Abstract:
Configurations are described for creating and using separable optical feedthroughs. These are especially useful in their at least semi-hermetic form when integrated with implantable photomedical devices. One embodiment is directed to a system for operatively coupling an optical output from a light source positioned inside of a sealed housing to an external optical fiber, comprising: a first optical fiber disposed adjacent to the light source and configured to receive at least a portion of the optical output; a second optical fiber operatively coupled to the first optical fiber and configured to capture at least a portion of an output from the first optical fiber; a primary seal operatively coupled to the housing between the light source and the second optical fiber that is at least partially transparent; and a secondary seal positioned between the second optical fiber and the environment.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/030,446, filed Jul. 29, 2014. The foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to systems, devices, and processes for optical feedthrough, and especially to hermetic optical feedthroughs for medical devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The ability to carry light from within a sealed enclosure to an illumination target is typically accomplished using a simple window or fiber optic coupler. However, these measures do not suffice to make the light source enclosure and the optical delivery means separable, and nominally hermetically sealed once joined, such as may be desired in an implantable medical device. Such implantable medical devices may be of use in photomedical and optogenetic therapies. Such systems are also described in International Appl. No. PCT/US2013/000262, which shares at least one inventor in common with the present application, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    One embodiment is directed to a system for operatively coupling an optical output from a light source positioned inside of a sealed housing to an external optical fiber, comprising: a first optical fiber disposed adjacent to the light source and configured to receive at least a portion of the optical output; a second optical fiber operatively coupled to the first optical fiber and configured to capture at least a portion of an output from the first optical fiber; a primary seal operatively coupled to the housing between the light source and the second optical fiber that is at least partially transparent; and a secondary seal positioned between the second optical fiber and the environment. The first optical fiber may be housed within a ferrule. The ferrule may form the primary seal. The ferrule may be housed within a connector body. The connector body may form the primary seal. The ferrule may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: fused silica, glass, zirconia, stainless steel, titanium, brass, and copper. The connector body may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: fused silica, glass, zirconia, stainless steel, titanium, brass, and copper. The seal may be formed by a technique selected from the group consisting of: brazing, soldering, and adhering. The primary seal may be formed by a technique selected from the group consisting of: brazing, soldering, and adhering. The primary seal may comprise an element selected from the group consisting of: a ferrule, a connector body, an optical window, and a lens. The distal surface of the first optical fiber and the proximal surface of the second optical fiber may be in physical contact. Light may be emitted from the first optical fiber and subsequently focused by a lens through the primary seal and onto the proximal face of the second optical fiber. The primary seal further may comprise a physical registration feature that mates with a complementary registration feature in a housing that contains the second optical fiber. The physical registration feature may be selected from the group consisting of: a recessed feature, and a raised feature. The second optical fiber may be housed within a ferrule. The ferrule may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: fused silica, glass, zirconia, stainless steel, titanium, brass, and copper. A spring may be configured to push the ferrule into physical contact with the transparent region of the primary seal. The material comprising the window or lens may be selected from the group consisting of: glass, fused silica, and sapphire. A second lens subsequent to the primary seal may be configured focus light onto the proximal face of the second optical fiber. The secondary seal may comprise multiple individual axial seals along its length. Electrical connections may be made within the secondary seal. The first optical fiber may comprise a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a step index fiber, a gradient index fiber, and a hollow fiber. The second optical fiber may comprise a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a step index fiber, a gradient index fiber, and a hollow fiber. The lens used may be configured to operate at unit magnification. The second lens used may be configured to operate at unit magnification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the invention directed towards use with an implantable medical system. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of the invention directed towards complementary use with the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  depicts a further embodiment, wherein a spring force is used to keep fiber ends in contact with each other. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  depicts a further embodiment of the invention directed at the use of a focusing system for optical coupling. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  depicts a further embodiment, wherein a lens is used to create a seal in the housing. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  depicts a further embodiment, wherein a recess in a lens or window is used to align an optical fiber. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  depicts a further embodiment, wherein a raised feature on a lens or window is used to align an optical fiber. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  depicts a further embodiment, wherein two lenses allow for variable distances between two fibers being coupled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment directed at use with an implantable medical device, such that it may create a hermetic seal without damaging optical properties of fiber or light guide with temperature. Light from a light source (not shown for simplicity and clarity) may be carried via optical fiber  2 . The optical fiber  2  may be coupled to ferrule  4 , which may be in turn coupled to optical output module  6 . As shown, optical fiber  8  is configured to be concentric with the connector body. The connector body may be comprised of a metallic, polymeric, or ceramic material such as stainless steel, polycarbonate, or similar materials. 
         [0014]    The type of optical fiber may depend upon the character of the light being used and the nature of the therapy intended. For example, in the case of visible light illuminating a peripheral nerve or structures within the brain, 105 μm silica core diameter, 125 μm silica cladding diameter, 250 μm acrylate buffer diameter 0.22 NA step index low-OH optical fiber such as Thorlabs P/N FG105LCA, or Fiberguide P/N SFS105/125/250Y may be used for optical fiber  8 . A zirconia ferrule, such as the Precision Fiber Products P/N MM-FER2030-2500 1.25 mm OD ceramic stick ferrule may be used to construct ferrule  4  and/or ferrule  10 . Ferrule  4  may be brazed into optical output module  6 . Leakage rates of less than 1×10 −7  cc/sec Helium at 1 atmospheric differential pressure may be achieved by utilizing Kryoflex Polycrystalline Ceramic, manufactured by SOURIAU PA&amp;E, as a brazing compound between zirconia ferrules and metallic surfaces of optical output module  6 . Alternately, the elements may be gold plated and gold brazed to create a hermetic seal. Optical output module  6  may be subsequently laser welded to housing  12  to form a hermetic seal about hermetic sealing surface  14 , as shown, which may be configured to be a titanium flange. 
         [0015]    The proximal end of optical fiber  8  may stand proud of sealing zone  16 , for example, by approximately 1-4 mm. Axial alignment of optical fiber  8  to optical fiber  2  via ferrule  10  and ferrule  4 , respectively, may be achieved by configuring the connector to comprise an alignment sleeve  18 , which may be fabricated from zirconia to facilitate insertion, especially when ferrule  10  and ferrule  4  are also fabricated from zirconia. The wall thickness of alignment sleeve  18  may be made greater to accommodate shorter engagement lengths of the ferrules  4  &amp;  10  while providing uniform axial force to maintain concentricity between their respective fibers. As an example, for a 3 mm exposure for both ferrules  4  &amp;  10 , which may each be comprised of the aforementioned 1.25 mm outer diameter zirconia ferrule, alignment sleeve  18  may be configured to have a wall thickness of 150 μm and a finish smooth to within 0.5 μm along the inner surface. An optical coupling interface  20  may be configured to be a physical contact coupling, such as is achieved using PC-, APC-, and UPC-types of fiber termination. 
         [0016]    Connection between electrical connection surfaces  22  within delivery segment  24  and the electrical connections within the housing connector portion  26  of housing  12  may be configured such as those in the BalSeal Sygnus device, as is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,084 by Poon and Balsells, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Housing connector portion  26  may comprise an epoxy overmould, for example, of the components described above. The electrical connections may be made of wires fabricated from stainless steel, platinum-iridium, or similar materials as described in the abovementioned reference. 
         [0017]    The sealing of the distal seal zone  28  and boot zone  30  need not be as tight as that of the seals within the connector comprising seal  32  and sealing surface  34 , and may be of greater ID than those same elements. As such, distal seal zone  28  and boot zone  30  may provide for easier insertion of sealing zone  16  of delivery segment  24  into housing connector portion  26 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a delivery segment  24  configured for use with the invention, and comprising an applicator  36  operationally coupled to delivery segment  24  via undulations  38 . Delivery segment  24  may further comprise an optical fiber  8  to conduct light to applicator  36  and the target tissue via applicator  36 , electrical wires  44  operationally coupled to electrical contact surfaces  40 , jacket  42  configured to enclose and protect electrical wires  44  and fiber  8  from the implantation environment, sealing surfaces  46 , distal seal  48 , and boot  50  may serve to further isolate the implantation environment from the electrical connections of electrical connection surfaces  40 , and provide a means for connecting the delivery segment to a housing, not shown, utilizing sealing zone  52 . Sealing zone  52  may be fabricated by moulding (or overmoulding) the entire assembly of the connector and boot  50  and incorporating the proximal end of jacket  42  such that it forms a contiguous enclosed segment. Jacket  42  may be made from a biocompatible tubing, such as, by way of nonlimiting example; polyethylene, silicone, PTFE, ePTFE, and/or PEEK. The sealing zone  52  constituting a portion of the connector may be made of similar materials. Electrical connection surfaces  40  may be made of platinum or stainless steel, for example. In the exemplary configuration shown, a 500 μm ID 700 μm OD silicone tube may serve as jacket  42 , and be made to enclose as many as 19 100 μm OD electrical wires  44 . The optical fiber  8  comprises a proximal end  54 , and a distal end  56 . The distal end of optical fiber  8  provides light to (and possibly from when optical feedback is desired) applicator  36 , while the proximal end of optical fiber  8  may serve to couple light from one or more light sources to delivery segment  24 . 
         [0019]    Alternately, the applicator  36  may be eliminated to provide a delivery segment comprised of a single end-emitting optical fiber. Such a configuration may lend itself to implantation within the brain of a patient for treatment of the CNS, for example. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a coupling interface configured for use with the invention, and comprising a spring-loaded ferrule used to maintain contact between the two fibers being coupled. Stainless steel may be used to construct the spring cover  58 . The spring cover  58  may be retained in place within the housing connector portion, not shown, by means of a ball end spring plunger (e.g. part number 3408A65 from McMaster-Carr) or a similar feature within the housing connector portion. The spring  60  acts against the spring cover  58  and applies force against the delivery segment ferrule  10  via the delivery segment ferrule housing  62 , keeping the proximal end of the optical fiber  8  in contact with the distal end of the optical fiber  2  and minimizing the amount of light/energy lost at the interface. Alternately, the spring cover  58  may not actually cover the spring  60  and instead be a simple flange that prevents the spring  60  from moving in the distal direction. In the exemplary configuration shown, a spring  60  is applying force to the delivery segment ferrule  10  via the delivery segment ferrule housing  62 . An alternate embodiment may apply spring force directly to the delivery segment ferrule  10 . An alternate embodiment may instead incorporate a spring  60  to apply force directly or indirectly to the light source ferrule  4 , or two springs  60  may be used to apply force directly or indirectly to both ferrules  4  &amp;  10 . 
         [0021]    As shown in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , optical coupling may also be achieved using an optically powered coupling, such as reimaging the distal end of optical fiber  2  onto the proximal end of optical fiber  8  through an optical window  66 . This may be achieved by substituting an optical window  66  in lieu of a ferrule to define the outside surface of housing  12  and a lens  70  such as, by way of nonlimiting example, a 1.0 mm Dia.×2.0 mm focal length planoconvex lens (e.g. P/N 65-276 from Edmund Optical) placed subsequent to distal end of optical fiber  2  and within optical output module  6  within housing  12  that serves to direct light into the proximal end of optical fiber  8 , such as placing a lens  70  two focal lengths away from optical fiber  2  to operate at nominally unit magnification, wherein, distances d 1  and d 2  may not be equal due to the difference in optical path length introduced by the window. To relax the axial alignment constraints between optical fibers  2  &amp;  8 , optical fiber  2  may be configured to have a smaller core diameter than optical fiber  8 , or, alternately, by decreasing the magnification of the optical system to create a spot nominally smaller that that of optical fiber  2  on the face of optical fiber  8 . To relax the angular alignment constraints between optical fibers  2  &amp;  8 , optical fiber  2  may be configured to have a smaller numerical aperture than optical fiber  8 . The size of the core for optical fiber  2  may be dictated by the brightness of the light source, not shown. By way of nonlimiting example, the window may be comprised of a 5 mm outer diameter and 1 mm thick sapphire or glass plate and its edges metallized to allow for a brazed or soldered seal to be created by the window. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment, similar to that of  FIG. 4 , the alteration of using lens  70  to both create the seal in the housing and focus light from optical fiber  2  into optical fiber  8 . A spacer  68  has been added to dispose the input end of optical fiber  8  at the correct distance from lens  70 . Furthermore, alignment features on or within the housing wall may be used to dispose the input end of optical fiber  8  at the correct location. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment, similar to that of  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , with the addition of physical registration feature in the form of a recess  72  in the surface of the lens or window  66  to align the optical fiber  8 . The recess may be sized to accept either the proximal end of the ferrule  10  or the proximal end of the optical fiber  8  if the optical fiber  8  is not covered by the ferrule  10 . 
         [0024]    In a further embodiment, similar to that of  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ,  FIG. 7  shows the alteration of using a raised physical registration feature  76  on the surface of the lens or window  66  to align the optical fiber  8  by use of an alignment sleeve  68  which may fit directly over, or engage with certain mechanical aspects of, raised feature  76 . The raised feature  76  and alignment sleeve  68  may be sized to be compatible with different size optical fibers  8  and/or ferrules  10 , such as is done with respect to element  18  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment wherein two lenses are used to produce/receive collimated light. The light exiting optical fiber  2  enters lens  78  and exits nominally collimated. The nominally collimated light then travels a distance before entering lens  80 . Since the light is nominally collimated, the distance d 2  between lens  78  and lens  80  may vary without critically affecting the transmission and/or optical coupling efficiency between fibers  2  and  8 . After exiting lens  80 , the light is focused onto the proximal end of optical fiber  8 . A spacer  68  with alignment features  90  similar to those described above in  FIG. 7  may be used to position the lens  80  and/or optical fiber  8  with respect to the optical output of lens  70 . The distance d 1  between fiber  2  and lens  70  may be the focal length of lens  70 . Alignment feature  90  may be configured to engage with a raised feature  76 , as was described regarding  FIG. 7 , and may be formed to create a frustoconical segment (as shown) that engages the edge of raised feature  76 . In this collimated configuration, an angular misalignment with translate to a lateral shift in the focused spot that is proportional to the system magnification, thereby possibly providing a degree of insensitivity to such imperfections and produce a more clinically robust system. Of course, other such mating schemes are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Spacer  68  maybe also configured such that it contains provisions to hold lens  80  and ferrule  10  within it, as shown. 
         [0026]    Although the descriptions have been focused on embodiments for implantable photomedical devices, as they are the most strenuous, this does not preclude their use for other applications. 
         [0027]    Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein. Reference is made to these examples in a non-limiting sense. They are provided to illustrate more broadly applicable aspects of the invention. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s) to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the present invention. Further, as will be appreciated by those with skill in the art that each of the individual variations described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present inventions. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of claims associated with this disclosure. 
         [0028]    Any of the devices described for carrying out the subject diagnostic or interventional procedures may be provided in packaged combination for use in executing such interventions. These supply “kits” may further include instructions for use and be packaged in sterile trays or containers as commonly employed for such purposes. 
         [0029]    The invention includes methods that may be performed using the subject devices. The methods may comprise the act of providing such a suitable device. Such provision may be performed by the end user. In other words, the “providing” act merely requires the end user obtain, access, approach, position, set-up, activate, power-up or otherwise act to provide the requisite device in the subject method. Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as in the recited order of events. 
         [0030]    Exemplary aspects of the invention, together with details regarding material selection and manufacture have been set forth above. As for other details of the present invention, these may be appreciated in connection with the above-referenced patents and publications as well as generally known or appreciated by those with skill in the art. For example, one with skill in the art will appreciate that one or more lubricious coatings (e.g., hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone-based compositions, fluoropolymers such as tetrafluoroethylene, hydrophilic gel or silicones) may be used in connection with various portions of the devices, such as relatively large interfacial surfaces of movably coupled parts, if desired, for example, to facilitate low friction manipulation or advancement of such objects relative to other portions of the instrumentation or nearby tissue structures. The same may hold true with respect to method-based aspects of the invention in terms of additional acts as commonly or logically employed. 
         [0031]    In addition, though the invention has been described in reference to several examples optionally incorporating various features, the invention is not to be limited to that which is described or indicated as contemplated with respect to each variation of the invention. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents (whether recited herein or not included for the sake of some brevity) may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, where a range of values is provided, it is understood that every intervening value, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. 
         [0032]    Also, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there are plural of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein and in claims associated hereto, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said,” and “the” include plural referents unless specifically stated otherwise. In other words, use of the articles allow for “at least one” of the subject item in the description above as well as claims associated with this disclosure. It is further noted that such claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. 
         [0033]    Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term “comprising” in claims associated with this disclosure shall allow for the inclusion of any additional element—irrespective of whether a given number of elements are enumerated in such claims, or the addition of a feature could be regarded as transforming the nature of an element set forth in such claims. Except as specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein are to be given as broad a commonly understood meaning as possible while maintaining claim validity. 
         [0034]    The breadth of the present invention is not to be limited to the examples provided and/or the subject specification, but rather only by the scope of claim language associated with this disclosure.