Therapeutic catheter having sensor for monitoring distal environment

• US 6,689,089 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1998
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Convergenza AG
• Original Assignee: Convergenza AG
• Inventors: Tiedtke, Hans Jurgen, Lubem, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE
• Application Number:
  US09/030,499
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/22, 604/96.01, 604/97-1-, 604/100-1-1, 604/65, 604/66, 604/67, 604/523, 604/27, 604/30, 604/31, 604/35, 604/43, 604/508, 604/537, 606/159, 606/167-171, 606/180
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22032 having inflatable gripping elements balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32037 for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/063 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/842 rotating continuously rotating surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the estate of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.

Claims

1. A therapeutic catheter having a distal end section that can be inserted into a patient vessel, a proximal end section, and defining a fluid channel having a fluid for gaseous or liquid flow under pressure, the fluid channel comprising a supply channel extending at least from the proximal end section to the distal end section, and a return channel extending from the distal end section to the proximal end section, wherein the improvement comprises:

the distal end section of the fluid channel having a nozzle portion for treating the patient vessel, an external surface, an internal surface, and an opening defining a lumen between the external surface and the internal surface, the nozzle portion proximate the opening and in fluid communication with the supply and return channels, such that a fluid jet formed by the nozzle portion can fragment vascular material;

at least one sensor for measuring values, the sensor connected to the proximal end section of the fluid channel and generating a signal as a function of external parameters effecting the fluid proximate the distal end section of the catheter, the sensor selected from the group consisting of sound and pressure sensors for sensing the sound or pressure generated in the fluid at the distal end section of the catheter; and

an acoustical signal generator coupled to the sensor for converting the measured values into audible signals.

2. A therapeutic catheter having a distal end section that can be inserted into a patient vessel, a proximal end section, and defining a fluid channel having a fluid for gaseous or liquid flow under pressure, the fluid channel comprising a supply channel extending at least from the proximal end section to the distal end section, and a return channel extending from the distal end section to the proximal end section, wherein the improvement comprises:

the distal end section of the fluid channel having an external surface, an internal surface, an opening defining a lumen between the external surface and the internal surface, and a nozzle portion proximate the opening for treating the patient vessel, the nozzle portion generally axially aligned with the return channel proximate the opening and in fluid communication with the supply and return channels, such that a fluid jet formed by the nozzle portion can convey vascular material into the return channel; and

at least one sensor for measuring values, the sensor connected to the proximal end section of the fluid channel and generating a signal as a function of external parameters effecting the fluid proximate the distal end section of the catheter.

3. A therapeutic catheter as recited in claim 2, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of sound and pressure sensors for sensing the pressure or sound of the fluid generated in the catheter distal end section.

4. A therapeutic catheter as recited in claim 3, further comprising an acoustical signal generator coupled to the sensor for converting the measured values into audible signals.

5. A therapeutic catheter as recited in claim 3, further comprising an optical display element coupled to the sensor for converting the measured values into displayable signals.

6. A therapeutic catheter as recited in claim 3, wherein the sensor senses sound waves in the fluid and wherein the sensor is coupled to an audible output for making these sound waves audible to a human ear.