ENDOVASCULAR DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, comprising:
- positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel;
transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location;
evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position;
expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and
stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient includes the steps of positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of detecting an endovascular electrogram signal. The method may be designed for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient while enabling the prevention of a balloon from over-expanding and/or over-distending a vessel of a patient.
350 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, comprising:
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positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, comprising:
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positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting a first ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the first ultrasound signal to determine a first flow parameter of the vessel while the balloon is in a first configuration; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; transmitting a second ultrasound signal into the vessel during the expanding step; evaluating a reflection of the second ultrasound signal to determine when the blood flow through the vessel is substantially stopped; returning the balloon to the first configuration; transmitting a third ultrasound signal into the vessel after the returning step; and evaluating a reflection of the third ultrasound signal to determine a third blood flow parameter of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, comprising:
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positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; detecting an electrogram signal while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal and the electrogram signal while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped; and measuring a parameter used to determine cardiac function, wherein the timing of the measuring step is based on the result of the evaluation step.
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Specification