EP0283661A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Angioscope having a balloon with a recess
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-01-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A transparent plastic collapsible balloon (7) is attached to the distal end of a flexible bronchoscope or angioscope (6). The inflatable balloon has a cavity or "working well" (8) at its distal end which communicates by means of a tube with the central channel (11) of the angioscope. Separate channels (12)-(14) of the angioscope allow inflation of the balloon (7) and visualization of tissue against which the distal end of the balloon is pressed. A laser fiber, forceps, or other instrument can be passed through an opening (10) into the working well cavity (8) to allow lasing or other procedures to be performed on tissue abutted by the balloon and isolated by the working well cavity. Channels (12)-(14) allow direct visualization of such procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Mackin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00082; A61B1/012; A61B1/018; A61B1/267; A61B1/2676; A61B1/313; A61B1/3137; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M25/1006; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/04; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22057; A61B2017/22059; A61B2017/22072; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/12; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An angioscope comprising in combination: (a) a flexible catheter having first, second and third channels therein and a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an inflatable transparent balloon having a first opening and a second opening located opposite to the first opening; (c) first means for producing a seal between the portion of the transparent balloon around its first opening and the distal end of the catheter; (d) a tube having a first end connected in communication with a distal end portion of the first channel and having a second end extending through the second opening of the balloon, the second and third channels opening into the interior of the transparent balloon; (e) second means for producing a seal between the portion of the transparent balloon around its second opening and the second end of the tube; (f) third means passing through the second channel for producing light that emanates from the distal end of the catheter; (g) fourth means passing through the third channel for effectuating viewing of the illuminated region from the proximal end of the catheter; and (h) fifth means passing through the first channel beyond the second end of the tube for interacting with tissue or substance illuminated through the wall of the transparent balloon by the third means and viewed through the fourth means and the wall of the transparent balloon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
An angioscope comprising in combination: (a) a flexible catheter having first, second and third channels therein and a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an inflatable transparent balloon having a first opening and a second opening located opposite to the first opening; (c) first means for producing a seal between the portion of the transparent balloon around its first opening and the distal end of the catheter; (d) a tube having a first end connected in communication with a distal end portion of the first channel and having a second end extending through the second opening of the balloon, the second and third channels opening into the interior of the transparent balloon; (e) second means for producing a seal between the portion of the transparent balloon around its second opening and the second end of the tube; (f) third means passing through the second channel for producing light that emanates from the distal end of the catheter; (g) fourth means passing through the third channel for effectuating viewing of the illuminated region from the proximal end of the catheter; and (h) fifth means passing through the first channel beyond the second end of the tube for interacting with tissue or substance illuminated through the wall of the transparent balloon by the third means and viewed through the fourth means and the wall of the transparent balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The angioscope of Claim 1 including a working well recess in the surface of a distal portion of the transparent balloon, the second opening being centered in the working well recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 including a fourth channel in the catheter opening into the transparent balloon and means for inflating the transparent balloon by passing fluid through the fourth channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 wherein the fifth means includes a laser fiber extending through the first channel and extending to the second end of the tube, whereby the visualized tissue or substance can be ablated by a laser beam from the laser fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 wherein the fifth means includes a biopsy forceps instrument with jaws extending beyond the second end of the tube, whereby a sample of the visualized tissue or substance can be removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 wherein the first end of the tube is threaded into the distal end portion of the first channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 including a flexible inner catheter slidably disposed in the first channel, the inner catheter having a distal end, a fourth channel extending through the inner catheter, the first end of the tube being connected in communication with the distal end of the fourth channel, wherey the depth of the working well recess of the transparent balloon can be controlled by sliding the inner catheter in the first channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The angioscope of Claim 2 including a plurality of electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the transparent balloon, and a plurality of flexible conductors disposed along the surface of the transparent balloon, each flexible conductor extending along the catheter and being connected to a respective electrode, whereby electrical signals can be transmitted to and/or received from tissue or blood contacting the electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
An angioscope comprising in combination: (a) An inflatable transparent balloon; (b) a flexible catheter having first and second channels therein extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the second channel opening into the interior of the balloon, a proximal portion of the balloon being sealed to a distal end of the flexible catheter; (c) tubular means for extending from the distal end of the flexible catheter through the balloon to extend the first channel through the balloon so that the extended first channel opens into a region beyond the balloon, a distal end portion of the balloon being sealed to a distal end portion of the tubular means; (d) means passing through the catheter outside of the first channel for producing light that emanates from a distal end of the flexible catheter; (e) means passing through the catheter outside of the first channel for effectuating viewing of the region illuminated by the light producing means; and (f) means passing through the first channel beyond the distal end portion of the tubular means for interacting with tissue or substance beyond the balloon illuminated by the light producing means and viewed through the viewing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
196 words
An angioscope comprising in combination: (a) An inflatable transparent balloon; (b) a flexible catheter having first and second channels therein extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the second channel opening into the interior of the balloon, a proximal portion of the balloon being sealed to a distal end of the flexible catheter; (c) tubular means for extending from the distal end of the flexible catheter through the balloon to extend the first channel through the balloon so that the extended first channel opens into a region beyond the balloon, a distal end portion of the balloon being sealed to a distal end portion of the tubular means; (d) means passing through the catheter outside of the first channel for producing light that emanates from a distal end of the flexible catheter; (e) means passing through the catheter outside of the first channel for effectuating viewing of the region illuminated by the light producing means; and (f) means passing through the first channel beyond the distal end portion of the tubular means for interacting with tissue or substance beyond the balloon illuminated by the light producing means and viewed through the viewing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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