Method and apparatus for fiber-optic cardiovascular endoscopy
First Claim
1. In an improved fiber-optic catheter for use in cardiovascular endoscopy of the type including:
- a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
an afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said catheter to the distal end thereof; and
an efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said distal end to said proximal end, the improvement comprising;
said sheath having an aperture extending therethrough from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end;
a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath, the distal portion of said tubular member having a distal end face and an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being longitudinally slidably movable in said lumen between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture; and
means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved method for in situ visual examination of cardiovascular system comprises feeding a catheter having at least one afferent fiber-optic bundle for transmitting light from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end thereof and at least one efferent fiber-optic bundle for returning light from the distal end to the proximal end, into the cardiovascular system until the distal end is in the vicinity of the region of cardiovascular system to be examined; illuminating the region by illuminating the proximal end of the catheter; injecting a clear physiologically innocuous fluid in front of the distal end of the catheter to increase clarity of blood in the region being examined; and observing the image returned to the proximal end of the efferent fiber-optic bundle. Fiber-optic catheter system and improved catheter for carrying out method are also disclosed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. In an improved fiber-optic catheter for use in cardiovascular endoscopy of the type including:
- a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
an afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said catheter to the distal end thereof; and
an efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said distal end to said proximal end, the improvement comprising;said sheath having an aperture extending therethrough from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end; a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath, the distal portion of said tubular member having a distal end face and an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being longitudinally slidably movable in said lumen between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture; and means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
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12. A fiber-optic catheter system suitable for cardiovascular endoscopy comprising:
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a catheter including (a) a flexible sheath defining a longitudinally extending lumen, said sheath having a proximal end and a distal end and an aperture extending through said sheath from said lumen, said aperture being located proximally of said sheath distal end;
(b) at least one afferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for transmitting light from the proximal end of said sheath to the distal end thereof;
(c) at least one efferent fiber-optic bundle disposed in said sheath for returning light from said sheath distal end to said sheath proximal end; and
(d) a tubular member comprising a longitudinally extending peripherally continuous wall defining a channel, the distal portion of said tubular member having an aperture extending through said wall from said channel, said tubular member being slidably disposed within said lumen of said sheath for longitudinal sliding movement between a first position wherein said tubular member aperture communicates with said sheath aperture and a second position wherein said tubular member aperture is out of communication with said sheath aperture;a light source disposed at the proximal end of said afferent bundle; means for injecting clear fluid into said channel for ejection laterally of said catheter through said sheath aperture when said tubular member is in said first position; and means for indicating when said tubular member is in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of in situ intravenous visual examination which employs a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter including an afferent fiber-optic bundle for transmitting light from said proximal end to said distal end and an efferent fiber-optic bundle for returning light from said distal end to said proximal end, said method comprising the steps of:
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feeding said catheter into the cardiovascular system until the distal end of said catheter is in the region of the cardiovascular system to be examined; injecting a clear physiologically innocuous fluid into the bloodstream between said proximal end and said distal end of said catheter whereby said fluid is carried by said bloodstream to said region; illuminating said region of the cardiovascular system by illuminating the proximal end of said afferent fiber-optic bundle;
andobserving the image returned to the proximal end of said efferent fiber-optic bundle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification