LIQUID LIGHT-GUIDE CATHETER WITH OPTICALLY DIVERGING TIP

• US 20090254074A1
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Giem, Ted A., Carver, Robert L., Splinter, Robert, Taylor, Kevin D., Fix, Clint
• Granted Patent: US 9,421,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light

Abstract

A light-diverting catheter tip is provided according to embodiments disclosed herein. The light-diverting catheter tip may be coupled with the distal tip of a laser catheter and divert at least a portion of the light exiting the distal tip of the laser catheter such that the spot size of the laser beam on an object after exiting the catheter tip is larger than the spot size of the light entering the catheter without the catheter tip. The catheter tip may be removably coupled with the catheter or constructed as part of the catheter. In other embodiments, the catheter tip may conduct fluid and/or divert fluid at the tip of the laser catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter tip comprising:

a housing attachable to a laser catheter having an inner lumen configured to receive fluid traveling in a substantially uniform direction from the laser catheter; and

a deflecting member positioned within the interior of the inner lumen, the deflecting member comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end having a diameter greater than the proximal end; and

a tapered region, the tapered region extending from the proximal end to the distal end such that when fluid contacts the tapered region, at least a portion of the fluid is diverted from a substantially uniform direction to produce a fluid pattern that is larger than a fluid pattern produced without the fluid diversion.

2. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the deflecting member is conical in shape.

3. The catheter tip of claim 2, wherein the interior of the deflecting member is hollow such that a portion of the fluid is capable of passing through the deflecting member without being diverted.

4. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the tapered region is substantially linear.

5. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the tapered region is substantially convex.

6. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the tapered region is substantially concave.

7. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the inner lumen is constructed from a material having an index of refraction less than the fluid.

8. The catheter tip of claim 1, wherein the deflecting member is constructed from a material having an index of refraction less than the fluid.

9. A catheter tip comprising:

a housing attachable with a distal tip of a laser catheter, the housing having an inner lumen with a central axis extending along the longitudinal length of the inner lumen;

fluid receiving means for receiving fluid within the inner lumen from a laser catheter, such that the received fluid travels along the central axis of the inner lumen; and

fluid diverting means for diverting at least a portion of the fluid from the direction along the central axis prior to exiting the catheter tip, wherein the fluid diverting means is located within the inner lumen.

10. The catheter tip of claim 9, wherein the fluid diverting means is further capable of permitting a portion of the fluid to continue in the direction along the central axis upon exiting the catheter tip.

11. The catheter tip of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises an outer diameter and wherein, upon exiting the catheter tip, the fluid produces a spot size on an object in close proximity to the catheter tip that has a diameter at least the same size as the outer diameter of the housing.

12. The catheter tip of claim 9, wherein the fluid diverting means is further capable of diverting a portion of the fluid medium from the direction along the central axis of the inner lumen prior to the fluid medium exiting the catheter tip.

13. A laser catheter comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an inner lumen with a central axis extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;

a plurality of fibers configured to transmit light received at the proximal end, the plurality of fibers positioned within the inner lumen of the laser catheter;

an infusion port configured to receive a liquid and produce a flow of the liquid through the inner lumen from the proximal end toward the distal end substantially along the central axis of the inner lumen; and

a deflecting member positioned within the inner lumen near the distal end, the deflecting member being capable of diverting at least a portion of the fluid from exiting the inner lumen at the distal end from substantially along the central axis of the inner lumen.

14. The laser catheter of claim 13, wherein the deflecting member is hollow.

15. The laser catheter of claim 13, wherein the inner lumen is constructed from a material having an index of refraction less than the fluid.

16. The laser catheter of claim 13, wherein the deflecting member is constructed from a material having an index of refraction less than the fluid.

17. A catheter tip comprising:

a housing operable with a laser catheter, the housing having an inner lumen configured to receive light emitted by the laser catheter, wherein the emitted light has a first diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the laser catheter, and wherein the light travels in a substantially uniform direction along the longitudinal length of the inner lumen; and

a deflecting member positioned within the housing, the deflecting member having a proximal end and a distal end with a tapered region therebetween, wherein the deflecting member functions to divert the received light from the uniform direction such that the light exiting the catheter tip has a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter.

18. The catheter tip of claim 17, wherein the deflecting member is further capable of permitting a portion of the light to exit the catheter tip without diverting the light.