Laser method and apparatus for the recanalization of vessels and the treatment of other cardiac conditions
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating cardiac conditions with laser radiation comprising a catheter adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel and threaded through the blood vessel to a region to be treated, the catheter comprising a tubular body having a window of laser radiation transparent material formed in a sidewell thereof;
- an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam disposed within the catheter, the optical fiber having an end terminating adjacent to said window; and
lens means on the end of the optical fiber for dispersing a laser beam guided by the optical fiber sideways outwardly through said window for treating tissue adjacent to the window and wherein said window comprises a closed tubular section of said transparent material which is coaxially disposed between a first catheter body section and a second catheter body section, said optical fiber entering the closed tubular section and terminating therein and wherein said closed tubular section has a cylindrical inner surface which is mirrored except for a part thereof which forms said window so as to reflect the laser beam from the optical fiber outwardly through the window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cardiac conditions such as blockages in arteries caused by plaque build-up are treated intravascularly with laser radiation using an optical fiber having a heat conducting end cap on its distal end. A spherical lens within the end cap focuses a small portion of the laser energy directly into the plaque which is in contact with the tip of the end cap and disperses the remaining energy into the end cap for heating it up. The direct laser energy vaporizes part of the plaque so that the end cap can be easily forced through the blockage, and the tissue in contact with the heated end cap is burned away. A diffuser catheter for the ablation of electrical conduction tissue in the heart employs spaced electrodes for detecting the presence of the conduction tissue, and directs laser energy outwardly through the side of the catheter for vaporizing the tissue.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating cardiac conditions with laser radiation comprising a catheter adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel and threaded through the blood vessel to a region to be treated, the catheter comprising a tubular body having a window of laser radiation transparent material formed in a sidewell thereof;
- an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam disposed within the catheter, the optical fiber having an end terminating adjacent to said window; and
lens means on the end of the optical fiber for dispersing a laser beam guided by the optical fiber sideways outwardly through said window for treating tissue adjacent to the window and wherein said window comprises a closed tubular section of said transparent material which is coaxially disposed between a first catheter body section and a second catheter body section, said optical fiber entering the closed tubular section and terminating therein and wherein said closed tubular section has a cylindrical inner surface which is mirrored except for a part thereof which forms said window so as to reflect the laser beam from the optical fiber outwardly through the window.
- an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam disposed within the catheter, the optical fiber having an end terminating adjacent to said window; and
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2. Apparatus for treating cardiac conditions with laser radiation comprising a catheter adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel and threaded through the blood vessel to a region to be treated, the catheter comprising a tubular body having a window of laser radiation transparent material formed in a sidewall thereof;
- an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam disposed within the catheter, the optical fiber having an end terminating adjacent to said window; and
lens means on the end of the optical fiber for dispersing a laser beam guided by the optical fiber sideways outwardly through said window for treating tissue adjacent to the window, and further comprising first and second electrode means disposed about the tubular catheter body on opposite sides of the window for detecting the presence of conductive tissue adjacent to said window. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam disposed within the catheter, the optical fiber having an end terminating adjacent to said window; and
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8. A method for the ablation of electrical conduction tissue in a heart comprising threading a catheter through a blood vessel into the heart, the catheter carrying an optical fiber and having first and second spaced electrodes located on a peripheral surface of the catheter;
- positioning the catheter such that the electrodes contact tissue;
detecting the presence of electrical conduction tissue in contact with the electrodes;
supplying laser energy to the optical fiber for transmission to the location of the electrodes; and
causing the laser energy transmitted by the optical fiber to be emitted sideways outwardly from a part of the catheter disposed between the spaced electrodes and into said conduction tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- positioning the catheter such that the electrodes contact tissue;
Specification