Heatable dilation catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heatable dilation catheter for simultaneously dilating and heating tissue within a vessel, the catheter comprising:
- an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter;
an elastic heating element mounted on the exterior of the balloon;
means for introducing fluid into the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the balloon expands to dilate the tissue and to bring the heating element into contact with the tissue; and
means for activating the elastic heating element to apply heat to the tissue.
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Abstract
A heatable dilation catheter includes an elongated flexible catheter which has an inflatable balloon attached to its distal end. The balloon has a heating element attached to it. A lumen provides a passageway which allows fluid to be introduced to inflate the balloon so that the heating element is in close proximity to tissue to be treated. The heating element is activated for an appropriate period of time to heat the tissue.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A heatable dilation catheter for simultaneously dilating and heating tissue within a vessel, the catheter comprising:
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an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter; an elastic heating element mounted on the exterior of the balloon; means for introducing fluid into the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the balloon expands to dilate the tissue and to bring the heating element into contact with the tissue; and means for activating the elastic heating element to apply heat to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A heatable dilation catheter for simultaneously dilating and heating tissue within a vessel, the catheter comprising:
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an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter; a first set of expandable electrodes of a first polarity mounted circumferentially in spaced-apart relationship on the outer surface of the balloon; a second set of expandable electrodes of a polarity opposite to that of the first set of electrodes mounted circumferentially on the outer surface of the balloon in the spaces between the electrodes of the first set; means for introducing fluid into the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the balloon expands to dilate the tissue and to expand the electrodes of both the first and second sets into contact with the tissue; and means for activating the first and second sets of electrodes such that current conducts through the tissue between electrodes of the first and second sets to heat the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification