Tubular compliant mechanisms for ultrasonic imaging systems and intravascular interventional devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical device to cross a vascular occlusion comprising:
- an intravascular catheter having a proximal end and distal end, and at least one lumen traversing along the longitudinal axis of the catheter;
a guidewire disposed in said at least one lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said guidewire can be moved axially within said lumen such that said distal end of said guidewire can be extended beyond the distal end of said catheter;
an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound apparatus located at said distal end of said catheter, wherein said ultrasound apparatus is configured to provide real-time imaging of an area proximate to a distal tip of said catheter;
wherein said device is configured to provide energy to a distal end of said device, wherein said energy is selected from the group comprising radio-frequency energy, rotary energy, vibrational energy, or oscillatory energy; and
wherein said energy is sufficient to assist said device in crossing a vascular occlusion.
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Abstract
A micromanipulator comprising a tubular structure and a structural compliance mechanism that are formed from a tube made of an elastic and/or superelastic material. The micromanipulator is useful for intravascular interventional applications and particularly ultrasonic imaging when coupled with an ultrasound transducer. Also disclosed are medical devices for crossing vascular occlusions using radio-frequency energy or rotary cutting, preferably under the guidance of real-time imaging of the occlusion, as well as accompanying methods.
172 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A medical device to cross a vascular occlusion comprising:
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an intravascular catheter having a proximal end and distal end, and at least one lumen traversing along the longitudinal axis of the catheter;
a guidewire disposed in said at least one lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said guidewire can be moved axially within said lumen such that said distal end of said guidewire can be extended beyond the distal end of said catheter;
an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound apparatus located at said distal end of said catheter, wherein said ultrasound apparatus is configured to provide real-time imaging of an area proximate to a distal tip of said catheter;
wherein said device is configured to provide energy to a distal end of said device, wherein said energy is selected from the group comprising radio-frequency energy, rotary energy, vibrational energy, or oscillatory energy; and
wherein said energy is sufficient to assist said device in crossing a vascular occlusion. - 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 method for crossing a vascular occlusion comprising:
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inserting the distal end of a guidewire having a distal end and a proximal end into the vasculature of an animal having a vascular occlusion;
advancing said distal end of said guidewire through the vascular to said occlusion;
passing the distal end of an intravascular catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen traversing along the longitudinal axis of the catheter over the proximal end of said guidewire such that said proximal end of said guidewire is disposed in said lumen;
advancing said distal end of said catheter over the guidewire until said distal end of said guidewire is proximate to said occlusion;
using an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound apparatus located at said distal end of said catheter, to provide real-time imaging of the environment proximate to a distal tip of said catheter;
advancing said distal tip of said guidewire through said occlusion under the guidance of said real-time imaging until said guidewire encounters a portion of the occlusion which cannot be crossed; and
providing energy to the distal end of said guidewire wherein said energy is at least radio-frequency, rotational, vibrational, or oscillatory, such that said energy permits the advancement of said distal tip of said guidewire through said occlusion. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification