Asymmetric water jet atherectomy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a deposit within a vessel of a patient comprising:
- a. catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
b. a working fluid;
c. means coupled to said proximal end of said catheter for supplying said working fluid under high pressure;
d. means coupled to said distal end of said catheter for directing said working fluid in the form of a stream at a deposit within a vessel of a patient, said means for supplying said working fluid under high pressure and said means for directing said working fluid in the form of a stream being capable of supplying and directing said working fluid at a velocity high enough to generate a stagnation pressure sufficient to remove ablated deposit debris without the use of a vacuum; and
,e. target means coupled to said distal end of said catheter at a location longitudinally spaced from said directing means for preventing said working fluid from directly impinging upon a vessel of a patient;
said longitudinal spacing being sufficient to accommodate at least a portion of deposit being ablated.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for ablation and removal of plaque deposits from the arterial, venous, vascular graft or other tissue wall of a patient. Ablation is accomplished by directing a high pressure jet of sterile saline solution at the plaque deposit. The high pressure jet is located at the distal end of a catheter which is advanced through the vascular system to the site of the plaque deposit. Removal of the debris is via an evacuation lumen within the catheter.
The arterial wall is protected from damage by the catheter design which directs the high pressure jet towards a portion of the distal end of the catheter which serves as a target. The distal end of the catheter is placed such that the plaque or other deposit to be ablated is positioned between the high pressure jet and the target.
An optional ultrasonic transducer array located adjacent the high pressure jet and the evacuation lumen permits the attending physician to monitor the procedure.
A balloon may be used to hold the catheter against the deposit allowing it to protrude into the ablation jet and be removed from the vessel.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a deposit within a vessel of a patient comprising:
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a. catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; b. a working fluid; c. means coupled to said proximal end of said catheter for supplying said working fluid under high pressure; d. means coupled to said distal end of said catheter for directing said working fluid in the form of a stream at a deposit within a vessel of a patient, said means for supplying said working fluid under high pressure and said means for directing said working fluid in the form of a stream being capable of supplying and directing said working fluid at a velocity high enough to generate a stagnation pressure sufficient to remove ablated deposit debris without the use of a vacuum; and
,e. target means coupled to said distal end of said catheter at a location longitudinally spaced from said directing means for preventing said working fluid from directly impinging upon a vessel of a patient;
said longitudinal spacing being sufficient to accommodate at least a portion of deposit being ablated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a method for ablating at least a portion of a deposit in a vessel of a patient by advancing a catheter with a proximal end and a distal end into the vessel until said distal end of said catheter is positioned at the site of the deposit, supplying pressurized fluid to the catheter, and using this fluid to create a stream which impinges upon the deposit to ablate the deposit, the improvements comprising:
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a. applying said stream at a velocity high enough to generate a stagnation pressure sufficient to remove deposit debris without the use of a vacuum; and
,b. interposing a target intermediate said stream of fluid and the vessel to protect the vessel from said stream yet provided space to accommodate at least a portion of the deposit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification