Hot tip device with optical diagnostic capability
First Claim
1. A medical device for applying heat to a selected site in a lumen, comprising:
- an elongated, flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end;
a heating element attached to the distal end of said flexible member, said heating element comprising optical filter means for absorbing a first range of wavelengths and for passing a second range of wavelengths; and
optical fiber means for transmitting both said first and said second ranges of wavelengths extending through said flexible member, said optical fiber means having a distal end optically coupled to said heating element and having a proximal end adapted for receiving laser energy in said first range of wavelengths for heating said optical filter means and adapted for receiving laser energy in said second range of wavelengths for irradiating said lumen through said optical filter means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hot tip device, typically used for melting and plowing through stenotic deposits in a coronary artery, is provided with optical diagnostic capabilities. The device includes an elongated, flexible member, a filter glass heating element attached to the distal end of the flexible member and an optical fiber extending through the flexible member and optically coupled to the heating element. The filter glass heating element absorbs a first range of wavelengths for heating and passes a second range of wavelengths for irradiating the artery through the filter glass heating element. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible member is a steerable guidewire, and the filter glass heating element is heated by infrared radiation. Ultraviolet or visible radiation is used to stimulate fluorescence from deposits in the artery.
211 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A medical device for applying heat to a selected site in a lumen, comprising:
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an elongated, flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end; a heating element attached to the distal end of said flexible member, said heating element comprising optical filter means for absorbing a first range of wavelengths and for passing a second range of wavelengths; and optical fiber means for transmitting both said first and said second ranges of wavelengths extending through said flexible member, said optical fiber means having a distal end optically coupled to said heating element and having a proximal end adapted for receiving laser energy in said first range of wavelengths for heating said optical filter means and adapted for receiving laser energy in said second range of wavelengths for irradiating said lumen through said optical filter means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A medical device for applying heat and laser radiation to a selected site in a lumen, comprising:
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an elongated, flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end; an optical filter glass element attached to the distal end of said flexible member for absorbing a first range of wavelengths and for passing a second range of wavelengths; optical fiber means extending through said flexible member, said optical fiber means having a distal end optically coupled to said filter glass element; means for coupling laser radiation in said first range of wavelengths through said optical fiber means for heating said filter glass element in a heating mode; and means for coupling laser radiation in said second range of wavelengths through said optical fiber means for irradiating said lumen through said filter glass element in a diagnostic mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for applying heat and laser radiation to a selected site in a body lumen, comprising the steps of:
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advancing an elongated, flexible member through the lumen to the selected site, said flexible member having an optical fiber that extends therethrough and is terminated in an optical filter glass heating element, said filter glass heating element having an optical characteristic selected to absorb a first range of wavelengths and to pass a second range of wavelengths; directing laser radiation in said first wavelength range through said optical fiber for heating of said heating element in a heating mode; and directing laser radiation in said second wavelength range through said optical fiber so that the laser energy in said second wavelength range passes through said filter glass heating element and irradiates the selected site in a diagnostic mode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification