GB2175505A
Expired / Lapsed
GB
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire guided laser catheter
Assignee: CR Bard Inc
•
Filing: 1986-01-10
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A catheter having optical fibers for delivering laser energy to a blood vessel to remove obstructions in the blood vessel is adapted to be guided controllably and selectively by a guide wire to the side to be treated. The catheter includes a central lumen which is open at the distal end of the catheter and which receives the guide wire so that the catheter may be advanced over the guide wire. A relatively few number of optical fibers are contained within and extend longitudinally of the catheter wall. The distal tip of the catheter is provided with a cylindrical optically transparent end cap and means are provided to securely mount the distal ends of the optical fibers with respect to the end cap so that the light emitted from the ends of the fibers passes through the cyclindrical wall of the end cap and is emitted at the distal emissions face of the end cap. The end cap also serves to protect the distal ends of the fibers by isolating them from contact with biological material. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Jack Herman
- 👤 Laurence Andrew Roth
- 👤 Edward Lawrence Sinofsky
- 👤 Jr Douglas William Dickinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
GB
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0601; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/2238; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A catheterfor removing biological material by laserenergy,thecatheterhavinga proximal end and a a distal end and comprising: means defining a lumen extending through the catheter, the lumen being open atthe distal end of the catheter; means at the proximal end ofthe lumen for permitting fluid communication with the lumen and to permit a guide wire to be received within the lumen;
a plurality of flexible optical conductors extending longitudinally of the catheter and within the catheter wall;
a distal cap mounted on the distal end of the catheter and covering the distal end of the fibers, the distal cap having a distal emission surface and providing an optical path from the distal end ofthe fibers to the distal emission surface; and
an apertureformedthroughthe distal cap in communication with the catheter aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A catheterfor removing biological material by laserenergy,thecatheterhavinga proximal end and a a distal end and comprising: means defining a lumen extending through the catheter, the lumen being open atthe distal end of the catheter; means at the proximal end ofthe lumen for permitting fluid communication with the lumen and to permit a guide wire to be received within the lumen;
a plurality of flexible optical conductors extending longitudinally of the catheter and within the catheter wall;
a distal cap mounted on the distal end of the catheter and covering the distal end of the fibers, the distal cap having a distal emission surface and providing an optical path from the distal end ofthe fibers to the distal emission surface; and
an apertureformedthroughthe distal cap in communication with the catheter aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Acatheteras defined in claim 1 further comprising:
the flexible optical conductors being contained within the catheter wall and being unattached to the catheter except at the ends of the conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 whereinthe flexibility ofthe catheter is varied along its length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Acatheteras defined in claim 3which is more flexible at its distal end than at its proximal portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
Acatheteras defined in claim 2further comprising:
the catheter being defined by an elongate core having a lumen extendingtherethrough; a plurality of flutes formed longitudinally along the outside of the core, the conductors being received in and extending along the flutes;
a flexible sheath surroundingthecoretoretainthe conductors within the flutes;
said conductors, core and sheath being substantially unattached to each othertherebyto enable the core, conductors and sheath to shift longitudinallywith respect to each othertherebyto permit their simultaneous bending but without any of said core, conductor or sheath restricting the bending of the others.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as defined in claim further comprising means for connecting the conductors securely with respect to the core at the distal end of the core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter as defined in claim Gfurther comprising:
the proximal end of the catheter having a plurality of optical connectors, each associated with a conductortherebyto enable independent control of the optical conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Acatheter-as defined in claim 6further comprising:
said conductors being secured by a holder ring having a central aperture and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in the ring, each of the circumferentially spaced apertures receiving the distal end of a conductor,
said holder being secured to the cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A catheter as defined in claim 8 whereinthe holder ring is radiopaque.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein the distal cap comprises: a a cylindrical member having a proximal bore adapted to receive the holder ring and the distal end of the core,
the cap having a smaller aperture formed distally of an in communication with the proximal bore, the smaller aperture opening at the distal end of the cap;
the juncture of the bore and aperture defining a shoulder;
the distal face of th holder being in engagement with the shoulder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter as defined in claim 10 wherein the distal end of the sheath butts against the proximal end of the cap and is of substantially the same diameter as the cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A catheter as defined in claim 8 further comprising:
the distal face of the holder and the conductors secured thereto being flush and being highly polished to define a highly reflective surface adapted to re-reflect light which is reflected back from the biological material thereby to prevent entry of the reflected light into the optical conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A catheter as defined in claim 3 further comprising:
the core being formed from a plurality of articulated segments connected end to end and flexible joints; and
the outer sheath being thin and flexible and being unconnected to the core so as not to restrict flexure of the core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 further comprising:
the spacing of the articulations varying along the length of the core thereby to vary the flexibility of the catheter, the catheter having greater flexibility in those regions where the articulations are more closely spaced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as defined in claim 14 wherein the articulations at the distal end of the catheter are more closely spaced than at the proximal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the articulated segments are defined by a plurality of circumferentially formed notches, spaced longitudinally along the core, the circumferential notches defining smaller diameter connecting segments between the articulated segments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catheter as defined in claim 13 further comprising:
a plurality of flutes formed longitudinally along the outside of the core, the conductors being received in and extending along the flutes;
a flexible sheath surrounding the core to retain the conductors within the flutes;
said conductors, core and sheath being substantially unattached to each other thereby to enable the core, conductors and sheath to shift longitudinally with respect to each other thereby to permit their simultaneous bending but without any of said core, conductor or sheath restricting the bending of the others.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A catheter as defined in claim 17 further comprising:
said conductors being secured by a holder ring having a central aperture and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in the ring, each of the circumferentially spaced apertures receiving the distal end of a conductor,
said holder being secured to the cap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A catheter as defined in claim 18 wherein the distal cap further comprises:
a cylindrical member having a proximal bore adapted to receive the holder ring and the distal end of the core;
the cap having a smaller aperture formed distally of an in communication with the proximal bore, the smaller aperture opening at the distal end of the cap;
the juncture of the bore and aperture defining a shoulder;
the distal face of the holder being in engagement with the shoulder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter as defined in claim 5 further comprising:
said core having at least one radiopaque stripe extending longitudinally of the core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as defined in claim 5 wherein at least the inner surface of the core which defines the lumen is a low friction material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
161 words
A catheter as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
the distal cap including an annular portion which terminates in the emission surface;
means for holding the distal faces of the conductor in optically transmissive relation to the cap to direct light from the conductors through the annular portion of the cap, the conductors being constructed and arranged to emit light in a divergent beam whereby the light emitted from each of the circumferentially spaced fibers may overlap increasingly in a distal direction;;
the distance of the emission surface of the cap from the distal ends of the fibers being such that the distance between the emission surface of the cap and the image plane in which the overlapping beams have diverged to define a peripheral envelope which is at least as greater in diameter as the outer diameter of the catheter, said distance between the emission face and said image plane being not substantially greater than the diameter of the catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catherter as defined in claim 22 wherein said distance is not more than about 1.5 millimeters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as defined in any of claims 1, 5, 6, 13 or 30 further comprising, in combination, said guide wire.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible catheter construction comprising:
an elongate core having a lumen extending therethrough, the core being formed from a plurality of articulated segments; and
a flexible outer sheath surrounding the core.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible catheter construction comprising:
an elongate core having a lumen extending therethrough, the core being formed from a plurality of articulated segments; and
a flexible outer sheath surrounding the core.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter as defined in claim 25 further comprising:
the spacing of the articulations connecting the articulated segments being varied, thereby to vary the flexibility of the composite catheter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter construction as defined in claim 25 further comprising:
said core having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially notches, each notch defining a smaller diameter connective segment between the articulated segments.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for treating the lumen of a blood vessel comprising:
providing a catheter having a central lumen open at the distal end of the catheter and optical conductor means extending through the wall of the catheter;
providing a guide wire and placing the catheter over the guide wire with the guide wire being received within the catheter lumen;
advancing the guide wire and the catheter into and through the blood vessel to a selected site;
applying radiant energy to the selected site through the optical conductor means; and
at any time during said procedure, and while the guide wire is in place in the lumen of the catheter, infusing liquid through the lumen of the catheter to inject the liquid distally of the catheter.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for treating the lumen of a blood vessel comprising:
providing a catheter having a central lumen open at the distal end of the catheter and optical conductor means extending through the wall of the catheter;
providing a guide wire and placing the catheter over the guide wire with the guide wire being received within the catheter lumen;
advancing the guide wire and the catheter into and through the blood vessel to a selected site;
applying radiant energy to the selected site through the optical conductor means; and
at any time during said procedure, and while the guide wire is in place in the lumen of the catheter, infusing liquid through the lumen of the catheter to inject the liquid distally of the catheter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 28 further comprising:
at any time during the procedure, measuring the fluid pressure distally of the catheter by measuring the pressure in the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for treating the lumen of a blood vessel comprising:
providing a catheter having a central lumen open at the distal end of the catheter and optical conductor means extending through the wall of the catheter;
providing a guide wire and placing the catheter over the guide wire with the guide wire being received within the catheter lumen;
advancing the guide wire and the catheter into and through the blood vessel to a selected site;
applying radiant energy to the selected site through the optical conductor means; and
at any time during said procedure, and while the guide wire is in place in the lumen of the catheter, measuring the fluid pressure distally of the catheter by measuring the pressure in the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for treating the lumen of a blood vessel comprising:
providing a catheter having a central lumen open at the distal end of the catheter and optical conductor means extending through the wall of the catheter;
providing a guide wire and placing the catheter over the guide wire with the guide wire being received within the catheter lumen;
advancing the guide wire and the catheter into and through the blood vessel to a selected site;
applying radiant energy to the selected site through the optical conductor means; and
at any time during said procedure, and while the guide wire is in place in the lumen of the catheter, measuring the fluid pressure distally of the catheter by measuring the pressure in the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
A catheter construction substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
A catheter construction substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.