Imaging balloon catheter and methods for use and manufacture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter comprising:
- a shaft adapted for insertion into a vascular system, said shaft having a distal portion and a fluid passageway that communicates with said distal portion; and
an expandable tubular element mounted on the distal end of said shaft and in fluid communication with said fluid passageway to conform to the shape of the vessel when said expandable tubular element is inflated at a first pressure,said expandable tubular element constructed of a material that conforms to the shape of the vessel when said balloon is inflated at a first pressure and maintains the shape of the vessel after said balloon has been deflated and removed from the vascular system and reinflated at a second pressure.
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Abstract
The present invention includes an imaging catheter for providing a three-dimensional representation of a body vessel wall. The imaging catheter includes an expandable deformable balloon which is inserted into a lumen of the body vessel at a position of interest on the vessel wall. After the balloon has been inflated, the balloon is then deflated and withdrawn from the body vessel to provide a three-dimensional image of the position of interest on the vessel wall.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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a shaft adapted for insertion into a vascular system, said shaft having a distal portion and a fluid passageway that communicates with said distal portion; and an expandable tubular element mounted on the distal end of said shaft and in fluid communication with said fluid passageway to conform to the shape of the vessel when said expandable tubular element is inflated at a first pressure, said expandable tubular element constructed of a material that conforms to the shape of the vessel when said balloon is inflated at a first pressure and maintains the shape of the vessel after said balloon has been deflated and removed from the vascular system and reinflated at a second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for imaging a body vessel lumen, the method comprising:
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providing an imaging catheter having an expandable balloon mounted at a distal end, the balloon being characterized by an ability to conform to the shape of the vessel wall upon inflation, and return to the conformed shape after deflation and reinflation; advancing the imaging catheter into the body lumen to an imaging position; inflating the balloon so that the balloon is forced against the vessel wall and conforms to the shape of the vessel wall; deflating the balloon and withdrawing the balloon from the lumen; and reinflating the balloon to expand the balloon to assume the balloon'"'"'s previous shape that corresponds to the shape of the vessel wall thereby providing an image of the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A catheter comprising:
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a shaft adapted for insertion into a vascular system, said shaft having a distal portion and a fluid passageway that communicates with said distal portion; and an expandable tubular element mounted on the distal end of said shaft and in fluid communication with said fluid passageway to conform to the shape of the vessel when said expandable tubular element is inflated at a first pressure, said expandable tubular element constructed of a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG). - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification