US5855563A — Method and apparatus for sequentially performing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 165 words

A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a blood vessel in combination with another therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter having a therapeutic device at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a stenotic region in the blood vessel, wherein the therapeutic device is selected from the group consisting of a dilatation balloon, a cutting element, a laser, and an ultrasonic transducer, and the first procedure comprises revascularization of a stenosed region in a blood vessel; performing a therapeutic procedure at the stenotic region with the therapeutic device while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said therapeutic device; positioning the sleeve catheter over the base catheter to align an infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter for delivering the therapeutic agent at the stenotic region; and delivering therapeutic agent to said stenotic region through the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter while said sleeve catheter remains positioned over the base catheter.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 165 words

A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a blood vessel in combination with another therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter having a therapeutic device at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a stenotic region in the blood vessel, wherein the therapeutic device is selected from the group consisting of a dilatation balloon, a cutting element, a laser, and an ultrasonic transducer, and the first procedure comprises revascularization of a stenosed region in a blood vessel; performing a therapeutic procedure at the stenotic region with the therapeutic device while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said therapeutic device; positioning the sleeve catheter over the base catheter to align an infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter for delivering the therapeutic agent at the stenotic region; and delivering therapeutic agent to said stenotic region through the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter while said sleeve catheter remains positioned over the base catheter.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as in claim 1, wherein the base catheter comprises a balloon catheter and the therapeutic procedure comprises angioplasty.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method as in claim 2, wherein the sleeve catheter is aligned with the balloon of the balloon catheter within the stenotic region, further comprising inflating the balloon to contact the infusion matrix on the sleeve against the stenotic region, and delivering the therapeutic agent while contact is maintained between the infusion matrix and the stenotic region.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 36 words

A method as in claims 2 or 3, wherein the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter is aligned with the balloon of the balloon catheter and the therapeutic agent is delivered after performing the angioplasty procedure.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 95 words

A method for imaging a blood vessel during a therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter having a therapeutic device at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a target location in the body lumen; performing a therapeutic procedure at the target location with the therapeutic device while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said device; positioning the sleeve catheter to align an imaging device on the sleeve catheter at the target location; and imaging the target location with the imaging device.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 95 words

A method for imaging a blood vessel during a therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter having a therapeutic device at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a target location in the body lumen; performing a therapeutic procedure at the target location with the therapeutic device while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said device; positioning the sleeve catheter to align an imaging device on the sleeve catheter at the target location; and imaging the target location with the imaging device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein the therapeutic procedure is performed prior to imaging the target location.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method as in claim 6, wherein the therapeutic device is selected from the group consisting of a dilatation balloon, a cutting element, a laser, and an ultrasonic transducer and the first procedure comprises revascularization of a stenosed region in a blood vessel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein imaging the target location is performed prior to the therapeutic procedure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein the target location is imaged both before and after the therapeutic procedure.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein the therapeutic catheter comprises a balloon catheter and the therapeutic procedure comprises angioplasty.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

A method as in claim 5, wherein imaging comprises ultrasonic imaging.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

An infusion catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said infusion catheter comprising a sleeve having a tubular body with proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen in the tubular body which slidably receives the base catheter, and means within the distal end of the tubular body for infusing a therapeutic agent into adjacent diseased tissue.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 58 words

An infusion catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said infusion catheter comprising a sleeve having a tubular body with proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen in the tubular body which slidably receives the base catheter, and means within the distal end of the tubular body for infusing a therapeutic agent into adjacent diseased tissue.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

An infusion catheter as in claim 12, wherein the infusing means comprises a plurality of infusion lumens disposed over a distal region of the sleeve catheter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

An infusion catheter as in claim 13, wherein the distal region of the sleeve is radially expandable, whereby the infusion lumens can be radially expanded by expanding a balloon within the lumen of the distal region of the sleeve catheter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

An infusion catheter as in claim 14, wherein the distal region of the sleeve is axially split to permit radial expansion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 54 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end which is adapted to removably receive the base catheter, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 54 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end which is adapted to removably receive the base catheter, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 16, wherein the imaging means comprises an ultrasonic transducer array.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 16, wherein the imaging means comprises an array of ultrasonic transducers disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sleeve.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 16, wherein the sleeve has at least one perfusion aperture disposed proximally of the imaging means, whereby perfusion flow can be established.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a blood vessel in combination with another therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter comprising an angioplasty balloon at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a stenotic region in the blood vessel; performing an angioplasty procedure at the stenotic region with the balloon while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said balloon; positioning a sleeve catheter to align an infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter for delivering the therapeutic agent at the stenotic region; and delivering therapeutic agent to said stenotic region through the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a blood vessel in combination with another therapeutic procedure, said method comprising: introducing a base catheter comprising an angioplasty balloon at a distal end thereof and a sleeve catheter slidably disposed thereover to a stenotic region in the blood vessel; performing an angioplasty procedure at the stenotic region with the balloon while a distal end of the sleeve catheter is proximally retracted to expose said balloon; positioning a sleeve catheter to align an infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter for delivering the therapeutic agent at the stenotic region; and delivering therapeutic agent to said stenotic region through the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method as in claim 20, wherein the sleeve catheter is aligned with the balloon of the balloon catheter within the stenotic region, further comprising inflating the balloon to contact the infusion matrix on the sleeve against the stenotic region, and delivering the therapeutic agent while contact is maintained between the infusion matrix and the stenotic region.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as in claim 20, wherein the infusion matrix on the sleeve catheter is aligned with the balloon on the base catheter and the therapeutic agent is delivered after performing the angioplasty procedure.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

An infusion catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said infusion catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen which slidably receives the base catheter, and means at the distal end thereof for infusing a therapeutic agent into adjacent diseased tissue, wherein the distal region of the sleeve is axially split to permit radial expansion.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 61 words

An infusion catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said infusion catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen which slidably receives the base catheter, and means at the distal end thereof for infusing a therapeutic agent into adjacent diseased tissue, wherein the distal region of the sleeve is axially split to permit radial expansion.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

An infusion catheter as in claim 23, wherein the infusing means comprises a plurality of infusion lumens disposed over a distal region of the sleeve catheter.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 40 words

An infusion catheter as in claim 24, wherein the distal region of the sleeve is radially expandable, whereby the infusion lumens can be radially expanded by expanding a balloon within the lumen of the distal region of the sleeve catheter.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 57 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end and a diameter in the range from 1.3 mm to 1.7 mm, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 57 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end and a diameter in the range from 1.3 mm to 1.7 mm, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 26, wherein the imaging means comprises an array of ultrasonic transducers disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sleeve.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 26, wherein the sleeve has at least one perfusion aperture disposed proximally of the ultrasonic transducer array, whereby perfusion flow can be established.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 69 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end which is adapted to receive a base catheter selected from the group consisting of angioplasty catheters, atherectomy catheters, laser catheters, and stent delivery catheters, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 69 words

An imaging catheter for use in combination with a base catheter, said imaging catheter comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, an axial lumen having an open distal end which is adapted to receive a base catheter selected from the group consisting of angioplasty catheters, atherectomy catheters, laser catheters, and stent delivery catheters, and means at the distal end for imaging a surrounding region of a body lumen.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 29, wherein the imaging means comprises an array of ultrasonic transducers disposed about the periphery of the distal end of the sleeve.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 29 words

An imaging catheter as in claim 29, wherein the sleeve has at least one perfusion aperture disposed proximally of the ultrasonic transducer array, whereby perfusion flow can be established.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-01-04	2002-07-06	2003-01-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-01-04	2006-07-06	2007-01-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-01-04	2010-07-06	2011-01-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for sequentially performing multiple intraluminal procedures

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