System and method for treating select tissue in a living being

• US 6,400,980 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Shawna J
• Application Number:
  US09/541,299
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/478, 600/585, 600/104, 600/182, 606/159, 606/170, 604/22, 604/264
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0091 the single injection needle being fixed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/925 Neural network

Abstract

A computerized imaging system (such as CAT scan, MRI imaging, ultrasound imaging, infrared, X-ray, UV/visible light fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy or microwave imaging) is employed to sense the position of an endoscopic treatment system within the body of a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the system provides real-time computer control to maintain and adjust the position of the treatment system and/or the position of the patient relative to the treatment system; and also provides (if desired) real-time computer control of the operation of the treatment system itself. Other embodiments include a steerable catheter system having a rotatable abrasive member actuated by an external magnetic field.

Claims

1. A catheter for use in connection with an externally located magnetic field source comprising:

an elongated tube having a proximal end and a distal end and a rotatable section with an abrasive outer surface and a magnetically susceptible member attached to said rotatable section, whereby said rotatable section is rotatable in response to a rotating magnetic field; and

a lens directed toward said outer surface of said rotatable section for viewing the effect of rotation of the section; and

at least one fiber optic cable attached to said lens, for transmitting visual information to a remote sensor.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising (a) an outlet distal of said rotatable section;

(b) a first lumen inside said catheter and extending from said proximal end of said catheter to said outlet;

(c) a second lumen inside said catheter and extending from said proximal end to said rotatable section;

(d) a plurality of fenestrations through said rotatable section communicating with said second lumen; and

(e) means for supplying a flushing liquid to said first lumen and withdrawing said flushing liquid through said second lumen.