Fiber optic guide wire and support catheter therefor
First Claim
1. A fiber optic guide wire apparatus comprising:
- a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination;
a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly;
an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle extending through said plug and having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug;
said plug surrounding said optical fibers in said bundle and bonding said fibers to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly;
a mandrel, disposed within said guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly, said mandrel cooperating with said optical fiber bundle to permit said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly to be shaped as desired by an operator;
means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle; and
an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube;
wherein a proximal end of said mandrel terminates proximate to a proximal end of said exchange lead.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guide wire for a catheter has a tubular portion with a flexible body fixed to its distal end. The distal end of the body may be composed of a radiopaque material. Optical fibers are disposed within the assembly and terminate in a radiopaque tip at the distal end of the body. The guide wire may have a longitudinal marker wire or mandrel for providing stiffness and radioscopic tracking characteristics, as well as providing torsional control and tip shaping capabilities. The guide wire has a proximal end attached to the tube and a distal end that also terminates in the tip. The wire may be maneuvered in a vascular area like a conventional guide wire and may be used in conjunction with a support catheter to increase its maneuverability. Then, laser energy is conveyed to the vascular area by the optical fibers to ablate an obstruction. The proximal end of the guide wire is then removed and a larger catheter may then be slid over the guide wire to continue the ablation operation. Employing plastic tubing, a wire coil, or a combination of these two for the distal body, the guide wire may be used in peripheral or coronary angioplasty applications. The guide wire may be used in conjunction with a support catheter which is used to direct the guide wire to a treatment site and provides improved tracking characteristics.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fiber optic guide wire apparatus comprising:
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a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination; a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly; an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle extending through said plug and having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug; said plug surrounding said optical fibers in said bundle and bonding said fibers to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly; a mandrel, disposed within said guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly, said mandrel cooperating with said optical fiber bundle to permit said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly to be shaped as desired by an operator; means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle; and an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube; wherein a proximal end of said mandrel terminates proximate to a proximal end of said exchange lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fiber optic guide wire apparatus comprising:
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a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination; a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly; an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle extending through said plug and having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug; said plug surrounding said optical fibers in said bundle and bonding said fibers to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly; means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle; a torque knob disposed on said hypo tube, said torque knob engaging said guide wire assembly to transmit torque applied to said knob to said distal end of said guide wire assembly; an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube; and a tail tube having a distal end covering at least a proximal end of said exchange lead and a proximal end connected to said means for introducing light energy; wherein said torque knob is disposed distal to a distal end of said tail tube and may be freely slid along said hypo tube and said exchange lead to remove said tail tube.
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13. A fiber optic guide wire apparatus, comprising:
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a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube, and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination; a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly; an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug; a mandrel, disposed within said hollow guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly; and means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle; and an exchange lead having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said hypo tube; wherein said plug surrounds said optical fibers in said optical fiber bundle and said mandrel and bonds said optical fibers and said mandrel to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly; and wherein a proximal end of said mandrel terminates proximate to a proximal end of said exchange lead. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fiber optic guide wire apparatus, comprising:
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a hollow guide wire assembly comprising a hypo tube, and a hollow outer jacket, said hollow outer jacket having a proximal end connected to a distal end of said hypo tube, said hollow guide wire assembly having a distal end termination; a plug disposed at a distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly and having a distal face flush with said distal end termination of said hollow guide wire assembly; an optical fiber bundle disposed within said guide wire assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers, said optical fiber bundle having a distal face terminating at said distal face of said plug; a mandrel, disposed within said hollow guide wire assembly, having a distal end terminating at said distal end of said guide wire assembly; and means for introducing light energy into a proximal end of said optical fiber bundle; and a torque knob disposed on said hypo tube, said mandrel being coupled to said hypo tube, said torque knob engaging said guide wire assembly to transmit torque applied to said knob through said mandrel to said distal end of said guide wire assembly; wherein said plug surrounds said optical fibers in said optical fiber bundle and said mandrel and bonds said optical fibers and said mandrel to said distal end of said hollow guide wire assembly. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification