Thermography catheter
First Claim
1. An interventional tool suitable for measuring the temperature of a vessel wall in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
- an elongated member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the elongated member having proximal and distal ends;
a plurality of thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel the elongated member is inserted into;
an expansion device carried by the elongated member that carries the thermal sensors, the expansion device being suitable for positioning the thermal sensors adjacent the vessel wall; and
a sheath/member that covers the thermal sensors such that the thermal sensors are positioned between the expansion device and the sheath/member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of improved thermal mapping catheters are disclosed which are capable of sensing and mapping thermal variations within body vessels. In embodiments directed at vascular applications, the catheters are capable of detecting temperature variations in atherosclerotic plaque, on the atherosclerotic plaque surface, and on the arterial wall of aneurysms and other vascular lesions of the human vasculature. In one aspect of the invention, a combined thermal mapping and drug delivery catheter is provided. In this embodiment a plurality of thermal sensors are combined with at least one infusion port suitable for delivering therapeutic agents into a vessel. In some embodiments, at least some of the infusion ports are located between adjacent thermal sensors. The described catheters may be used in a variety of new applications and medical diagnostic and treatment techniques.
140 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An interventional tool suitable for measuring the temperature of a vessel wall in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
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an elongated member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the elongated member having proximal and distal ends;
a plurality of thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel the elongated member is inserted into;
an expansion device carried by the elongated member that carries the thermal sensors, the expansion device being suitable for positioning the thermal sensors adjacent the vessel wall; and
a sheath/member that covers the thermal sensors such that the thermal sensors are positioned between the expansion device and the sheath/member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 24)
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3. An interventional combined thermal mapping and drug delivery tool comprising:
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an elongated member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the elongated member having proximal and distal ends;
a plurality of thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel the elongated member is inserted into; and
at least one infusion port suitable for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents into a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An interventional combined thermal mapping and therapeutic agent delivery tool comprising:
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an elongated member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the elongated member having proximal and distal ends;
a multiplicity of thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel that the elongated member is inserted into, wherein a plurality of the thermal sensors are longitudinally spaced;
an expansion device carried by the elongated member, the expansion device being suitable for positioning the thermal sensors against the vessel wall; and
at least one infusion port suitable for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents into a vessel, the infusion port being positioned between selected thermal sensors to facilitate delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents into a vessel in the region of the thermal sensors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A thermal mapping catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
a plurality of thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel the elongated flexible tubular member is inserted into; and
at least one anchoring balloon positioned either proximally or distally of the plurality of thermal sensors, the anchoring balloon being suitable for inflation during temperature sensing to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 17, 18)
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14. A method of obtaining a fluid specimen comprising:
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inserting a catheter into a vessel;
using the catheter to detect the temperature of vessel walls to identify a target region within the vessel; and
using the catheter to obtain a fluid specimen from the target region of the vessel.
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16. A method of treating vulnerable plaque comprising the steps of:
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inserting a catheter into an artery;
using the catheter to detect the temperature of walls of the artery to identify a target region of vulnerable plaque; and
applying a radioactive fluid to the target region of vulnerable plaque using the catheter to facilitate treatment of the vulnerable plaque.
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19. A catheter suitable for measuring the temperature of a vessel wall in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member suitable for insertion in a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
a plurality of independent longitudinally spaced thermal sensors suitable for detecting the temperature of the wall of a vessel the elongated flexible tubular member is inserted into, the thermal sensors being arranged to output signals suitable to provide a thermal map of a longitudinal section of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of thermally mapping a vessel using a thermal mapping catheter that includes an inflatable balloon that carries a plurality of thermal sensors thereon, the method comprising:
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inserting the catheter into a vessel;
inflating the balloon;
moving the balloon through the vessel with the balloon inflated to thermally map the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of treating a section of a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying the section of vessel at least in part through the use of thermal mapping of a portion of the vessel using an interventional thermal mapping tool;
inserting a radioactive guide wire into the vessel with the interventional thermal mapping tool in place, wherein the interventional thermal mapping tool is used to at least partially guide the radioactive guide wire into place.
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Specification