Fluid occluding devices and methods
First Claim
1. A method of occluding blood in a blood vessel, having a vessel wall, during imaging of a portion of the blood vessel, comprising the steps of:
- selecting an inflatable element such that diameter of the inflated inflatable element is greater than the diameter of the blood vessel being imaged;
introducing the inflatable element into the blood vessel; and
underinflating the inflatable element such that the vessel wall is not substantially deformed by the inflatable element, the inflatable element substantially occluding the blood vessel to reduce imaging distortion resulting from vessel fluids.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of occluding blood in a blood vessel during the imaging of a portion of the blood vessel. The method includes the steps of selecting an inflatable element such that diameter of the inflated inflatable element is greater than the diameter of the blood vessel being imaged, introducing the inflatable element into the blood vessel and underinflating the inflatable element such that the vessel wall is not substantially deformed by the inflatable element, the inflatable element substantially occluding the blood vessel to reduce imaging distortion resulting from vessel fluids.
180 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of occluding blood in a blood vessel, having a vessel wall, during imaging of a portion of the blood vessel, comprising the steps of:
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selecting an inflatable element such that diameter of the inflated inflatable element is greater than the diameter of the blood vessel being imaged;
introducing the inflatable element into the blood vessel; and
underinflating the inflatable element such that the vessel wall is not substantially deformed by the inflatable element, the inflatable element substantially occluding the blood vessel to reduce imaging distortion resulting from vessel fluids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fluid occluding device, the device comprising:
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an inflatable catheter and an imaging system to improve imaging quality by substantially blocking intra-vessel fluids, the inflatable catheter comprising a balloon portion having a vessel contacting surface, wherein the balloon portion is oversized in relation to the vessel of interest. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A balloon catheter system, the system comprising:
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a balloon connected to an inflation lumen, and a combined flushing and imaging lumen extending distal to the balloon, at least one coaxial exit aperture to the imaging lumen, and a plurality of exit apertures along the imaging lumen, wherein the balloon operating pressures are substantially below 1 atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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20. A method of imaging a portion of a vessel having a vessel wall, the method comprising the steps of:
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introducing an inflatable element having a volume within the vessel;
imaging the vessel wall while fluid is flowing through the vessel;
increasing the volume of the inflatable element incrementally such that image distortion effects caused by the fluid are substantially reduced without distorting the vessel.
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Specification