sealed 
within a subcavity 143 in the end wall 142 while a second sensor 147 is 
sealed within a second cavity 144 adjacent the cavity 143. The sensor 147 
may comprise a microphone or any suitable pressure transducer operable to 
detect variations in fluid pressure and/or variations in blood pressure 
pulses, such as heart pulses, or heart sounds picked up through body 
tissue against which the end 142 of the instrument is disposed whenin a 
body cavity. It is noted that the assembly 140 may comprise part of an 
elongated probe assembly extending froma hand-held housing containing 
signal processing and analyzing electrical circuitry together with a 
visual display or displays for temperature and pressure or may be 
connected to such a housing by means of a flexible cable, such as an 
extension of the cable 149 containing the subcable wire pairs 146 and 148. 
In FIGS. 15 and 16 is shown a modified form of the temperature and pressure 
or pulse sensing device of FIGS. 13 and 14. The assembly 150 includes an 
elongated cylindrical tubular member or housing 151H having a rigid 
cylindrical wall 151 terminating at an arcuate or semi-spherical end wall 
portion 152 containing respective spaced-apart cavities 153 and 154 molded 
therein. Centrally disposed within the end portion of the tube 151 is an 
electronic assembly 155 formed of a rectangular circuit board or chip 156 
containing a plurality of circuit elements including respective pairs of 
strip-like conductors 158 and 160 which respectively extend to a 
temperature sensor 157, such as a thermister deposited on or assembled 
along the front edge of the board 156 and a pressure transducer 159 
similarly deposited on or assembled along the front end of board 156 
adjacent to temperature sensor 157. The elements 157 and 159 are 
respectively disposed within respective cavities 153 and 154 molded in the 
front wall 152 of the housing. While such elements are shown recessed 
within the cavities 153 and 154, either or both may project through the 
cavities to the surface of the end wall or therebeyond for effecting 
suitable temperature and pulse or pressure measurements. 
It is noted that the supports 149 and 156 of the embodiments of FIGS. 13 
and 16 may also be employed to support a plurality of light pipes, such as 
the end portions of optical fibers or fiber optic bundles at the operating 
ends of the catheters to align same for the purposes described above. In 
other words, such mounts may be employed in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 
9 to support the described light pipes in a manner to couple same to the 
optical components described. 
In FIG. 17is shown apparatus connected to the other ends of the catheters 
of FIGS. 1 to 9 and 13 to 16 wherein suitable modifications may be made, 
either to the operating ends of the catheters to provide the additional 
light communicationchannels or light pipes, such as fiber -optic bundles, 
necessary to effect two way communication as provided in FIG. 17 or the 
components of FIG. 17 may be reduced in number in order to accomodate just 
the number of light pipes shown in the drawings. In other words, each of 
the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 and 13 to 16 may be provided with 
additional optical components including light pipes to permit them to be 
operated with the apparatus of FIG. 17 as described hereafter. 
The apparatus 170 of FIG. 17 includes a hand holdable assembly 171 
including an elongated housing 172 with a pistol-grip 172G for holding 
same and a trigger 179 for controllably closing a switch 189 for operating 
a laser 181 and electrically energizing a sensor or sensors located within 
a housing 183. The laser, which is supported on a mount 180 which also 
supports the housing 183 within the main housing 172, may be operable, as 
described elsewhere herein, to generate inspection radiation for viewing 
matter inside the body through an eyepiece 191 and for detecting the 
contents of such matter by means of the photoelectric detection means in 
housing 183 and/or spectographic detection means therein or located distal 
from the assembly 171. The laser 181 has its output connected to a first 
fiber-optical bundle 182 which extends through the center of the central 
portion 173 of the housing 172 to the far end 174 thereof and is supported 
by a plurality of bulkheads or recepticles 185 and 186 formed of or 
secured across the central and front end portions 173 and 174 of the 
housing 172. A manually operable coupling device 187 is operable to 
removably receive and retain a coupling 188 at the end of a flexible 
catheter tube assembly 10C for mechanically connecting the catheter tube 
to the end of the pistol-like assembly 171 and optically connecting three 
light pipes which extend the length of the catheter to the light pipes of 
the operating head thereof as illustrated in the drawings. If one or more 
additional lasers and/or photoelectric detectors are provided in the 
housing 172 for generating different types of laser light for visual and 
automatic inspection and/or for use in operating on tissue or other matter 
adjacent the end of the catheter and for receiving and analyzing such 
light after it has been modulated with tissue and fluid information as 
described, then both the catheter to be 10C and the assembly 172 will be 
modified to contain such additional light pipes and optical/ 
electro-optical components. Trigger operated switch 189 maythus be a 
normally open single pole switch which is operable when closed to connect 
the laser 181 and the photoelectric detector with a suitable source or 
sources of energizing electrical energy. If the laser 181 is operable at 
two or more levels of intensity or two or more lasers are provided to 
generate and transmit different types of laser light over the same or 
respective light pipes to the operating head of the catheter for 
performing different inspection and analysis or operating functions with 
respect to body fluid and/or tissue adjacent the operating head, then 
switch 189 may comprise a multiple pole and/or multiple throw switch 
operable by different degrees of pivotal movement of trigger 190 to 
energize the different lasers. 
The rear wall 176 of the housing 172 contains a coupling 177 for connecting 
the light pipe output of a laser, such as a carbondioxide laser or an 
argon dye laser operable to generate intense light radiation capable of 
vaporizing tissue for operating purposes, to a fourth light pipe 178 which 
extends through housing 172 to the coupling 188 thereof or transmission of 
such intense light to the operating head through a respective fiber optic 
bundle or light pipe of the flexible catheter cable 10C. Also secured to 
and protruding rearwardly from the rear wall 176 is an eyepiece 191 
connected to the end of a light pipe 192 which extends through the housing 
172 to the coupling 187 and is coupled to receive light reflected from 
tissue and/or body fluid inside the body duct in which the operating head 
of the catheter is disposed. Sufficient optical fibers are contained 
within bundle 192 to provide a viewable image of the interior of the body 
duct on the viewing screen of the eyepiece 191. 
An electrical cable 1945 is removably coupled to a connector 193 at the end 
of the pistol grip 172H for two-way communication and power supply between 
an externally located computer 195, a source of power for the electrical 
components and the laser 181 within the housing 172. The cable 194 
preferably extends to a console containing a power supply 201 for the 
laser 181 and/or an external laser (not shown) optically coupled through 
the input 177 to a fiber-optic bundle in the catheter tube assembly 10C, a 
computer 195 for processing and analyzing the electrical signals output by 
the photoelectric detection sensor or sensors in housing 183, a keyboard 
196 for operating the computer, a video display 199 and display buffer or 
driver 197,a magnetic recorder 199 for data generated by the computer, and 
a hard copy printer 200 for printing selected data generated by the 
computer. Laser power supply 201 is connected by a suitable switch 202, 
controlled by signals generated by a switch of the keyboard and/or a 
foot-switch operated by the person operating the catheter, to selectively 
energize the laser 181 as well as a high power laser, is used for 
operating purposes, which is coupled to the input 177. The assembly 171 
may also comprise an elongated housing without the pistol grip 172H which 
is hand held and may be supported or hung on a suitable stand located next 
to the person being examined and treated. 
If a fluid, such as gas under pressure, or a liquid medication or coolant 
is employed to be pumped through a tube or passageway in the catheter tube 
10C to the operating head of the catheter, it may be supplied from a 
reservoir through the handle or grip 172H or a line coupled to an input 
therefor located elsewhere on the housing and may be controllably pumped 
through suitable tubing in the housing 172 and the catheter tube 10C for 
use in the operation when needed by the physician. 
Computer 195 is programmed to process and analyze the electrical signals 
output by the light sensor or sensors in housing and maye be operable to 
both image analyze and spectographically analyze by such analysis, the 
image and chemical and/or biological contents of body fluid sensed with 
light, as described, adjacent one or more locations of the operating head 
of the catheter. In a modified form of the apparatus shown in FIG. 17, one 
or more light pipes or fiber optic bundles may extend from respective 
light pipes extending through the catheter tube 10C from the head of the 
catheter, through the housing 172 and handle 172H to a spectrometer 
connected to or forming part of the computer 195 for effecting a 
comprehensive analysis of the information contained in the light reflected 
from and/or passed through the body fluid and/or tissue adjacent the head 
of the catheter to which the components of the apparatus 170 are connected 
or coupled. 
If the photoelectric detectors shown in FIGS. 9, 11, 12, etc. are employed 
in the head of the catheter, then suitable flexible electrical conductors 
are provided extending through the catheter tube 10C and are electrically 
connected to conductors extending through the housing 172 to respective 
wiring in cable 194 to permit the signals so generated to be properly 
conducted to the computer 195 for processing and analysis thereby. 
While the light pipes illustrated in the drawings have been described as 
fiber-optic bundles or bundles of optical glass fibers which are flexible 
and, as such, may be used in catheters to conduct light along the lengthof 
the catheter, as described, for those applications where it is desired to 
conduct high intensity light energy for burning or vaporizing tissue or 
other matter such as clotting material, light pipes formed of 
thin,flexible stainless steel tubing having highly reflective inside 
surfacing may be employed for one or more of thelight pipes shown in the 
drawings and may extend along the entire length of the catheter and/or 
through the operation head thereof. Such a light pipe which is sealed at 
its ends with suitable glass lenses or light conductors and filled with a 
gas, such as argon gas, may be employed to conducting high intensity laser 
light from a laser located exterior of the body, as described, to the 
operating head where it is directed therefrom directly into the body duct 
or through one or more optical components or lenses formed of the wall of 
the operating head or disposed across one ormore openings therein and 
sealingly secured thereto for focusing or otherwise directing such intense 
light. 
Modifications to structures, systems and methods for operating and 
utilizing the medical instrument assemblies described and illustrated in 
the drawings are noted as follows: 
1. The instruments and catheter assemblies illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12 and 
described above including the described modifications thereto, may be used 
in a static mode for identifying single organism infections in vivo while 
disposed within a body duct of a living being by employing either or a 
combination of "multiparameter light scattering, such as developed at the 
Los Alamos National Laboratory and "flow cytometry", a method which has 
been used to identify and count large groups of molecules, by generating 
and directing high-intensity laser light through the light pipes of the 
embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 9 and through the transparent wall portions of 
the housings thereof to pass through and/or reflect off viral and 
bacterial organisms existing, for example, in the body fluid int eh 
cavities 16,37,56, 73,77,etc. or beyond the end and/or the side wall of 
the housings described. Either or both such techniques may be employed to 
rapidly identify such common viruses as influenze, herpes and encephalitis 
by photoelectrically sensing the externally focused and/or direct light 
beams directed as described and illustrated in the drawings against or 
through body fluid adjacent to and/or within a recess or cavity in the 
housing, and generating electrical analog signals which are digitized and 
computer analyzed by comparing the processed signals with so called 
"fingerprint" or "signature" signals derived from a memory and 
representative of the specific organisms to be identified. Such signal 
processing and analysis may take place in suitable microelectronic 
computing circuitry located in the catheter or capsule or by electronic 
computing means located externally of the living being being tested and 
coupled to the end(s) of the fiber optic cable(s) or light pipe bundle(s) 
described which extend from the described light receiving means 
27,49,65,91,100,etc. 
2. The capsule 102 of FIG. 10 may also contain the "multiparameter light 
scattering" and/or "flow cytometry" instrumentation described above for 
deriving and transmitting data indicative of such organisms, when detected 
thereby, to short wave receiving means located outside the body in which 
the capsule is disposed. The capsule 102 may effect such detection while 
freely travelling through a body duct, while adhesively attached to a 
select portion of the wall of the body duct or while otherwise implanted 
in tissue of the body by means of an incision made therein with a surgical 
tool. 
3. For diagnostic purposes, including the detection of certain cancer cells 
whichmay be present in body fluid such as blood, lymph fluid and the like 
which are in contact with the housings of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 
10, various types of lasers may be employed. Visible light from a kryton 
laser may be employed, for example, directed to the receiving end of one 
of the light pipes 22,46,63,64,97A,etc. froma laser located outside the 
body to be guided thereafter as described, in a manner to pass through or 
be reflected off body fluid and its microorganisms as described and to be 
directed to and along the described light pipes extending to the end of 
the catheter which islocated outside the body whee it is applied to one or 
more photoelectric detectors for the purposes described. Visible light 
from a Carbon dioxide laer or an argon dye laser may be pulsed and 
directed along one or more of the described light pipes from outside the 
body for use in deactivating or destroying microorganisms such as bacteria 
and/or virus or cancer cells in the path of such light as such organisms 
are detected as described. 
4. If the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 comprise parts of medical 
instruments, such as endoscopes or thelike, suitable light splitter means 
may be optically coupled thereto and operable to direct at least a portion 
of the received light to a spectroscope and/or spectrographic signal 
electronic computer analyzing circuitry located within the instrument 
and/or externally thereof for automatically detecting specific chemicals 
in the fluid scanned thereby. Such device may be used to detect and treat 
certain types of cancers as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,057 and the 
reference thereof. 
5. The catheter head structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 as well as the 
capsule of FIG. 10 may be formed, with the exception of the light pipes 
extending therethrough, by injection molding same of light transmitting 
glass, ceramic or plastic resin using single shot molding for forming two 
or more sections thereo which are bonded or welded together after aligning 
and holding respective portions of the light pipes therein. The lens, 
window and deflectable wall portions described may form respective 
portions of either or both the molded sections of the head housings 
together with other optical elements such as light splitting formations, 
light guides, diffusing means and the like. 
6. Certain optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, prisms, light 
splitters, diffraction gratings, light guides, etc. may be separately 
formed and thereafter assembled in recepticle portions of one or both to 
the moldings forming the operating head of the catheter to properly guide 
and process ormodulate the light passing through the head. Such recepticle 
portions of the molding or moldings are so shaped to both retain and 
precisely align the optical components they accomodate. Retention may be 
effected by means of adhesive or solvent bonding or by frictional or 
locking means effected when the molded components are adhesive, or solvent 
bonded or welded together with the components are disposed in cavities 
formed therein by molding. Such separate optical components may be 
employed per so or in combination with optical components which are formed 
by molding transparent plastic forming all or part of the walls of the 
operating head. 
7. So called multiple shot molding involving two or more different resins, 
two or more glasses or ceramic materials or a combination of glass, 
plastic and/or ceramic materials may be employed to form catheter 
operating heads of the types described. For example, opaque or non-optical 
material may be first molded of plastic resin, glass or ceramic material 
to form the major portion of the catheter end or head after which, optical 
resin, glass or ceramic material may be molded in situ against the first 
head forming material to form the optical components thereof such as 
mirrors, prisms, lenses, diffusers, light guides and the like. 
8. The instrument structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 may be operable 
to modified to provide a plurality of additional paths for respective 
light beams generated by light sources located within the housings shown 
or transmitted thereto through the illustrated light pipes and/or one or 
more additional light pipes which are similarly supported within the 
housing as shown and extend thereto from one or more light sources 
located, for example, within or beyond a housing, such as provided in FIG. 
17. Such plurality of different light paths may be such as to direct a 
plurality of beams of the same or different light, from a single or a 
plurality of light sources, through the same window or lens or a plurality 
of windows or lenses formed in the end wall and or side wall of the 
housing by molding same from a light transmitting plastic, glass or or 
ceramic material. Thus the instrument may be used, for example, to scan 
and detect matter existing along different paths in front of and/or 
adjacent the side wallof the housing for simultaneously or sequentially 
detecting the same or differnt organisms, chemical or biological elements 
or compounds in the fluid in which the instrument is disposed. Such 
scanning may be effected simultaneously and/or in a sequential manner 
under the control of a microprocessor or microcomputer which controls, for 
example, the energization of each of a plurality of different light 
sources, the multiplexing of light and/or electrical energy derived from a 
plurality of transducers located in the operating head and/or remote 
therefrom, as described and as shown, for example, in FIG. 17, to a 
computer for processing and analysis thereof. The plurality of such light 
paths which extend to respective windows or portions of a single window 
throughwhich the pluralityof light beams directed along such light paths 
may pass, may also be defined by light guides, mirrors, lenses, light 
diffusers, light splitters and the like which are either predeterminately 
retained and prcisely located within the housing defining the operating 
head and/or are molded of the same light transmitting plastic or glass of 
the which housing is molded. 
9. The structures shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 as well as those of FIGS. 11 and 
12 may be utilized in instruments other than catheters and other than 
meical instruments. Disposable, low cost structures of the types shown may 
be fabricated with all of the optical elements and the bulkheads or 
supporting structures for the light pipes as well as any wires employed to 
conduct electrical energy and molded of material forming the wall or walls 
of the housings shown. Such injection molded supporting structures may 
also be provided to support and precisely locate the illustrated and 
described photoelectric cells and light sources such as shown in FIGS. 8 
and 9. 
10. The medical instruments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 and 17 may contain 
suitable light sources coupled thereto for generating two or more types of 
light energy, one or more for use in detecting organisms in body fluid, 
such as blood, by multiparameter light scattering; another for detecting 
other organisms or particles by flow cytometry; a third for use in 
detecting chemical compounds, enzymes and the like by means of 
spectrometry wherein the light reflected from the body fluid is analyzed 
by a computer controlled spectrometer. In the latter technique, the 
intensity of the light is preferably such as to vaporize or heat a small 
quantity of body fluid or tissue it intersects to prepare same for the 
spectographic analysis. as an inspection laser beam is directed thereat as 
described. 
11. A plurality of laser beams may be generated and directed along the same 
or different paths through and beyond the operating head, as described, by 
a laser or a plurality of lasers, each containing light energy of a 
different wavelength than the others for providing a plurality of sources 
of different information when the direct light thereof or reflections 
thereof off body fluid are detected and analyzedunder the control of a 
computer which also controls the operations of the lasers by selectively 
gating same on and off, timing their operation and controllably increasing 
and/or decreasing the intensities of the light energies so generated. 
12. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of laser light beams may be directed 
along respective paths through the operating head and directed from 
different light pipes which terminate at different locations of the side 
wall of the catheter to simultaneously scan the environment adjacent the 
side wall at different locations thereof. If the terminal locations of 
each light path or light pipe are staggered along thelength of the 
operating head and disposed one behind the other and are sufficient in 
number, then the instrument may be sud to scan the entire siewall of a 
body duct as it is moved therethrough for inspecting the condition of such 
side wall by generating electrical signals, each of which is 
representative of a strip or band-like portion of the length of the body 
duct so scanned. Such an inspection method may involve controlled movement 
of the instrument housing or catheter, such as by means of a motor drive, 
through the interior of a body duct such as an artery or veing or through 
a select portion of the digestive tract, while reflective scanning takes 
place with a plurality of light pipe pairs for transmitting and receiving 
laser radiation reflected from select strip-like portioons of the body 
duct wall arranged so as to scan the entire surface of the duct wall and 
provide electrical signals, as described, which may be computer processed 
and employed to provide a strip-like map or image of the inside surface of 
the body duct along the length thereof so scanned. Such image may be 
generated on a video viewing screen and/or formed as a strip chart or map 
on hard copy by suitable hard copy generating means. 
13. Scanning and generating strip-chart like images of select lengths of 
the wall of a body duct may be effected by means of penetrating and 
reflecting radiation,such as ultrasonic energy and light energy, generated 
and applied simultaneously from an operating head of a catheter or 
instrument housing against a select portion of the wall of the body duct 
in which such housing is disposed while such housing is stationary or in 
controlled movement therethrough as described. A plurality of paralelly 
extending stripcharts representative of respective images of the internal 
structure and inside surface of the body duct may be thus generated by 
compute processing and analyzing electrical signals generated by a 
pulse-echo type utltrasonic transducer or a plurality of same disposed in 
the operating head and operable to transmit ultrasonic energy in the 
direction of the wall of the body duct and receive and convert reflections 
of such ultrasonic energy from the matter and tissue defining the duct 
wall to modulated electrical signals., simultaneously as scanning 
radiation of the type described in generated and reflected from the inside 
surface of the body duct and the reflected light is transduced to 
corresponding electrical signals. The two strip charts may be 
synchronously produced and located adjacent each other such that a person 
viewing both will be able to examine the visual graphical data relating to 
the internal structure of the duct wall and its surface structure and 
equate both for improving diagnosis and analysis. Depending on how the two 
forms of scanning radiation and generated and directed, the entire inside 
surface and wall of a select portion of a body duct may be so inspected 
and analyzed. 
14. Electro-optical scanning of the inside of body duct, such as the fluid 
and/or inside surface of the wall thereof, may be effected by means of a 
single light source or laser and a wide-angle lens of radial light guide 
disposed at the end or or in communication with the end of a light pipe of 
the type described which is coupled to receive light from a laser. Such 
light may be caused to fan radially and reflect off substantially the 
entire inside surface of the duct and/or all duct contained fluid radial 
of the end of the cahtheter head or side wall and to receive the 
reflection of such light rom the fluid and body duct wall to provide a 
more detailed analysis of the body duct wall and/or the contents of the 
fluid in the duct, by the means described. Using such a wide angle lens or 
radial light guide, a plurality of sources of inspection light of 
different wave lengths may be simultaneously or intermittently directed 
therethrough to provide and inspection method for automatically analyzing 
different chemicals and biological elements present in the body fluid or 
blood by spectral analysis of the reflected light and/or signal processing 
of the electrical signals generate by one or more photodetecting elements 
receiving such reflected light energy. 
15. Scanning body fluid in a body duct and the wall of the body duct as 
described,may be effected while the catheter or instrument houding is in 
controlled movement through the uct by means of controllably rotating one 
ormore ultrasonic transducers and/or light beam transmitting and receiving 
means, preferably by means of a controlled electric motor mounted in the 
catheter or instrument housing or at or beyond the end thereof which is 
exterior of the body, the output shaft of which supports or is connected 
to a mount for such transducer or transducing means, wherein suitable 
commutation of the electrical and/or light energy is provided along such 
shaft or an extension thereof. In an apparatus in which an ultrasonic 
pulse-echo transducer (or transducers) is operably rotated, within the 
instrument housing or catheter head,to scan radially thereof through the 
body liquid in the duct and the wall of the duct, such transducer may 
either slidably engage the inside surface of the cylindrical housing wall 
or be disposed in a coupling liquid filling the housig of the portion 
thereof containign the rotating transducer. The rotating transducer is 
thus sound wave coupled to the body fluid and duct wall through the liquid 
in the housing,the wall of the housing, the outside surface of which is 
surrounded by body fluid and/or is in contact withthe inside surface of 
the body duct wall. Either or both an ultrasonic pulse-echo type 
transducer and one or more light pipe transmitting receiving pairs or 
miniature light sources and photodetectors may be employed simultaneously 
or sequentially to effect such liquid, body duct wall and body duct 
structure scanning in a helical scanning path while the instrument housing 
or catheter is controllably moved throug the duct preferably as driven by 
a controlled electric motor therethrough. 
16. A medical instrument embodying features of the invention described 
above may be employed with a control system therefore, such as one 
employing a digital computer for both effecting the automatic processing 
and analysis of scanning signals generated, as described, fromscanning 
matter adjacent the head or housing of the instrument to detect, when a 
scanning laser light beam intersects a particular organism in body fluid, 
a polyp or small tumor, a lesion or small wound in the body duct wall, and 
generate a control signal. Such control signal or signals may be employed 
to trigger the operation of a laser of one of the types described, for 
generating a pulse or pulses of laser light directed at the organism, 
growth or wound (such as an ulcer) for the purpose of vaporizing, burning 
or otherwise destroying or beneficially affecting same. Such pulse or 
pulses of corrective or sirgical radiation may be directed along the same 
path, including the same light pipe, as that along which the beam of 
inspection or detection radiation is directed so as to properly intersect 
the same organism, growth or wound in the duct wall intersected by the 
beamof inspection radiation. The computer may also be programmed and 
adaptively controllable to further scan the wound or growth and further 
control the operation of the laser used to treat same to cause such laser 
to generate suffiient radiation for a sufficient period of time or pulses 
necessary to properly treat and/or destroy the growth or wound. 
Additionally, the same or an auxilliary computer may be used to control 
one or more motors and drives for controllablymoving the instrument 
through the body duct and, if used, controllably operating and moving a 
mirror or other optical means for deflecting and controlling the direction 
and path along which the laser beam is directed as well as its focus and 
intensity and/or the wavelength theeof for optimizing the treatment or 
surgical procedure. Such computer may include image signal analyzing 
computing means for analyzing image or light signals generated when the 
reflected light is photoelectrically detected, wherein the results of such 
computing includes the generation of control signals for controlling the 
operation of the laser or lasrs as described above for performing laser 
surgery on selected portions of the body duct, plaque adhered thereto, 
blood clots therein and the contents of the body fluid or blood carried 
thereby. Optical computing techniques, such as optical correlation and 
umage comparison techniques, may also be employed under the control of the 
computer per se or in combination with the computerized image signal 
processing and analysis to provide such instrument automatic control 
during surgical and corrective surgical operations on select portions of 
the body duct wall and/or matter adhered thereto, clogging or consticting 
the body cavity or vessel. 
Computer processing and analysis of the signals generated on the output of 
the described pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer or transducers employed to 
scan the body duct wall may also be employed to detect tumors, polyps, 
wounds or ulcers and the like which are corterized or corrected upon 
detection by automatically controlling the operation of one or more lasers 
or other forms of radiation generation means for generating and applying 
such radiation to the portion of the body duct wall requiring such 
treatment. 
Such computer processing and analysis of ultrasonic pulse signals derived 
fromsound pulses reflected off constricting matter, such as blood clots 
and plaque deposited on the wall of the body duct may also be employed to 
generate control signals for controlling the generation and direction of 
intense radiation, such as by means of a laser, to cause same to reduce or 
eliminate such constricting material by vaporizing or burning same and/or 
by causing select amounts thereof to become detached from their 
constricting location and to flow therefrom and be expelled from the body 
by natural means or by means of a trap including a filter secured to the 
instrument across a passageway therethrough which the body fluid flows 
through and/or is pumped. If the quantity of the constricting matter is 
removed in small amounts it may be so removed by natural and/or filtering 
means associated with the instrument disposed in the body duct as 
described.