Methods and apparatus for the identification and stabilization of vulnerable plaque

• US 20030199768A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JOMED NV
• Original Assignee: JOMED NV
• Inventors: Michlitsch, Kenneth J., Cespedes, Eduardo Ignacio
• Application Number:
  US10/232,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for identifying and stabilizing vulnerable plaque via multi-functional catheters having both thermography and imaging capabilities. It is expected that correlating imaging and thermography data will facilitate improved identification of vulnerable plaque. Apparatus of the present invention may also be provided with optional stabilization elements for stabilizing vulnerable plaque, as well as optional embolic protection. Methods of using apparatus of the present invention are provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus for identification of vulnerable plaque, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter having a longitudinal axis and a distal region;

a phased-array IVUS imaging system disposed in the distal region; and

a thermographer configured to be disposed within or immediately adjacent to a field of view of the phased-array IVUS imaging system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermographer is configured to be removably disposed within the catheter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermographer overlaps the imaging element along the longitudinal axis of the catheter to facilitate correlation of imaging and thermographic data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stabilization element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the thermographer may be replaced with the stabilization element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a lumen through which the thermographer may be translated, the lumen having a curvature.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the curvature is configured to direct advancement of the thermographer in a non-parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lumen comprises a bifurcated lumen having a bifurcated portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermographer is configured to reversibly adopt an everted configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermographer comprises a plurality of thermography elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to perform a function chosen from the group consisting of elastography, palpography, and blood flow imaging.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface for simultaneously displaying imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface for displaying in real-time imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.

14. Apparatus for identification of vulnerable plaque, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter having a longitudinal axis and a distal region;

an imaging element disposed in the distal region; and

a thermographer configured to be removably disposed within the catheter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the thermographer is configured to be disposed within or immediately adjacent to a field of view of the imaging element.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the thermographer overlaps the imaging element along the longitudinal axis of the catheter to facilitate correlation of imaging and thermographic data.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a stabilization element.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the thermographer may be replaced with the stabilization element.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the catheter further comprises a lumen through which the thermographer may be translated, the lumen having a curvature.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the curvature is configured to direct advancement of the thermographer in a non-parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lumen comprises a bifurcated lumen having a bifurcated portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the thermographer is configured to reversibly adopt an everted configuration.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the thermographer comprises a plurality of thermography elements.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is adapted to perform a function chosen from the group consisting of elastography, palpography, and blood flow imaging.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a graphical user interface for simultaneously displaying imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a graphical user interface for displaying in real-time imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.

27. Apparatus for identification of vulnerable plaque, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter having a longitudinal axis and a distal region;

an imaging element disposed in the distal region; and

a thermographer having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the thermographer overlaps the imaging element along the longitudinal axis of the catheter when the thermographer is in the deployed configuration to facilitate correlation of imaging and thermographic data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the thermographer is configured to be removably disposed within the catheter.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a stabilization element.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the thermographer may be replaced with the stabilization element.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the catheter further comprises a lumen through which the thermographer may be translated, the lumen having a curvature.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the curvature is configured to direct advancement of the thermographer in a non-parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the lumen comprises a bifurcated lumen having a bifurcated portion.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the thermographer is configured to reversibly adopt an everted configuration.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the thermographer comprises a plurality of thermography elements.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is adapted to perform a function chosen from the group consisting of elastography, palpography, and blood flow imaging.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a graphical user interface for simultaneously displaying imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a graphical user interface for displaying in real-time imaging and thermography data obtained with the imaging element and thermographer, respectively.