IMAGE GUIDED CATHETERS AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:
- an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having a single longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof;
a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one lumen, said first imaging element having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end thereof;
said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound imaging system integrated into a single device. The medical device can be in the form of sheaths, catheters, and interventional devices, particularly those suitable for minimally invasive procedures in the human or other mammalian body. The imaging system comprises one or more small ultrasound transducers that can be permanently integrated into the device or integrated into an interchangeable ultrasound transducer that can be inserted into and removed from the device to customize the device for a particular use. An ultrasound system can be provided in the device either alone or in combination with fiber optic imaging to provide a range of imaging and therapeutic capabilities of the device.
109 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having a single longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof; a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one lumen, said first imaging element having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end thereof; said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body, said elongate body having at least one longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof and further having a plurality of detents along an outer surface thereof; a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one longitudinal lumen, said first imaging element having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end thereof, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body; and an anchoring portion, said anchoring portion being slidably movable along a length of said elongate body and being further configured to lock into place at one of said plurality of detents to secure the device at a desired position within the body. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having at least one longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, at least one of said at least one lumen having a groove extending along a length thereof; and a first imaging element, said first imaging element being disposed in a housing having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end of said housing, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body; said housing having a ridge extending along a length thereof, said housing being configured to slidably insert into said lumen having said groove, wherein said ridge on said housing joins with said groove in said lumen to provide a secure fit of said housing into said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having a single longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof; a needle, said needle being situated within said single lumen in said elongate body, an end of said needle being configured to extend from said distal end of said elongate body; and an imaging element, said first imaging element being disposed in a housing having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end of said housing, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body, said imaging element being situated within said single lumen in said elongate body and said distal end of said housing of said imaging element being separated from a proximal end of said needle by at least one buffer element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification