Catheter apparatus for positioning a wire
First Claim
1. A method for positioning a wire in a selected portion of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
- providing a guide catheter having a lumen configured to receive the wire;
providing a sensor configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the wire at a predetermined position within the lumen;
inserting the guide catheter to a selected location in the subject'"'"'s body;
advancing the wire along the lumen;
monitoring the sensor to determine when the predetermined portion of the wire reaches the predetermined position within the lumen; and
terminating the step of advancing the wire when it is determined, in the step of monitoring the sensor, that the predetermined portion of the wire has reached the predetermined position within the lumen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for positioning a radioactive portion of a wire at one or more positions within the lumen of a guide catheter, such as for intravascular radiotherapy, are disclosed. The method and the apparatus provide for better positioning the radioactive portion in light of bunching of the wire within the lumen during insertion. A computerized controller uses a monitoring device to control an afterloader'"'"'s insertion and withdrawal of the wire into the guide catheter. The guide catheter includes a sensor at its distal end, the sensor being an electrical contact having conductive surfaces exposed within the lumen and outside the guide catheter. The wire is electrically conductive, and is configured to come into contact with the sensor'"'"'s conductive surface within the lumen when the wire is fully inserted into the lumen. The monitoring device includes one lead connected to the wire and a second lead connected to the subject'"'"'s body. The monitoring device is configured to use an alternating current signal to sense a closed circuit extending sequentially through a signal path including the wire, the sensor, and the subject'"'"'s body, when the wire comes into contact with the sensor.
The computer controller directs the afterloader to insert the wire into the lumen until a closed circuit is sensed. The controller then directs the afterloader to controllably withdraw the wire until the circuit is broken, thus removing any bunching from the wire. The wire then can be maintained in position at the end of the lumen to irradiate the subject. The wire also may be withdrawn by prescribed amounts to other positions within the lumen, to treat the subject at these locations.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for positioning a wire in a selected portion of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
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providing a guide catheter having a lumen configured to receive the wire; providing a sensor configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the wire at a predetermined position within the lumen; inserting the guide catheter to a selected location in the subject'"'"'s body; advancing the wire along the lumen; monitoring the sensor to determine when the predetermined portion of the wire reaches the predetermined position within the lumen; and terminating the step of advancing the wire when it is determined, in the step of monitoring the sensor, that the predetermined portion of the wire has reached the predetermined position within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for positioning a wire in a selected portion of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
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providing a guide catheter having a lumen configured to receive the wire; providing a sensor configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the wire at a predetermined position within the lumen; inserting the guide catheter to a selected location in the subject'"'"'s body; advancing the wire along the lumen; terminating the step of advancing the wire when the predetermined portion of the wire has reached the predetermined position within the lumen; monitoring the sensor to determine when the predetermined portion of the wire departs from the predetermined position within the lumen; controllably withdrawing the wire from the lumen after the step of advancing the wire; and terminating the step of controllably withdrawing the wire when it is determined, in the step of monitoring the sensor, that the predetermined portion of the wire has departed from the predetermined position within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A catheter apparatus for use within a subject, comprising:
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a guide catheter sized to be insertable within a subject, the guide catheter including a lumen extending into the guide catheter; a wire sized to be insertable into the guide catheter'"'"'s lumen to a predetermined position; a sensor of the guide catheter configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the wire at a predetermined longitudinal position along the guide catheter; and a monitoring device configured to monitor the sensor to determine when the predetermined portion of the wire is present at the predetermined position along the guide catheter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A catheter for use in positioning a wire in a selected portion of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising a guide catheter sized to be insertable within a subject, wherein:
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the guide catheter has surfaces forming a blind lumen that extends into the guide catheter; the guide catheter is configured for receiving the wire into the lumen; the guide catheter'"'"'s surfaces that form the lumen are composed of a material that does not conduct electricity; and the guide catheter includes an electrical contact having an exposed surface within the lumen at a location within the subject'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A brachytherapy apparatus for irradiating a selected portion of a subject'"'"'s body comprising:
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a guide catheter sized to be insertable within the selected portion of the subject'"'"'s body, the guide catheter including a lumen extending into the guide catheter; a wire having a radioactive portion, the wire being sized to be insertable into the lumen such that the radioactive portion is proximate the selected portion of the subject'"'"'s body when the guide catheter is inserted within the selected portion of the subject'"'"'s body; and a sensor of the guide catheter configured to be located proximate the selected portion of the subject'"'"'s body, the sensor being configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the wire at a predetermined longitudinal position along the guide catheter. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for treating a subject, comprising:
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providing a treatment catheter configured to treat the subject; providing a guiding catheter; providing a sensor configured to detect the presence of a predetermined portion of the treatment catheter at a predetermined position along the guiding catheter; inserting the guiding catheter to a selected location in the subject'"'"'s body; advancing the treatment catheter along the guiding catheter; monitoring the sensor to determine when the predetermined portion of the treatment catheter reaches the predetermined position along the guiding catheter; and terminating the step of advancing the treatment catheter when it is determined, in the step of monitoring the sensor, that the predetermined portion of the treatment catheter has reached the predetermined position along the guiding catheter. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification