US6673066B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method to diagnose and treat vulnerable plaque
Assignee: Cryotherapeutics GmbH
•
Filing: 2001-07-03
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Granted: 2004-01-06
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Expires: 2021-07-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention may be embodied in a technique for elimination of vulnerable plaque in a vessel. Vulnerable plaque is detected in the vessel based on a temperature increase of the vessel's wall and treated using cryoablation.
Inventors
- 👤 Randell L. Werneth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00057; A61B2017/00066; A61B2017/0007; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0212; A61B2018/0231; A61B2018/0262; A61M; A61M2230/00; A61M2230/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A catheter for vessel treatment, comprising: a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature increase on a vessel wall indicative of the location of a vulnerable plaque; a balloon for performing cryoablation on the vessel wall for vulnerable plaque treatment so as to inhibit inflammatory response in the vulnerable plaque while preserving anhydrous cellular structure thereof; a first lumen for supporting the balloon; a second lumen for providing cryogenic fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon; a third lumen for returning cryogentic fluid from the balloon; a larger marker near a distal end of the catheter for joining together the first lumen and the second lumen; and a smaller marker at a proximal area of the catheter for joining together the first lumen, the second lumen, and the third lumen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A catheter for vessel treatment, comprising: a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature increase on a vessel wall indicative of the location of a vulnerable plaque; a balloon for performing cryoablation on the vessel wall for vulnerable plaque treatment so as to inhibit inflammatory response in the vulnerable plaque while preserving anhydrous cellular structure thereof; a first lumen for supporting the balloon; a second lumen for providing cryogenic fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon; a third lumen for returning cryogentic fluid from the balloon; a larger marker near a distal end of the catheter for joining together the first lumen and the second lumen; and a smaller marker at a proximal area of the catheter for joining together the first lumen, the second lumen, and the third lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a thermal sensing wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 2 , wherein the thermal sensing wire is on a surface of the balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a thermal sensing polymer on a surface of the balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is an optical thermometer that is placed at a distal tip of the balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 5 , wherein the optical thermometer is an infrared thermometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 5 , further comprising a guidewire joined to the optical thermometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the balloon has multiple chambers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the balloon has a first chamber for centering the catheter within the vessel, a second chamber for performing the cryoablation, and a third chamber for allowing blood to flow in the vessel past the catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a heart vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter for vessel treatment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a carotid artery.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for vessel treatment, comprising the steps of: detecting the location of a vulnerable plaque in a vessel; and treating the detected vulnerable plaque in the vessel using cryoablation so as to inhibit inflammatory response in the vulnerable plaque while preserving anhydrous cellular structure of the vulnerable plaque.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for vessel treatment, comprising the steps of: detecting the location of a vulnerable plaque in a vessel; and treating the detected vulnerable plaque in the vessel using cryoablation so as to inhibit inflammatory response in the vulnerable plaque while preserving anhydrous cellular structure of the vulnerable plaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for vessel treatment as defined in claim 12 , wherein vulnerable plaque is detected in the vessel based on an increase in vessel wall temperature indicative of vulnerable plaque.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for vessel treatment as defined in claim 12 , wherein the step of treating the detected vulnerable plaque includes spraying the vulnerable plaque with a cooled fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for vessel treatment as defined in claim 14 , wherein the cooled fluid is saline having a temperature of about 0° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for vessel treatment as defined in claim 12 , wherein the step of treating the detected vulnerable plaque includes ablating the vulnerable plaque using a subzero fluid.
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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) | 2007-01-05 | 2007-07-07 | 2008-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-05 | 2011-07-07 | 2012-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-05 | 2015-07-07 | 2016-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |