Apparatus and methods for directional delivery of laser energy

• US 20060167442A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wood, Timothy J., Bowe, Wade A., Hebert, Chris J., Tedder, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,572,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22061 for spreading elements apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre

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.

Claims

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.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing is formed from a flexible material.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein said flexible material provides said housing the ability to travel contralaterally within the vasculature of a mammal.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein said vasculature comprises the iliac bifurcation.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a braided pattern along at least a portion of said housing.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a braided pattern along at least one half of a length of said housing.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a round or flat metal ribbon wire embedded within said housing.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a wire braid disposed proximate said first distal end.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes at least one wire disposed within said housing.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a polymer tip disposed at said first distal end separate from or integrated into said housing.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said elongated housing includes a stent-like structure disposed proximate at least one of said distal end, said proximal end, and therebetween.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein said stent-like structure is formed from one of stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, and nickel titanium or any combination thereof.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ramp is inflatable.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ramp is formed into an internal wall of said housing.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ramp is formed from one of a metal, plastic, and rubber.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ramp includes a marker band disposed along said ramp.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ramp includes at least one radiopaque marker disposed at a predetermined location along a longitudinal length of said ramp.

18. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a support structure disposed at said first distal end of said housing.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure is integrated with said housing proximate said first distal end.

20. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure includes an aperture in communication with said channel.

21. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure includes a stent-like or coiled form.

22. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure is progressively more flexible from a support structure proximal end to a support structure distal end.

23. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure includes a surface comprising at least a portion having a stent-like pattern.

24. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure includes said ramp molded into a surface of said support structure.

25. The catheter of claim 18, wherein said support structure supports said first distal end of said housing.

26. A catheter support structure comprising:

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.

27. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp is molded into a surface of said at least one flexible structure.

28. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp is inflatable.

29. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp is formed into an internal wall of said at least one flexible member.

30. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp is formed from one of a metal, plastic, and rubber, or any combination thereof.

31. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp includes a marker band disposed along said ramp.

32. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said ramp includes at least one radiopaque marker disposed at a predetermined location along a longitudinal length of said ramp.

33. The catheter support structure of claim 26, further comprising a guidewire aperture disposed proximate said second distal end and adapted to receive a guidewire in mechanical communication with both a laser delivery member and said aperture, said guidewire being adapted to bias a third distal end of said laser delivery member generally inwardly toward said central axis.

34. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said catheter support structure is integrated with a catheter housing.

35. The catheter support structure of claim 34, wherein said aperture of said catheter support structure is in communication with a channel of said catheter housing.

36. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said at least one flexible structure includes a stent-like or coiled form.

37. The catheter support structure of claim 26, wherein said at least one flexible structure includes a surface comprising at least a portion having a stent-like pattern.