Catheter having echogenicity enhancement
First Claim
1. An improved retrograde coronary sinus perfusion catheter including a flexible, tubular catheter body and an inflatable balloon, the catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and an interior lumen, the inflatable balloon being located adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the improvement comprising an echogenicity enhancement embedded within the catheter body, the echogenicity enhancement adapted to reflect ultrasonic waves at a characteristic different from the catheter body wherein the echogenicity enhancement is located in a secondary lumen proximate the distal end of the catheter body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved retrograde coronary sinus perfusion catheter includes a flexible, tubular catheter body and an inflatable balloon. The catheter body has proximal and distal ends and an interior lumen. The inflatable balloon is located adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and has proximal and distal edges. The improvement includes an echogenicity enhancement embedded within the catheter body. The echogenicity enhancement is adapted to reflect ultrasonic waves at a characteristic different from the catheter body.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. An improved retrograde coronary sinus perfusion catheter including a flexible, tubular catheter body and an inflatable balloon, the catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and an interior lumen, the inflatable balloon being located adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the improvement comprising an echogenicity enhancement embedded within the catheter body, the echogenicity enhancement adapted to reflect ultrasonic waves at a characteristic different from the catheter body wherein the echogenicity enhancement is located in a secondary lumen proximate the distal end of the catheter body.
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21. A method for positioning a cardioplegia catheter in a vascular system of a body, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a cardioplegia catheter including a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and an interior lumen, the catheter further including an echogenicity enhancement located between an outer surface and an inner surface of the lumen proximate the distal end of the catheter body, the inner surface defining the interior of the lumen, the echogenicity enhancement being located within a secondary lumen, and the catheter including an inflatable balloon; inserting the distal end of the catheter into the coronary sinus; detecting the location of the catheter within the vascular system using an ultrasonic pulse-echo imaging system, the echogenicity enhancement reflecting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic pulse-echo imaging system at a characteristic different from the catheter body; and positioning the inflatable balloon in a sinus ostium to seal the coronary sinus. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification