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Medical catheter using optical fibers that transmit both laser energy and ultrasonic imaging signals

  • US 5,486,170 A
  • Filed: 09/22/1994
  • Issued: 01/23/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A catheter for insertion into the body to effect medical treatment, comprising:

  • an elongated catheter having opposite ends;

    an optical fiber extending through said catheter and terminating in a tip adapted to be disposed in the body with the catheter, said optical fiber having an input end opposite said tip;

    an ultrasonic transducer means for generating and receiving ultrasonic signals;

    a means for generating laser energy; and

    a directing means for directing both ultrasonic signals and laser energy to the optical fiber at the input end for transmission through the fiber to said tip and for directing reflected ultrasonic signals from said tip through said optical fiber to said ultrasonic transducer means, the reflected ultrasonic signals providing information regarding the treatment area adjacent the tip of the optical fiber, the laser energy being applied to effect treatment to the same area.

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