Optical data link assembly for 360 µm diameter IVUS on guidewire imaging devices

We propose a novel concept for a high-speed optical data link in 360 μm diameter cardiovascular interventional imaging guidewires. The concept is based on the recently introduced Flex-to-Rigid (F2R) technology platform. This technology allows for new intravascular imaging devices with the required small form-factor. We extended the existing F2R technology with a new optical data link assembly method to enable high speed data communication from the distal tip of the catheter to the proximal side. In this method, the fiber is aligned by inserting it into a through-wafer hole directly underneath the flip-chipped Vertical-Cavity-Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL). Therefore, the total diameter of the optical data link is primarily limited by the size of the VCSEL. A wafer-scale demonstrator setup was fabricated with a commercially available 350×250 μm VCSEL and an 80 μm diameter multimode optical fiber. Test results of our demonstrator showed a correct optic coupling of the VCSEL into the fiber.