Temperature mapping balloon
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A temperature mapping balloon for use in a vessel having a vessel wall comprising:
- a balloon, the balloon being conformable over the vessel wall; and
a thermal mapping coating, the thermal mapping coating disposed on the balloon and comprising a sensor coating, the sensor coating comprising a plurality of temperature sensors.
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Abstract
The temperature mapping balloon of the present invention provides a device for locating inflammation and increased metabolic activity associated with conditions such as vulnerable plaque, by mapping temperature of a body lumen, such as an artery or blood vessel. The temperature mapping balloon comprises a balloon with a thermal mapping coating disposed on the inside or outside of the balloon. The thermal mapping coating can be a thermochromic coating that changes color in response to temperature or a sensor coating comprising a plurality of temperature sensors.
226 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A temperature mapping balloon for use in a vessel having a vessel wall comprising:
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a balloon, the balloon being conformable over the vessel wall; and a thermal mapping coating, the thermal mapping coating disposed on the balloon and comprising a sensor coating, the sensor coating comprising a plurality of temperature sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of using a temperature mapping balloon with a patient comprising:
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providing a thermochromic temperature mapping balloon, the thermochromic temperature mapping balloon comprising a plurality of arrays, each of the plurality of arrays comprises a plurality of bistable dots, the bistable dots change from one color to another color in response to a threshold temperature, and the threshold temperatures for the bistable dots in each of the plurality of arrays are distributed over a temperature range; inserting the thermochromic temperature mapping balloon into the patient; inflating the thermochromic temperature mapping balloon; allowing thermochromic temperature mapping balloon temperature to stabilize; deflating the thermochromic temperature mapping balloon; removing the thermochromic temperature mapping balloon from the patient; and reading a vessel temperature map from the temperature mapping balloon. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A temperature mapping balloon comprising:
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a balloon; and a thermal mapping coating, the thermal mapping coating disposed on the balloon and comprising a sensor coating, the sensor coating comprising a plurality of temperature sensors; wherein the sensor coating includes strain relieving features selected from the group consisting of strain relieving cuts and accordion pleats.
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15. A temperature mapping balloon comprising:
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a balloon; and a thermal mapping coating, the thermal mapping coating disposed on the balloon, and comprising a thermochromic coating; wherein the thermochromic coating comprises a plurality of arrays, each of the plurality of arrays comprises a plurality of bistable dots, the bistable dots change from one color to another color in response to a threshold temperature, and the threshold temperatures for the bistable dots in each of the plurality of arrays are distributed over a temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification