Control system and method for improved laser angioplasty
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In combination with a laser angioplasty system in which a laser catheter is positioned within a moving vessel and oriented to impinge radiation upon a selected target site within the vessel, the improvement comprising:
- means for defining a cycle representative of repetitive vessel movement;
means for defining the position of the laser catheter relative to the selected target site during various times of the cycle, andmeans for activating the laser catheter at a selected time or times to impinge laser radiation on the target site during an upcoming cycle or cycles.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and method for laser angioplasty or laser ablation or welding of tissue in general, in which firing of a laser catheter is correlated with movement of a vessel or other body chamber carrying the laser catheter, whereby the laser is fired only during those times its fiberoptic-delivered beam is aimed at plaque or other target in the vessel or chamber.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In combination with a laser angioplasty system in which a laser catheter is positioned within a moving vessel and oriented to impinge radiation upon a selected target site within the vessel, the improvement comprising:
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means for defining a cycle representative of repetitive vessel movement; means for defining the position of the laser catheter relative to the selected target site during various times of the cycle, and means for activating the laser catheter at a selected time or times to impinge laser radiation on the target site during an upcoming cycle or cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In combination with a laser angioplasty system for the delivery of laser energy to atherosclerotic plaque in a vessel and for ablation of the plaque therein, the combination comprising:
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a laser catheter including an actuating mechanism therefore; first means responsive to an aspect representative of repetitive vessel movements for defining a time period cycle representative thereof and for dividing the time period cycle into a variable number of fixed times or time intervals; second means responsive to the relative positions of the laser catheter and the plaque in the vessel for identifying those times or time intervals during a cycle (or a cardiac cycle) when the laser catheter is aimed at the plaque and those times or time intervals when it is not, and computer means responsive to said first means and said second means for controlling the actuation of the laser catheter during at least one time or time interval of an upcoming cardiac cycle in which the laser catheter is oriented to the plaque. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In combination with a medical treatment device in which a treatment means is positioned within a moving body and oriented toward a selected site therewithin for effecting treatment thereof, the improvement comprising:
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means for defining a repetitive time cycle representative of body movement; means for defining the position of the treatment means relative to the selected site during various times of the time cycle, and means for activating the treatment means at a selected time or times to effect treatment of the selected site.
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22. In combination with a medical treatment system for effecting treatment to a selected site in a body or body part, the combination comprising:
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medical treatment means inserting into the body including an actuating mechanism therefore; first means responsive to repetition body movements for defining a time period representative thereof and for dividing the time period into a variable number of fixed times; second means responsive to the relative positions of the medical treatment means and the site in the body for identifying those times or time intervals during a time period when the treatment means is oriented toward the site and those times or time intervals when it is not, and computer means responsive to said first means and said second means for controlling the actuation of the medical treatment means during at least one time or time interval of a cycle in which it is oriented toward selected site during upcoming cycle.
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23. A method of timing the actuation of a laser angioplasty catheter carried in a moving vessel to assure impingement of laser radiation upon atherosclerotic plaque rather than on the vessel wall, the method comprising:
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inserting the catheter into a vessel and positioning it toward a target area therein; establishing a repeating time cycle based on vessel movement, including discrete times within the cycle; selecting those discrete times in the cycle during which the catheter aiming mechanism is aimed at the plaque, and arranging for the actuation of the laser during at least one of those determined discrete times in an upcoming cycle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of timing the actuation of a medical treatment system in which a medical treatment means is inserted into the body and to assure effecting treatment by the means to a selected site in the body, the method comprising:
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inserting the medical treatment means into the body and positioning it toward a selected site therein; establishing a repeating time cycle based on certain body movement, including discrete times within the cycle; selecting those discrete times in the cycle during which the medical treatment means is oriented toward the site and arranging for the actuation of the medical treatment means during at least one of those determined discrete times or time intervals during an upcoming cycle.
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Specification