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Electrosurgical catheter and method for vascular applications

  • US 4,682,596 A
  • Filed: 05/22/1984
  • Issued: 07/28/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1984
  • Status: Expired
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical plaque-resolving or tissue-eroding device having a distal end which is insertable within and along the lumen of a blood vessel and manipulated therethrough to a desired position without causing undue trauma where the device is operated to thermally resolve atherosclerotic plaque buildup or erode tissue in the blood vessel to re-establish desired blood flow through the blood vessel or to remove tissue therefrom, said device comprising:

  • an elongate flexible hollow tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a diameter smaller than the diameter of the vessel into which said device is inserted;

    first passage means within said tubular body for supplying a flushing fluid to the site where plaque or tissue is resolved or eroded;

    second passage means within said tubular body for evacuating, such as by suction, debris at the site of resolving plaque or eroding tissue from the site;

    a hollow tip member mounted at said distal end of said flexible hollow tubular body;

    an electrode adjacent to and in operative association with said hollow tip member for resolving plaque or eroding tissue, said tip member being beveled or rounded at the distal end of said device;

    means for supplying a high-frequency electrical current to said electrode for cutting tissue or coagulating body fluid; and

    means for sensing, from time to time, the amount of plaque or tissue at the site in the blood vessel.

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