Safety mechanism and methods to prevent rotating imaging device from exiting a catheter
First Claim
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1. A catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end where the catheter body distally terminates and a lumen which extends to and terminates at the distal end to define an exit port in the distal end, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a rotatable imaging device having an ultrasonic imaging element;
a balloon coupled to the catheter body; and
an ultrasonically recognizable pattern disposed proximally to or at the exit port, the pattern being adapted to reflect a signal from the imaging element to produce a unique detectable image that may be used to stop rotation of the imaging device before it exits the exit port.
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Abstract
The invention provides exemplary systems and methods to prevent rotation of an imaging device if the imaging device is advanced beyond a distal end of a catheter. In one exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided which comprises a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen which terminates in an exit port at the distal end. The lumen is configured to receive a rotatable imaging device having an ultrasonic imaging element. An ultrasonically recognizable pattern is disposed proximally to or at the exit port. The pattern is adapted to reflect a signal from the imaging element to produce a unique detectable image which in turn is employed to stop rotation of the imaging device.
31 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end where the catheter body distally terminates and a lumen which extends to and terminates at the distal end to define an exit port in the distal end, wherein the lumen is adapted to receive a rotatable imaging device having an ultrasonic imaging element;
a balloon coupled to the catheter body; and
an ultrasonically recognizable pattern disposed proximally to or at the exit port, the pattern being adapted to reflect a signal from the imaging element to produce a unique detectable image that may be used to stop rotation of the imaging device before it exits the exit port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A catheter system comprising:
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a catheter comprising a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen which terminates in an exit port at the distal end, a balloon disposed on the catheter body and an ultrasonically recognizable pattern disposed proximally to or at the exit port;
an elongate imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and an imaging element near the distal end, the imaging device being receivable in the lumen; and
a controller having a motor which is adapted to rotate the imaging device, wherein the controller is adapted to stop rotation of the imaging device upon receipt of a signal from the imaging device indicating that the presence of the recognizable pattern has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An attachment for a catheter, the attachment comprising:
a tubular member which is adapted to be attached over the catheter proximal to an exit port of the catheter, and distal to a baloon on the catheter, the tubular member being constructed of an ultrasonically reflective material and having a unique shape which is adapted to produce a unique image when visualized with an ultrasonic image element which is rotated in a lumen of the catheter.
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19. A method for visualizing a body lumen, the method comprising:
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introducing a catheter into a body lumen, the catheter comprising a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen which terminates in an exit port at the distal end, a balloon, and an ultrasonically recognizable pattern disposed proximally to or at the exit port and distal to the balloon;
introducing an elongate imaging device into the lumen, the imaging device having an imaging element near a distal end;
rotating the imaging device and actuating the imaging element to produce an image of the body lumen; and
stopping rotation of the imaging device if an image of the recognizable pattern is detected to prevent advancement of the rotating imaging device through the exit port and into the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for deploying a stent, the method comprising:
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rotating an imaging device having an imaging element within a lumen of a catheter having a balloon and a stent disposed over the balloon, the imaging device having an ultrasonically recognizable pattern near or at a distal end;
moving the imaging device within the lumen to visualize a region for deployment of the stent;
stopping rotation of the imaging device if a signal from the imaging device indicates that the imaging device has reached the ultrasonically recognizable pattern; and
inflating the balloon to deploy the stent and the region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification