Apparatus and methods for directional delivery of laser energy
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- an elongated housing having a central axis between a first proximal end and a first distal end, said housing having a channel disposed between said first proximal end and said first distal end;
a laser delivery member having a second proximal end and a second distal end and comprising at least one optical fiber, said laser member being at least partially disposed within said channel and movable therein;
a cavity being disposed proximate said first distal end of said elongated housing and in communication with said channel;
a ramp disposed at an angle to said central axis and proximate said first distal end of said elongated housing, said ramp being in communication with said channel and adapted to move said second distal end of said laser delivery member outwardly from said central axis of said elongated member; and
a guidewire in mechanical communication with both said laser delivery member and said elongated housing, said guidewire being adapted to bias said second distal end of said laser delivery member generally inwardly toward said central axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, without limitation, the invention comprises a catheter having an elongated housing with a channel disposed therein. A laser delivery member is movable and at least partially disposed within the channel. A ramp is disposed within the housing at an angle to its central axis and proximate to its distal end. The ramp is adapted to move the distal end of the laser delivery member outwardly from the central axis of the housing. A guidewire biases the distal end of the laser delivery member generally inwardly toward the central axis of the housing. In some embodiments, without limitation, the offset of the central axis of the tip of the laser delivery member from the central axis of the housing is determined by adjusting the extent to which the laser delivery member travels on the ramp, and disposition of the laser delivery member on the guidewire maintains the offset tip substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the distal end of the laser delivery member may be biased in a desired direction or offset, permitting ablation of an area larger than the area of the distal end of the catheter.
40 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated housing having a central axis between a first proximal end and a first distal end, said housing having a channel disposed between said first proximal end and said first distal end;
a laser delivery member having a second proximal end and a second distal end and comprising at least one optical fiber, said laser member being at least partially disposed within said channel and movable therein;
a cavity being disposed proximate said first distal end of said elongated housing and in communication with said channel;
a ramp disposed at an angle to said central axis and proximate said first distal end of said elongated housing, said ramp being in communication with said channel and adapted to move said second distal end of said laser delivery member outwardly from said central axis of said elongated member; and
a guidewire in mechanical communication with both said laser delivery member and said elongated housing, said guidewire being adapted to bias said second distal end of said laser delivery member generally inwardly toward said central axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A catheter support structure comprising:
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a housing having a first proximal end and a first distal end;
an aperture disposed at least partially within said housing;
at least one flexible structure disposed proximate said first distal end of said housing having a second proximal end and a second distal end, said at least one flexible structure is increasingly flexible from said second proximal end to said second distal end, and a ramp disposed at an angle to a central axis on said at least one flexible structure, said ramp being in communication with said aperture and adapted to move a third distal end of a laser delivery member outwardly from said central axis. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification