Intravascular diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus using high-intensity pulsed light
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An intravascular apparatus for obtaining visible images of an interior of a blood vessel, comprising:
- (A) a catheter configured to be inserted into the blood vessel, the catheter comprising;
(i) a first light transmitting fiber that includes a first light irradiation section and that is connected to a first light source, which generates a pulsed first light and which transmits the pulsed first light via the first light transmitting fiber to the first light irradiation section, wherein the pulsed first light irradiates into the blood vessel to generate bubbles within the blood vessel;
(ii) a second light transmitting fiber that includes a second irradiation section and that is connected to a second light source, which generates a visible second light and which transmits the visible second light via the second light transmitting fiber to the second light irradiation section, wherein the visible second light irradiates into the blood vessel to illuminate the interior of the blood vessel to enable optical observation during generation of the bubbles; and
(iii) an image guide that includes an observation section and is connected to an imaging device configured to obtain images of the interior of the blood vessel; and
(B) a delay generator, connected to the first light source and the second light source, that is configured to receive a signal from an electrocardiograph or a pressure sensor, wherein said signal correlates with pulsating blood flow within the blood vessel, such that, when the pulsating blood flow decreases, the delay generator (a) triggers the first light source to irradiate the pulsed first light and (b) triggers the second light source to irradiate the visible second light several tens of μ
s to several hundreds of μ
s after the first light source is triggered.
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Abstract
An intravascular diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus capable of removing blood in an intravascular lumen to be observed using a minimally invasive method is provided. The apparatus includes high-intensity pulsed light generating means and high-intensity pulsed light transmitting means for transmitting high-intensity pulsed light, capable of irradiating the interior of a blood vessel with high-intensity pulsed light, producing water-vapor bubbles and temporarily removing the blood in the blood vessel.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An intravascular apparatus for obtaining visible images of an interior of a blood vessel, comprising:
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(A) a catheter configured to be inserted into the blood vessel, the catheter comprising; (i) a first light transmitting fiber that includes a first light irradiation section and that is connected to a first light source, which generates a pulsed first light and which transmits the pulsed first light via the first light transmitting fiber to the first light irradiation section, wherein the pulsed first light irradiates into the blood vessel to generate bubbles within the blood vessel; (ii) a second light transmitting fiber that includes a second irradiation section and that is connected to a second light source, which generates a visible second light and which transmits the visible second light via the second light transmitting fiber to the second light irradiation section, wherein the visible second light irradiates into the blood vessel to illuminate the interior of the blood vessel to enable optical observation during generation of the bubbles; and (iii) an image guide that includes an observation section and is connected to an imaging device configured to obtain images of the interior of the blood vessel; and (B) a delay generator, connected to the first light source and the second light source, that is configured to receive a signal from an electrocardiograph or a pressure sensor, wherein said signal correlates with pulsating blood flow within the blood vessel, such that, when the pulsating blood flow decreases, the delay generator (a) triggers the first light source to irradiate the pulsed first light and (b) triggers the second light source to irradiate the visible second light several tens of μ
s to several hundreds of μ
s after the first light source is triggered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for obtaining visible images of an interior of a blood vessel, comprising:
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(A) inserting a catheter into the blood vessel of a subject, the catheter comprising; (i) a first light transmitting fiber that includes a first light irradiation section and that is connected to a first light source, which generates a pulsed first light and which transmits the pulsed first light via a first light transmitting fiber to the first light irradiation section, wherein the pulsed first light irradiates into the blood vessel to generate bubbles within the blood vessel; (ii) a second light transmitting fiber that includes a second irradiation section and that is connected to a second light source, which generates a visible second light and which transmits the visible second light via the second light transmitting fiber to the second light irradiation section, wherein the visible second light irradiates into the blood vessel to illuminate the interior of the blood vessel to enable optical observation during generation of the bubbles; and (iii) an image guide that includes an observation section and is connected to an imaging device configured to obtain images of the interior of the blood vessel, wherein the first light source and the second light source are connected to a delay generator; and
then(B) irradiating the pulsed first light into the blood vessel to generate bubbles when pulsating blood flow within the blood vessel decreases; (C) irradiating the visible second light with delay between the irradiation of the visible second light and the pulsed first light such that the visible second light is irradiated several tens of μ
s to several hundreds of μ
s after step (B) occurs; and(D) obtaining the images of the interior of the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification