US4848339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser heated intravascular cautery cap assembly
Assignee: Xintec Corp
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Filing: 1988-04-11
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2008-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved laser heated intravascular cautery cap construction includes a generally cylindrical outersidewall, and a tappered, annular, distal end wall joining the two sidewalls and defining a closed annular space therebetween. A bore extending axially through the inner sidewall is dimentioned to receive in freely sliding fashion an arterial guidewire or other device such as a doppler flow sensor or an optical bundle for viewing. A unitary or multi-segment annular target element is received within the distal portion of the annular space, and is secured to the outer sidewall adjacent to the end wall with a gap defined between the target element and the inner sidewall. A plurality of holes extend through a connector member parallel to the axis of the sidewalls, each hole receiving therethrough one of a plurality of optical fibers extending through the arterial catheter to a laser light source. Each fiber is aimed at one segment or portion of the target element, so that the fibers may be illuminated selectively to heat the respective portion or segment and the adjacent outer sidewall and distal end wall portions. The air gap defined between the target disc segments and the inner sidewall prevents conduction to the inner sidewall. In a further embodiment, the inner sidewall is lined with a sleeve to further limit heating of the arterial guidewire extending therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Rink
- 👤 John Rink
- 👤 Garrett Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/28; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/0096; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/26; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00132; 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: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a closed curved outer sidewall extending symmetrically about an axis, an inner sidewall extending concentrically with said outer sidewall and coaxially therewith, a distal end wall joining like distal ends of said sidewalls to form an annular space therebetween, said inner sidewall having an open bore extending axially therethrough, cap connector means secured to like proximal ends of said sidewalls in sealing fashion to enclose said annular space, means for extending a plurality of optical fibers through said cap connector means into said annular space, said optical fibers including distal ends extending parallel to said axis and directed toward said distal end wall, an annular target disc disposed within said annular space and secured to said outer sidewall in axially spaced relationship to said distal end wall, said target disc disposed to be illuminated by said optical fibers and to be heated thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a closed curved outer sidewall extending symmetrically about an axis, an inner sidewall extending concentrically with said outer sidewall and coaxially therewith, a distal end wall joining like distal ends of said sidewalls to form an annular space therebetween, said inner sidewall having an open bore extending axially therethrough, cap connector means secured to like proximal ends of said sidewalls in sealing fashion to enclose said annular space, means for extending a plurality of optical fibers through said cap connector means into said annular space, said optical fibers including distal ends extending parallel to said axis and directed toward said distal end wall, an annular target disc disposed within said annular space and secured to said outer sidewall in axially spaced relationship to said distal end wall, said target disc disposed to be illuminated by said optical fibers and to be heated thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a closed curved outer sidewall extending symmetrically about an axis, an inner sidewall extending concentrically with said outer sidewall and coaxially therewith, a distal end wall joining like distal ends of said sidewalls to form an annular space therebetween, said inner sidewall having an inner surface defining an open bore extending axially therethrough, cap connector means secured to like proximal ends of said sidewalls in sealing fashion to enclose said annular space, means for extending a plurality of optical fibers through said cap connector means into said annular space, said optical fibers including distal ends extending parallel to said axis and directed toward said distal end wall, and an annular target disc disposed within said annular space and impinging on at least one of said outer sidewall or said distal end wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a closed curved outer sidewall extending symmetrically about an axis, an inner sidewall extending concentrically with said outer sidewall and coaxially therewith, a distal end wall joining like distal ends of said sidewalls to form an annular space therebetween, said inner sidewall having an inner surface defining an open bore extending axially therethrough, cap connector means secured to like proximal ends of said sidewalls in sealing fashion to enclose said annular space, means for extending a plurality of optical fibers through said cap connector means into said annular space, said optical fibers including distal ends extending parallel to said axis and directed toward said distal end wall, and an annular target disc disposed within said annular space and impinging on at least one of said outer sidewall or said distal end wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said target disc comprises a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of radially extending gaps, each of said segments disposed to be illuminated by a respective one of said optical fibers and to be heated thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said distal end wall extends in tapering, narrowing fashion from the distal end of said outer sidewall to the distal end of said inner sidewall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said target disc includes an inner peripheral edge extending about said inner sidewall and spaced radially therefrom to prevent thermal conduction therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said target disc is secured to said outer sidewall for direct thermal conduction thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said target disc is secured to said distal end wall for direct thermal conduction thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, wherein said cap connector means includes a connector member having a continuously curved outer surface, a plurality of channels extending in said outer surface parallel to said axis, each of said channels receiving one of said optical fibers extending therein, and a connector bore extending therethrough and aligned along said axis, said inner sidewall received in said connector bore in close tolerance fit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 8, wherein said cap connector means further includes a sleeve member received about said connector member in close tolerance fit and to retain said optical fibers in said channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 9, wherein said sleeve member includes an outer surface configuration received within the proximal end of said outer sidewall in close tolerance fit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, further including an insulating sleeve disposed concentrically within said bore in said inner sidewall and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said inner sidewall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 11, wherein said insulating sleeve includes a distal portion spaced apart radially from said inner sidewall to define an annular insulating gap between an inner surface of said insulating sleeve and said inner sidewall, said insulating gap being generally disposed in registration with said target disc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 12, further including a high reflectivity surface coating secured to the inner surface of said insulating sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, further including a high reflectivity surface coating secured to the inner surface of said inner sidewall and the inner surface of said outer sidewall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, further including a central optical fiber extending through said open bore of said inner sidewall, said central optical fiber adapted to be connected to a laser light source and disposed to direct the laser light distally and centrally from said cautery cap bore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 2, further including a central optical fiber extending through said open bore of said inner sidewall, said central optical fiber adapted to be connected to a laser light source, a diminutive cautery cap secured to a distal end of said central optical fiber and adapted to be heated selectively by the laser light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a solid body member formed of a transparent, high temperature material, said body member being substantially cylindrical and including a tapered distal end, a central bore extending axially through said body member and through said tapered distal end, a plurality of holes extending in a proximal end surface of said body member and disposed parallel to an axis thereof, each of said plurality of holes receiving one of a plurality of optical fibers therein, said optical fibers being adapted to be connected to a selectively controlled laser light source and disposed to transmit the laser light into said body member, and first surface coating means secured to outer surface portions of said body member to receive and absorb the laser light illumination and generate thermal energy therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
An improved intravascular cautery cap construction, including a solid body member formed of a transparent, high temperature material, said body member being substantially cylindrical and including a tapered distal end, a central bore extending axially through said body member and through said tapered distal end, a plurality of holes extending in a proximal end surface of said body member and disposed parallel to an axis thereof, each of said plurality of holes receiving one of a plurality of optical fibers therein, said optical fibers being adapted to be connected to a selectively controlled laser light source and disposed to transmit the laser light into said body member, and first surface coating means secured to outer surface portions of said body member to receive and absorb the laser light illumination and generate thermal energy therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 17, wherein said first surface coating means includes a surface coating applied to said tapered distal end of said body member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 17, further including second, reflective surface coating means applied to substantially the entire outer surface of said body member to retain the laser light therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 19, wherein said second surface coating means includes a surface coating applied additionally to the surface of the body member defining said central bore to reduce thermal conduction to any device disposed in said central bore.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 19, further including third surface coating means of hard, reflective material, said third surface coating means extending over at least said second surface coating means to protect said second surface coating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 17, further including a central optical fiber dimensioned to be extended through said open bore of said inner sidewall, said central optical fiber adapted to be connected to a laser light source and disposed to direct the laser light distally and centrally from said cautery cap bore.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improved intravascular cautery cap construction of claim 17, further including a central optical fiber dimensioned to be extended through said open bore, said central optical fiber adapted to be connected to a laser light source, a diminutive cautery cap secured to the distal end of said central optical fiber and adapted to be heated selectively by the laser light.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removal of atherosclerotic lesions in arterial vessels, including the steps of advancing an arterial guidewire through an artery to an atherosclerotic lesion, providing a laser heated cautery cap with a bore extending axially therethrough and a plurality of optical fibers connected at the cautery cap in an annular array to deliver laser light energy selectively to the cautery cap, advancing the cautery cap coaxially about and distally along the arterial guidewire to impinge on the atherosclerotic lesion, delivering laser light energy through the optical fibers to the interior of the cautery cap to heat the cautery cap and destroy the atherosclerotic lesion in contact therewith.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removal of atherosclerotic lesions in arterial vessels, including the steps of advancing an arterial guidewire through an artery to an atherosclerotic lesion, providing a laser heated cautery cap with a bore extending axially therethrough and a plurality of optical fibers connected at the cautery cap in an annular array to deliver laser light energy selectively to the cautery cap, advancing the cautery cap coaxially about and distally along the arterial guidewire to impinge on the atherosclerotic lesion, delivering laser light energy through the optical fibers to the interior of the cautery cap to heat the cautery cap and destroy the atherosclerotic lesion in contact therewith.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 24, further including providing a plurality of target segments within the cautery cap, each disposed to receive laser light energy from one of said plurality of optical fibers, each target segment being secured to a respective peripheral portion of the cautery cap and disposed to deliver thermal energy thereto in response to illumination by the respective optical fiber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |