US5439000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of diagnosing tissue with guidewire
Assignee: SpectraScience Inc
•
Filing: 1993-11-18
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2013-11-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a guidewire which incorporates an optical fiber and associated diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing tissue in vivo. Use of the present invention provides for diagnosis of tissue and tailoring of the therapeutic portion of the procedure to the tissue or condition identified by the guidewire and associated diagnostic apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Gunderson
- 👤 James S. Sharrow
- 👤 Jeffrey A. McBroom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/0086; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6851; A61B5/0062; A61B5/0066; A61B5/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of diagnosing and treating tissue in vivo comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into a patient, the guidewire comprising a hollow guidewire tube having proximal and distal ends, flexible means attached to the distal end of the guidewire tube for providing flexibility at the distal end of the guidewire, the flexible means forming a hollow bore; and an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber contained within the hollow guidewire tube and extending through the hollow bore of the flexible means to the distal end of the guidewire; b) advancing the distal end of the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; c) illuminating the tissue with electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical fiber from the proximal to the distal end of the guidewire; d) returning electromagnetic radiation from the tissue through the optical fiber to the proximal end of the guidewire; and e) diagnosing the tissue based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and returned through the guidewire.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of diagnosing and treating tissue in vivo comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into a patient, the guidewire comprising a hollow guidewire tube having proximal and distal ends, flexible means attached to the distal end of the guidewire tube for providing flexibility at the distal end of the guidewire, the flexible means forming a hollow bore; and an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber contained within the hollow guidewire tube and extending through the hollow bore of the flexible means to the distal end of the guidewire; b) advancing the distal end of the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; c) illuminating the tissue with electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical fiber from the proximal to the distal end of the guidewire; d) returning electromagnetic radiation from the tissue through the optical fiber to the proximal end of the guidewire; and e) diagnosing the tissue based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and returned through the guidewire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of advancing a catheter over the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: a) disconnecting the guidewire from a diagnostic apparatus used to perform the diagnosing step before the step of advancing the catheter; and b) reconnecting the guidewire to the diagnostic apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of treating the tissue based on information from the diagnosing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 4, the step of treating further comprises advancing a catheter over the guidewire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of disconnecting the guidewire from a diagnostic apparatus used for the step of illuminating the tissue before advancing the catheter over the guidewire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of reconnecting the guidewire to the diagnostic apparatus after advancing the catheter over the guidewire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of a) reconnecting the guidewire to the diagnostic apparatus; and b) diagnosing the tissue after the step of treating.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of diagnosing and treating tissue in vivo comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into a patient, the guidewire comprising a hollow guidewire tube having proximal and distal ends, flexible means attached to the distal end of the guidewire tube for providing flexibility at the distal end of the guidewire, the flexible means forming a hollow bore; and an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber contained within the hollow guidewire tube and extending through the hollow bore of the flexible means to the distal end of the guidewire; b) advancing the distal end of the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; c) illuminating the tissue with electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical fiber from the proximal to the distal end of the guidewire; d) returning electromagnetic radiation from the tissue through the optical fiber to the proximal end of the guidewire; e) diagnosing the tissue based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and returned through the guidewire; f) advancing a catheter over the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; and g) treating the tissue with the catheter based on information from the diagnosing step.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of diagnosing and treating tissue in vivo comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into a patient, the guidewire comprising a hollow guidewire tube having proximal and distal ends, flexible means attached to the distal end of the guidewire tube for providing flexibility at the distal end of the guidewire, the flexible means forming a hollow bore; and an optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the optical fiber contained within the hollow guidewire tube and extending through the hollow bore of the flexible means to the distal end of the guidewire; b) advancing the distal end of the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; c) illuminating the tissue with electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical fiber from the proximal to the distal end of the guidewire; d) returning electromagnetic radiation from the tissue through the optical fiber to the proximal end of the guidewire; e) diagnosing the tissue based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and returned through the guidewire; f) advancing a catheter over the guidewire to a position proximate the tissue; and g) treating the tissue with the catheter based on information from the diagnosing step.
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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) | 1998-08-07 | 1999-02-06 | 1999-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-07 | 2003-02-06 | 2003-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-07 | 2007-02-06 | 2007-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |