Endovascular devices and methods of use
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
- inserting a catheter comprising a balloon, an ultrasound transducer and an endovascular electrogram sensor into the vessel of the patient, wherein the ultrasound transducer is distal of the balloon and the endovascular electrogram sensor when the balloon is expanded;
transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a first non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel when the balloon is not expanded;
receiving a first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal;
detecting an endovascular electrogram signal using the endovascular electrogram sensor;
determining, using a processor, a first blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the first blood flow signature pattern being different from the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal;
determining, using the processor, the location of the catheter within the vessel based on the first blood flow signature pattern and the detected endovascular electrogram signal;
initiating expansion of the balloon within the vessel at a measuring location within the vessel, the measuring location within the vessel being different from the determined location within the vessel;
transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a second non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon is being expanded;
receiving a second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal;
determining, using the processor, a second blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the second blood flow signature pattern being different from the first blood flow signature pattern and from the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal;
determining that the second blood flow signature pattern indicates that flow through the vessel has stopped; and
stopping the expansion of the balloon while maintaining the stoppage of flow through the vessel in response to the determination that the second blood flow signature pattern indicates that flow through the vessel has stopped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient includes the steps of positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of detecting an endovascular electrogram signal. The method may be designed for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient while enabling the prevention of a balloon from over-expanding and/or over-distending a vessel of a patient.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting a catheter comprising a balloon, an ultrasound transducer and an endovascular electrogram sensor into the vessel of the patient, wherein the ultrasound transducer is distal of the balloon and the endovascular electrogram sensor when the balloon is expanded; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a first non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel when the balloon is not expanded; receiving a first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; detecting an endovascular electrogram signal using the endovascular electrogram sensor; determining, using a processor, a first blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the first blood flow signature pattern being different from the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, the location of the catheter within the vessel based on the first blood flow signature pattern and the detected endovascular electrogram signal; initiating expansion of the balloon within the vessel at a measuring location within the vessel, the measuring location within the vessel being different from the determined location within the vessel; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a second non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon is being expanded; receiving a second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, a second blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the second blood flow signature pattern being different from the first blood flow signature pattern and from the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining that the second blood flow signature pattern indicates that flow through the vessel has stopped; and stopping the expansion of the balloon while maintaining the stoppage of flow through the vessel in response to the determination that the second blood flow signature pattern indicates that flow through the vessel has stopped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 35)
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25. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting a catheter comprising a balloon, an ultrasound transducer and an endovascular electrogram sensor into the vessel of the patient; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a first non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel; receiving a first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; detecting an endovascular electrogram signal using the endovascular electrogram sensor; determining, using a processor, a first flow parameter within the vessel based on the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the first flow parameter being different from the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, the location of the catheter within the vessel based on the first flow parameter and the detected endovascular electrogram signal; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a second non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel while the catheter is at a measuring location within the vessel, the measuring location within the vessel being different from the determined location within the vessel; receiving a second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, a second flow parameter of the vessel based on the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal while the balloon is in a first configuration, the second flow parameter being different from the first flow parameter and from the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; initiating expansion of the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location within the vessel; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a third ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon is being expanded; receiving a third reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, a third flow parameter of the vessel based on the third reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the third flow parameter being different from the first flow parameter, from the second flow parameter and from the third reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining that the third flow parameter indicates that the flow through the vessel has stopped; returning the balloon to the first configuration after determining that the third flow parameter indicates that the flow through the vessel has stopped; transmitting a fourth ultrasound signal into the vessel after the balloon is returned to the first configuration; receiving a fourth reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, a fourth flow parameter of the vessel based on the fourth reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the fourth flow parameter being different from the first flow parameter, from the second flow parameter, from the third flow parameter and from the fourth reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; comparing the second flow parameter with the fourth flow parameter; and determining, in response to the comparison of the second flow parameter to the fourth flow parameter, that the second flow parameter is equal to the fourth flow parameter to verify that the blood flow through the vessel has returned to the same state that existed before the balloon was expanded. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 34, 36)
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29. A method of evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient, comprising:
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inserting a catheter comprising a balloon, an ultrasound transducer and an endovascular electrogram sensor into the vessel of the patient, wherein the ultrasound transducer is distal of the balloon and the endovascular electrogram sensor when the balloon is expanded; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a first non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel when the balloon is not expanded; receiving a first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; detecting a first endovascular electrogram signal using the endovascular electrogram sensor; determining, using a processor, a first blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the first blood flow signature pattern being different from the first reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, the location of the catheter within the vessel based on the first blood flow signature pattern and the first endovascular electrogram signal; initiating expansion of the balloon within the vessel at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting, from the ultrasound transducer of the catheter, a second non-imaging ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon is being expanded; receiving a second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; determining, using the processor, a second blood flow signature pattern within the vessel based on the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal, the second blood flow signature pattern being different from the first blood flow signature pattern and from the second reflected non-imaging ultrasound signal; stopping the expansion of the balloon while maintaining the stoppage of flow through the vessel in response to the determination that the second blood flow signature pattern indicates that the flow through the vessel is stopped; detecting, from the endovascular electrogram sensor, a second endovascular electrogram signal; and using the second endovascular electrogram signal to trigger the transmitting steps or determining steps. - View Dependent Claims (30, 37)
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Specification