Guidewire with imaging capability
First Claim
1. A method for imaging and treating a vascular stenosis in a branch vessel, said method comprising:
- introducing an imaging guidewire having a deviated distal tip to a patient'"'"'s vasculature;
advancing the imaging guidewire to the branch vessel;
rotating the imaging guidewire so that its distal tip enters the branch vessel;
imaging at least a portion of the stenosis in the branch vessel using the imaging guidewire;
advancing an interventional catheter over the imaging guidewire; and
treating the region of stenosis using the interventional catheter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guidewire imaging catheter includes a catheter body, housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a drive cable extending through a central lumen of the catheter body, and an imaging system disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive cable. A fixed guidewire is secured to the distal tip of the housing, and the catheter body is highly flexible while retaining sufficient torsional stiffness to allow the entire catheter to be used as a guidewire. Thus, the imaging guidewire can be used to first image a desired region within a patient'"'"'s vascular system and subsequently as a guidewire to allow placement of a desired interventional catheter.
163 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for imaging and treating a vascular stenosis in a branch vessel, said method comprising:
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introducing an imaging guidewire having a deviated distal tip to a patient'"'"'s vasculature; advancing the imaging guidewire to the branch vessel;
rotating the imaging guidewire so that its distal tip enters the branch vessel;imaging at least a portion of the stenosis in the branch vessel using the imaging guidewire; advancing an interventional catheter over the imaging guidewire; and treating the region of stenosis using the interventional catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification