US5496305A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter for laser angiosurgery
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1992-01-29
•
Granted: 1996-03-05
•
Expires: 2012-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A laser catheter is disclosed wherein optical fibers carrying laser light are mounted in a catheter for insertion into an artery to provide controlled delivery of a laser beam for percutaneous intravascular laser treatment of atherosclerotic disease. A transparent protective shield is provided at the distal end of the catheter for mechanically diplacing intravascular blood and protecting the fibers from the intravascular contents, as well as protecting the patient in the event of failure of the fiber optics. Multiple optical fibers allow the selection of tissue that is to be removed. A computer controlled system automatically aligns fibers with the laser and controls exposure time. Spectroscopic diagnostics determine what tissue is to be removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Carter Kittrell
- 👤 Robert M. Cothren, Jr.
- 👤 Michael S. Feld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00096; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0071; A61B5/0075; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; G02B6/04; G02B6/241; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/2238; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/4738; G01N21/474; G01N2021/4742; G01N2021/4747; G02B6/10; G02B6/14; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3504; G02B6/3508; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/3516; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/3598
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A laser system for operating on a treatment site comprising: a) a fiber optical means having a proximal end and a distal end positionable an operative proximity to the treatment site; b) a treatment laser source optically connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means; c) a diagnostic radiation source connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means for irradiating the treatment site; d) responding radiation detector means connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means for generating a control signal when detecting a particular radiation in response to being irradiated by said diagnostic radiation source from the treatment site; and e) means responsive to said control signal for controlling said treatment laser source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A laser system for operating on a treatment site comprising: a) a fiber optical means having a proximal end and a distal end positionable an operative proximity to the treatment site; b) a treatment laser source optically connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means; c) a diagnostic radiation source connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means for irradiating the treatment site; d) responding radiation detector means connected to the proximal end of said fiber optical means for generating a control signal when detecting a particular radiation in response to being irradiated by said diagnostic radiation source from the treatment site; and e) means responsive to said control signal for controlling said treatment laser source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said fiber optical means comprises a beam splitter, a fiber optical device and an optical coupler optically coupling said beam splitter to said fiber optical device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said father optical device as a single optical fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said fiber optical device is a single bundle of optical fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A laser catheter system for operating on an arterial treatment site comprising: a fiber optic cable extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter that is positionable in operative proximity to the treatment site within the artery of a patient; a treatment laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of said fiber optic cable such that laser radiation can be transmitted through the fiber optic cable to the distal end of the catheter and onto the arterial treatment site; a radiation detector optically coupled to the proximal end of said fiber optic cable, the detector generating a diagnostic signal that is correlated with radiation from the arterial treatment site that is detected by the detector in response to being irradiated by a radiation source; and a control system electrically coupled to the treatment laser and responsive to the diagnostic signal for controlling treatment laser source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A laser catheter system for operating on an arterial treatment site comprising: a fiber optic cable extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter that is positionable in operative proximity to the treatment site within the artery of a patient; a treatment laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of said fiber optic cable such that laser radiation can be transmitted through the fiber optic cable to the distal end of the catheter and onto the arterial treatment site; a radiation detector optically coupled to the proximal end of said fiber optic cable, the detector generating a diagnostic signal that is correlated with radiation from the arterial treatment site that is detected by the detector in response to being irradiated by a radiation source; and a control system electrically coupled to the treatment laser and responsive to the diagnostic signal for controlling treatment laser source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein said fiber optic cable is a single optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein said fiber optic cable is a single bundle of optical fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein the fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers positioned at the distal end of the catheter to form distal array, the catheter having a distal surface such that light emitted by the fibers, in combination, overlies the distal surface of the catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein the control system comprises a computer having a memory in which detected radiation is stored.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein the catheter further comprises a lumen extending through the catheter, the lumen defining an aperture at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser catheter system of claim 5 wherein the detector further comprises a spectral detector in which a plurality of wavelengths of the radiation from the treatment are resolved and detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
A laser catheter system to remove material from within the artery of a patient comprising: a catheter having an optical waveguide extending from the proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter such that the laser radiation can be transmitted through the waveguide between the proximal and distal ends; a treatment laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide; a diagnostic laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide; a spectral detector system optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide such that radiation emitted by material within the artery of the patient in response to the diagnostic radiation is detected by the spectral detector to generate a diagnostic signal; and a computer having a memory in which to store the diagnostic signal, the computer being electrically coupled to the treatment laser such that the computer can control operation of the treatment laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
A laser catheter system to remove material from within the artery of a patient comprising: a catheter having an optical waveguide extending from the proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter such that the laser radiation can be transmitted through the waveguide between the proximal and distal ends; a treatment laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide; a diagnostic laser source optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide; a spectral detector system optically coupled to the proximal end of the optical waveguide such that radiation emitted by material within the artery of the patient in response to the diagnostic radiation is detected by the spectral detector to generate a diagnostic signal; and a computer having a memory in which to store the diagnostic signal, the computer being electrically coupled to the treatment laser such that the computer can control operation of the treatment laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser catheter system of claim 12 wherein the spectral detector system comprises a spectrometer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser catheter system of claim 12 wherein the optical waveguide comprises a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser catheter system of claim 12 further comprising a lumen extending through the catheter in fluid communication with the artery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser catheter system of claim 12 wherein the computer further comprises a control circuit that is electrically coupled to the treatment laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
182 words
A laser catheter system for removing material from within the artery of a patient comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical fibers to transmit laser radiation from the proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter, the distal end of the catheter having a distal surface extending over a cross-sectional area of the catheter such that laser radiation emitted from the distal surface of the catheter substantially overlies the cross-sectional area of the catheter; a laser radiation source optically coupled to any selected group of optical fibers at the proximal end of the catheter; a spectral detector system optically coupled to the proximal ends of a selected number of the fibers such that radiation emitted by material within the artery is collected through the selected number of fibers and detected, the spectral detector system generating a diagnostic signal for each of the selected number of fibers; and a control system responsive to the diagnostic signals to control delivery of laser radiation from the source to a selected group of fibers at the distal surface of the catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
182 words
A laser catheter system for removing material from within the artery of a patient comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical fibers to transmit laser radiation from the proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter, the distal end of the catheter having a distal surface extending over a cross-sectional area of the catheter such that laser radiation emitted from the distal surface of the catheter substantially overlies the cross-sectional area of the catheter; a laser radiation source optically coupled to any selected group of optical fibers at the proximal end of the catheter; a spectral detector system optically coupled to the proximal ends of a selected number of the fibers such that radiation emitted by material within the artery is collected through the selected number of fibers and detected, the spectral detector system generating a diagnostic signal for each of the selected number of fibers; and a control system responsive to the diagnostic signals to control delivery of laser radiation from the source to a selected group of fibers at the distal surface of the catheter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3327117A
Cited
US3417745A
Cited
US3327119A
Cited
US3315680A
Cited
US3471215A
Cited
US3461856A
Cited
US3467098A
Cited
US3690769A
Cited
US3647299A
Cited
US3866599A
Cited
US3865113A
Cited
US3821510A
Cited
US3858577A
Cited
US4040413A
Cited
US4006738A
Cited
US4072147A
Cited
US4050450A
Cited
US4273109A
Cited
US4146019A
Cited
US4295470A
Cited
US4141362A
Cited
US4169464A
Cited
US4207874A
Cited
SU929050A1
Cited
US4267844A
Cited
DE2826383A1
Cited
US4259948A
Cited
US4313431A
Cited
US4266548A
Cited
US4292961A
Cited
US4513751A
Cited
US4515165A
Cited
US4539987A
Cited
US4336809A
Cited
US4402569A
Cited
US4409993A
Cited
WO1982002604A1
Cited
DE3210593A1
Cited
DE3218739A1
Cited
US4458683A
Cited
US4500181A
Cited
US4418688A
Cited
US4480636A
Cited
US4576147A
Cited
US4564012A
Cited
WO1983001893A1
Cited
US4470407A
Cited
US4564011A
Cited
US4445892A
Cited
US4567362A
Cited
GB2126717A
Cited
US4556057A
Cited
US4512762A
Cited
US4569335A
Cited
US4644948A
Cited
WO1984004665A1
Cited
US4503854A
Cited
US4570638A
Cited
US4543090A
Cited
US4589404A
Cited
US4588294A
Cited
US4725147A
Cited
US4641650A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |