Optimized intravascular ultrasound probe catherers
First Claim
1. An intravascular interrogation catheter, comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal insertion end;
a basket section disposed at or near the distal insertion end of the catheter, said basket section comprising at least one radially extendable wall-approaching optical probe arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall-approaching portion disposed therebetween and each having at least one optical fiber entering an end of the probe arm and terminating in the wall-approaching portion thereof, the optical fibers of each probe arm all entering from the distal ends of the probe arms or all entering from the proximal ends of the probe arms;
a radially centrally disposed, radially scanning IVUS imaging element disposed within the basket section and having a field-of-view,wherein the probe arms extend laterally over the IVUS imaging element, a first lateral portion of each probe arm being in the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element and a second lateral portion of each probe arm being outside of the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element, andwherein the cross-sectional dimension of the first lateral portion of the at least one probe arm is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the second lateral portion of the probe arms.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides intravascular diagnostic catheters that include a centrally disposed intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging element and radially extendable, wall-contacting optical probe arms of a novel design for improving the IVUS imaging aspect of combined IVUS and optical analysis. In one embodiment, the dimension of the portion of the probe arm(s) that is in the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element is minimized. In another embodiment, thin tethers are disposed in the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element, rather than a continuation of the probe arm itself into the IVUS field. In still another embodiment, the probe arms at least substantially do not impinge on the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element and tethers that are not within the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element are used to control the probe arms, thereby providing a clear field-of-view for the IVUS imaging element.
26 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An intravascular interrogation catheter, comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal insertion end; a basket section disposed at or near the distal insertion end of the catheter, said basket section comprising at least one radially extendable wall-approaching optical probe arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall-approaching portion disposed therebetween and each having at least one optical fiber entering an end of the probe arm and terminating in the wall-approaching portion thereof, the optical fibers of each probe arm all entering from the distal ends of the probe arms or all entering from the proximal ends of the probe arms; a radially centrally disposed, radially scanning IVUS imaging element disposed within the basket section and having a field-of-view, wherein the probe arms extend laterally over the IVUS imaging element, a first lateral portion of each probe arm being in the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element and a second lateral portion of each probe arm being outside of the field-of-view of the IVUS imaging element, and wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the first lateral portion of the at least one probe arm is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the second lateral portion of the probe arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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3. An intravascular interrogation catheter, comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal insertion end; an interrogation section disposed at or near the distal insertion end of the catheter, said interrogation section comprising at least one radially extendable wall-approaching optical probe arms each having a wall-approaching portion disposed at an end thereof and each having at least one optical fiber entering the probe arm and terminating at or near the wall-approaching end, a radially centrally disposed, radially scanning IVUS imaging element laterally adjacent to the wall-approaching ends of the optical probe arms in their radially extended state, wherein the wall-approaching end of each probe arm is connected by a flexible tether line to a radially central position on the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification