Miniature Optical Signal Transmission System for an Active Intravascular Device

Objective: Active devices with wired receive coils enable very fast and robust catheter tracking and also intravascular imaging, but potential RF heating of such active devices has so far prevented their clinical use. Recently, a transformer-based cable was presented that efficiently reduces RF heating for active devices [1]. Similar results were obtained with an approach based on diodes [2]. Whereas those approaches rely on the segmentation of the cable to reduce RF heating, here, the feasibility of optical signal transmission is evaluated, which completely avoids any long conductors and makes the devices inherently RF safe. Moreover, it is the objective to design a transmission system with as few miniature components as possible to allow the integration into active devices.