Light-Based Method for the Endovascular Treatment of Pathologically Altered Blood Vessels

• US 20110125140A1
• Filed: 10/25/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dornier MedTech Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: Dornier MedTech Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Meier, Richard, Beck, Tobias
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20361 with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

A light-based method of endovascular treatment, in particular, of pathologically altered blood vessels. Provided are a Method of Endovascular Light Treatment and a corresponding Endovascular Light Application Device.

Claims

1. A blood vessel treatment device, comprising:

a light applicator; and

a catheter via which the light applicator is inserted into and guided within a blood vessel,

wherein said catheter and said light applicator are arranged and adapted such that in use at any time said light applicator does not make intraluminal contact with any vessel wall and the light applicator is capable of delivering light energy through the sheath of the catheter so as to emit light energy to cause damage to a vessel wall, the damage resulting in a subsequent decrease in the diameter of the vessel.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting unit, said light emitting unit being connected to the light applicator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the light is laser light of a wavelength in the range 500-2000 nm.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the light applicator during use may be placed repeatedly at the same position within the vessel without moving the catheter.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the light applicator during use is movable within the catheter with a constant velocity v, with v=1-5 mm/s, or is movable in consecutive segments.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the light applicator is placed within the sheath of the catheter and the catheter at the distal end is closed.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the light applicator is placed within the sheath of the catheter and the catheter at the distal end is open.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the light applicator is capable of delivering light energy to the blood vessel using the Seldinger Technique or a kind of Seldinger Technique.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the light applicator is between 0.1 and 2.5 mm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the light applicator is a fiber optic line comprising a cylindrical diffuser.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the light applicator emits light in a cylindrical radiation profile.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a contrast unit that images the device and the vessel to be treated;

a velocity control unit that controls the velocity with which the light applicator is moved within the catheter;

a temperature detecting unit that determines a temperature at the position where the vessel is to be damaged;

a coagulation detecting unit that determines a coagulation at the position where the vessel is to be damaged;

an imaging unit that displays the data measured by at least one of the contrast unit, the velocity control unit, the temperature detecting unit, and the coagulation detecting unit; and

a closed loop unit that controls at least one of the parameters of light intensity and, velocity, and segmentation of movement.

13. A method of applying light energy from a light emitting unit to a blood vessel, from within the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing into the vessel a device comprising a light applicator and a catheter via which the light applicator is inserted into and guided within a blood vessel, wherein the catheter and the light applicator are arranged and adapted such that in use at any time the light applicator does not make intraluminal contact with any vessel wall and the light applicator is capable of delivering light energy through the sheath of the catheter so as to emit light energy to cause damage to a vessel wall; and

applying energy to the vessel until the vessel is damaged.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the vessel is damaged until the vessel is closed and no blood can flow through at the damaged position.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of placing the light applicator repeatedly at the same position within the catheter and thereby within the vessel while continuing to apply energy to the vessel.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of moving the light applicator in the catheter and thereby in the vessel while continuing to apply energy to the vessel.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of

imaging the vessel to be treated;

and/or

controlling the velocity with which the light applicator is moved within the catheter; and

determining the temperature or the coagulation at the position where the vessel is damaged.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the light power applied per cm² at the surface of the light applicator is in the range of 1 to 200 W/cm².

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the light power applied per cm² at the surface of the light applicator is in the range of 5 to 35 W/cm².

14. (canceled)

20. A kit, comprising

a light applicator;

a catheter via which the light applicator is inserted into and is guided within a blood vessel; and

an access needle;

wherein said catheter and said light applicator are arranged and adapted such that in use at any time said light applicator does not make intraluminal contact with any vessel wall and the light applicator is capable of delivering light energy through said catheter to emit light energy to cause damage to a vessel wall.