US5989243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Excimer laser angioplasty system
Assignee: Spectranetics LLC
•
Filing: 1992-12-15
•
Granted: 1999-11-23
•
Expires: 2012-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A fiber-optic waveguide, used for ablating lesions in blood vessels, is mounted within and guided by a catheter having multiple lumens extending therethrough and parallel to each other. The waveguide fits within at least one lumen and a guidewire, previously inserted in a blood vessel, extends through another lumen. The distal end of the waveguide can have a short section of larger diameter fiber fused to it to cause a laser beam transmitted through the fiber to expand as it emerges from the waveguide to provide a larger ablation area. The waveguide may also be connected to an energy source by means of an energy coupler.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsvi Goldenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B18/245; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M25/09016; A61M25/09033; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/26; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; G02B6/36; G02B6/3616; G02B6/3624; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4206; G02B6/4296; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22039; A61B2017/22047; A61B2017/22048; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22052; A61B2017/22055; A61B2017/22061; A61B2018/2205; A61B2018/2211; A61B2018/2216; A61B2018/2238; A61B2018/2244; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3933; G02B6/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: an elongated catheter that is adapted to fit within a human blood vessel, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen that is open to said distal end for receiving a guidewire; a plurality of fiber-optic waveguides in said catheter each having an energy-conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, and extending to said distal end for emitting energy conducted therethrough in a direction generally forwardly of said distal end of said catheter; and a pulsed XeCl Excimer laser having an output wavelength of about 308 nm, with each pulse having a duration between 100 nsec and 3000 nsec and being coupled into a proximal end of said fiber-optic waveguides at a density of at least 50 mJ/mm 2 to ablate atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: an elongated catheter that is adapted to fit within a human blood vessel, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen that is open to said distal end for receiving a guidewire; a plurality of fiber-optic waveguides in said catheter each having an energy-conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, and extending to said distal end for emitting energy conducted therethrough in a direction generally forwardly of said distal end of said catheter; and a pulsed XeCl Excimer laser having an output wavelength of about 308 nm, with each pulse having a duration between 100 nsec and 3000 nsec and being coupled into a proximal end of said fiber-optic waveguides at a density of at least 50 mJ/mm 2 to ablate atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The angioplasty system of claim 1 wherein each of said fiber-optic waveguides has a diameter no greater than about 200 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The angioplasty system of claim 1 wherein the energy-conducting core of each waveguide is surrounded by cladding that is made of glass material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The angioplasty system of claim 1 wherein the core of each of said waveguides is doped with fluorine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The angioplasty system of claim 1 wherein each pulse of said laser energy comprises a sequence of time shifted subpulses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The angioplasty system of claim 1 wherein the core of each of said waveguides is doped with an OH - radical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The angioplasty system of claim 6 wherein said OH - radical is present in the core at a concentration of 200-2000 parts per million.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: an elongated catheter that is adapted to fit within a human blood vessel, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen that is open to said distal end for receiving a guidewire; a plurality of fiber-optic waveguides disposed around said guidewire lumen in said catheter, and each having an energy-conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, a glass material cladding surrounding said core, and a diameter no greater than about 200 microns, and extending to said distal end for emitting energy conducted therethrough in a direction generally forwardly of said distal end of said catheter; and a pulsed XeCl Excimer laser having an output wavelength of about 308 nm, with each pulse having a duration between 100 nsec and 3000 nsec, and being coupled into a proximal end of said fiber-optic waveguides at a density of at least 50 mJ/mm 2 to ablate atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: an elongated catheter that is adapted to fit within a human blood vessel, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen that is open to said distal end for receiving a guidewire; a plurality of fiber-optic waveguides disposed around said guidewire lumen in said catheter, and each having an energy-conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, a glass material cladding surrounding said core, and a diameter no greater than about 200 microns, and extending to said distal end for emitting energy conducted therethrough in a direction generally forwardly of said distal end of said catheter; and a pulsed XeCl Excimer laser having an output wavelength of about 308 nm, with each pulse having a duration between 100 nsec and 3000 nsec, and being coupled into a proximal end of said fiber-optic waveguides at a density of at least 50 mJ/mm 2 to ablate atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The angioplasty system of claim 8 wherein said fiber optic waveguides are disposed substantially symmetrically about said guidewire lumen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US31289A
Cited
US31290A
Cited
GB214712A
Cited
US3327712A
Cited
GB1042281A
Cited
US3434775A
Cited
US3556085A
Cited
US3966300A
Cited
US3756690A
Cited
US3987781A
Cited
US3844752A
Cited
US4009382A
Cited
US3858577A
Cited
US3920980A
Cited
US4045119A
Cited
US3922063A
Cited
US3950187A
Cited
DE2517019A1
Cited
US3969016A
Cited
US4190759A
Cited
US4082958A
Cited
US4270845A
Cited
US4011403A
Cited
US4273109A
Cited
US4092515A
Cited
US4173393A
Cited
US4173392A
Cited
US4199218A
Cited
US4398790A
Cited
US4448547A
Cited
US4560286A
Cited
US4272156A
Cited
US4151080A
Cited
US4207874A
Cited
US4286232A
Cited
US4221825A
Cited
USRE31289E
Cited
USRE31290E
Cited
US4305640A
Cited
US4229232A
Cited
US4266548A
Cited
US4469098A
Cited
US4392715A
Cited
US4445754A
Cited
US4331132A
Cited
US4248213A
Cited
US4367729A
Cited
US4361139A
Cited
US4370175A
Cited
US4419987A
Cited
US4490020A
Cited
US4418689A
Cited
US4345212A
Cited
US4392485A
Cited
GB2095422A
Cited
US4521070A
Cited
US4388924A
Cited
US4418688A
Cited
US4800876A
Cited
US4848336A
Cited
US4800876B1
Cited
US4583539A
Cited
US4511209A
Cited
WO1983003144A1
Cited
US4690500A
Cited
US4445892A
Cited
US4504114A
Cited
US4576435A
Cited
JPS59111125A
Cited
US4526170A
Cited
US4784132A
Cited
US4784132B1
Cited
US4569335A
Cited
JPS59228602A
Cited
US4646737A
Cited
US4665913A
Cited
US4565197A
Cited
WO1985002532A1
Cited
US4686979A
Cited
EP0153847A2
Cited
US4681104A
Cited
US4627436A
Cited
US4747405A
Cited
US4681396A
Cited
US4732448A
Cited
WO1986003598A1
Cited
US4641912A
Cited
US4641650A
Cited
US4729621A
Cited
US4682594A
Cited
US4657014A
Cited
US4652083A
Cited
US4850351A
Cited
US4677636A
Cited
US4672961A
Cited
US4819632A
Cited
US4830460A
Cited
US4832023A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |