EP0178464A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser revascularization device and method of operation therefor
Assignee: Xintec Corp
•
Filing: 1985-09-13
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A device for luminal recanalization of atherosclerotic blood vessels includes a guide sleeve adapted to be introduced into the blood vessel and advanced to the atherosclerotic plaque. The sleeve includes a fluid passage to conduct fluid to the distal end to inflate an exterior-mounted balloon to immobilize the sleeve and block blood flow in the vessel. A fiberoptic core is adapted to be advanced through the guide sleeve, with spacing therebetween to permit the flow of cooling fluid to the distal end of the sleeve. The distal end of the fiberoptic core is provided with a heat conductive cap which is adapted to be selectively heated by laser energy delivered through the core. The cap is advanced beyond the distal end of the sleeve to contact the plaque, and the laser energy virtually instantaneously heats the cap to cause thermal destruction of the plaque. The core may be removed to flush the plaque debris from the vessel, and to introduce an endoscopic fiberoptic core to visualize the results. In tortuous vessels, a preformed guide wire may first be inserted into the vessel, the guide sleeve advanced about the guide wire into the vessel, and the wire removed and replaced by the fiberoptic core. In a related embodiment the guide sleeve is provided with parallel channels to receive the fiberoptic core and the guide wire simultaneously, so that the sleeve may be advanced through a vessel along a guide wire with the cautery cap extended and heated reiteratively as required to remove plaque as it is encountered.
Inventors
- 👤 Garrett Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/28; A61B18/26; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22065; A61B2017/22069; A61B2017/22072; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2272; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/033; A61B2090/034; A61B90/06; A61B2090/062; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for applying heat to a body site, including; an elongated light transmitting conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, a controlled light source adapted to be directed through said conduit to said distal end, and a heat generating element operatively associated with said distal end to receive the light energy from said controlled light source and to convert said light energy to heat energy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for applying heat to a body site, including; an elongated light transmitting conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, a controlled light source adapted to be directed through said conduit to said distal end, and a heat generating element operatively associated with said distal end to receive the light energy from said controlled light source and to convert said light energy to heat energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said light conduit comprises a fiberoptic assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device of claim 1, wherein said controlled light source is a laser device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said heat generating element comprises a member joined to the distal end of said light transmitting conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said member comprises an opaque cup secured to said distal end of said light transmitting conduit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for removing at least a portion of material causing a constriction or obstruction in a lumen, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a heat generating element mounted on the distal end of a light transmitting conduit; positioning the distal end of the conduit within the lumen and in contact with the material; transmitting sufficient light energy through the conduit to heat the heat generating element and cause thermal destruction of the material contacting the element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for removing at least a portion of material causing a constriction or obstruction in a lumen, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a heat generating element mounted on the distal end of a light transmitting conduit; positioning the distal end of the conduit within the lumen and in contact with the material; transmitting sufficient light energy through the conduit to heat the heat generating element and cause thermal destruction of the material contacting the element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, further including the step of cooling the element with a fluid flow thereby to limit damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said light energy comprises the pulsed output of a laser light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said heat generating element is provided with a low thermal mass to undergo extremely fast heating and cooling cycles.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for luminal recanalization of atherosclerotic blood vessels, including; a flexible guide sleeve having a bore therethrough and adapted to be introduced into a blood vessel and advanced to the atherosclerotic plaque; a light conduit having a proximal end adapted to be connected to a controlled light source and a distal end including a heat generating element, said conduit being dimensioned to be received within the bore of said sleeve in freely translating fashion, said guide sleeve including a distal end, and means for advancing said conduit so that said heat generating element extends from said distal end of said guide sleeve a controlled and limited amount.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for luminal recanalization of atherosclerotic blood vessels, including; a flexible guide sleeve having a bore therethrough and adapted to be introduced into a blood vessel and advanced to the atherosclerotic plaque; a light conduit having a proximal end adapted to be connected to a controlled light source and a distal end including a heat generating element, said conduit being dimensioned to be received within the bore of said sleeve in freely translating fashion, said guide sleeve including a distal end, and means for advancing said conduit so that said heat generating element extends from said distal end of said guide sleeve a controlled and limited amount.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said light conduit includes a fiberoptic core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said bore of said guide sleeve is larger in diameter than said light conduit therein to define an annular space therebetween extending the length of said guide sleeve, and means for pumping fluid through said annular space to said distal end of said guide sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 12, further including an inflatable balloon secured to the exterior of said guide sleeve adjacent to said distal end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 13, further including a fluid channel extending from the proximal end of said guide sleeve to said balloon for selective inflation and deflation thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 14, further including a proximal hub joined to the proximal end of said guide sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said proximal hub includes a closed housing having a first port disposed generally coaxially with said guide sleeve bore and adapted to receive said light conduit therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said proximal hub also includes means for selectively securing said light conduit at any longitudinal location therealong.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 16, further including a second port in said proximal hub connected to said annular space for pumping a fluid into said annular space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 18, further including a third port in said proximal hub connected to said fluid channel to facilitate inflation and deflation of said balloon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said heat generating element comprises a cautery cap secured to the distal end of said light conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 20, wherein said cautery cap comprises a generally cylindrical member of low thermal mass, said member having a closed, convex distal end, and an open proximal end adapted to be secured about said light conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said guide sleeve includes a second bore extending therethrough and adapted to receive a guide wire therethrough while said light conduit is disposed within said first mentioned bore of said guide sleeve.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 22, wherein said heat generating element is disposed eccentrically with respect to said guide wire, said device being rotatable to cause said heat generating element to sweep through a large annular volume centered about said guide wire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.