CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A laser catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a central axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body having a lumen disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen having a distal opening at the distal end;
a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the light guide at least partially disposed within the lumen and the distal end of the light guide extending from within the distal opening of the catheter body, wherein the light guide is configured to conduct light from the distal end to the proximal end;
a tip extending distally from the distal end of the catheter body; and
an imaging device disposed on the tip and positioned distally from the catheter body opening.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention include a laser catheter that includes a catheter body, a light guide, and a distal tip that extends beyond the exit aperture of the light guide. In some embodiments, an imaging device is disposed on the distal tip such that the imaging device is distal relative to the exit aperture of the light guide. In some embodiments, the imaging device can be gated to record images during and/or slightly beyond periods when the laser catheter is not activated.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A laser catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a central axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body having a lumen disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen having a distal opening at the distal end; a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the light guide at least partially disposed within the lumen and the distal end of the light guide extending from within the distal opening of the catheter body, wherein the light guide is configured to conduct light from the distal end to the proximal end; a tip extending distally from the distal end of the catheter body; and an imaging device disposed on the tip and positioned distally from the catheter body opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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4. The laser catheter according to claim 4, further comprising a wire tube disposed within the catheter body within which the plurality of wires are disposed.
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15. A catheter comprising:
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a fiber optic bundle configured to couple with a laser light source at the proximal end of the fiber optic bundle and direct light received from the laser light source toward the distal end of the fiber optic bundle; and an ultrasonic probe disposed distal relative to the distal end of the fiber optic bundle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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positioning a laser catheter within a vessel, wherein the laser catheter includes a fiber optic bundle with an exit aperture; imaging the interior of the vessel near the distal tip of the laser catheter using an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the catheter relative to an exit aperture of the fiber optic bundle, wherein the imaging provides images of the interior of the vessel; activating the laser catheter to ablate material within the vessel; and gating the imaging device while the laser catheter is activated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification