Blood flow measurement catheter
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising an elongate body for extending through a blood vessel to a proximal end exterior of a person'"'"'s body, said elongate body having proximal and distal extremities;
- an elongate portion of said body near the distal extremity thereof being movable between a first position substantially parallel to the axis of said body and a second position along an arcuate path having an apex and extending outwardly from said first position;
means carried by said body for causing movement of said elongate portion between said first position and said second position, so that in said second position, said elongate portion contacts a side wall of said blood vessel and forces said body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel and a transducer carried by said elongate body and positioned proximate a side wall of said blood vessel when said elongate portion is in said second position.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter having a mechanism for positioning a doppler shift transducer carried by the catheter against a side wall of a blood vessel. A portion of the catheter near the distal end is adjustable for movement between a first position in line with the axis of the catheter and a second position in which such catheter portion is in the shape of an arc extending outward from the axis of the catheter such that the arcuate portion will wedge the body of the catheter against the other wall of the blood vessel. The adjustable portion can be manipulated using a mechanism near the proximal end of the catheter outside of a patient'"'"'s body.
243 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising an elongate body for extending through a blood vessel to a proximal end exterior of a person'"'"'s body, said elongate body having proximal and distal extremities;
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an elongate portion of said body near the distal extremity thereof being movable between a first position substantially parallel to the axis of said body and a second position along an arcuate path having an apex and extending outwardly from said first position; means carried by said body for causing movement of said elongate portion between said first position and said second position, so that in said second position, said elongate portion contacts a side wall of said blood vessel and forces said body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel and a transducer carried by said elongate body and positioned proximate a side wall of said blood vessel when said elongate portion is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate body for extending into a blood vessel, said elongate body having proximal and distal extremities; a pliable filament disposed within said elongate body, said elongate body having an axially extending slot therein, said pliable filament being adjustable between a first position within said slot and a second position along an arcuate path extending outward from said first position and from said slot, a transducer carried by said elongate body near the distal extremity thereof and means near said proximal extremity of said elongate body for adjusting said pliable filament between said first position and said second position so that in said second position, said pliable filament contacts a side wall of said blood vessel and forces said elongate body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel so that said transducer is positioned near a side wall of said blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate catheter body, for extending through a blood vessel to a proximal end exterior of a person'"'"'s body; a transducer coupled to a distal end of said catheter body; a pliable filament disposed within an axial slot within said catheter body, said slot being located such that said transducer is located between said slot and said distal end, said pliable filament being adjustable between a first position within said slot and a second position along an arcuate path extending outward from said first position; means near said proximal end of said body, for adjusting said pliable filament between said first position and said second position; an inflatable balloon coupled to said catheter between said transducer and said distal end; a pressure hole proximate said distal end; whereby, in said second position, said pliable filament contacts a side wall of said blood vessel, thereby forcing said catheter body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel so that said transducer can be positioned near a side wall of said blood vessel, said balloon being inflatable to block said blood vessel so that said pressure hole can monitor a pressure isolated from said transducer.
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22. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate body for extending through a blood vessel from a proximal end exterior of a person'"'"'s body to a distal end in a blood vessel; a pliable portion of said body near said distal end, said pliable portion being preformed in a first position along an S-shaped arcuate path extending outward from said elongate body; a pliable filament internal to said elongate body, said filament holding said pliable portion in a second position substantially parallel to the axis of said elongate body, said pliable portion assuming said first position when said filament is removed; and a transducer coupled to said pliable portion proximate an apex of said S-shaped arcuate path; whereby, in said first position, said pliable portion contacts a side wall of said blood vessel, thereby forcing said elongate body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel so that said transducer can be positioned proximate a side wall of said blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate body for extending through a blood vessel from a proximal end exterior of a person'"'"'s body to a distal end in a blood vessel; a pliable portion of said body near said distal end, said pliable portion being preformed in a first position along a 360°
spiral loop arcuate path extending outward from said elongate body;a pliable filament internal to said elongate body, said filament holding said pliable portion in a second position substantially parallel to the axis of said elongate body, said pliable portion assuming said first position when said filament is removed; and transducer coupled to said pliable portion proximate an apex of said 360°
spiral loop arcuate path;whereby, in said first position, said pliable portion contacts a side wall of said blood vessel, thereby forcing said elongate body against an opposite side wall of said blood vessel so that said doppler shift transducer can be positioned proximate a side wall of said blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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- 28. In a device for making measurements in a blood vessel, a flexible elongate element adapted to be inserted into the blood vessel and having a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally thereof, said elongate element having proximal and distal ends, a transducer carried by the elongate element and means carried by the elongate element for causing a portion of the elongate element to be urged against the wall of the blood vessel so that it remains in a relatively fixed position during pulsatile flow of blood through the blood vessel, said transducer being disposed in relatively close proximity to said portion whereby said portion provides a desired orientation for the transducer.
Specification