EP0812574A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intraoperative myocardial device and stimulation procedure
Assignee: Eclipse Surgical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for use in a method for stimulating revascularization of myocardium tissue in the ventricular wall of a human heart is disclosed. The method includes the steps of moving the distal end of an optical fiber element forwardly through the epicardium of the heart and into the myocardium and emitting relatively low power bursts of laser energy from the distal end to form stimulus injury zones that promote capillary growth and tissue revascularization. Each penetration of the optical fiber element may produce multiple stimulus zones spaced radially from or in line with the axis of the optical fiber element. The device facilitates movement of the optical fiber element and control of the laser emissions in a predetermined manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Mueller
- 👤 Douglas Murphy-Chutorian
- 👤 Stuart D. Harman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22077; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for revascularization of the myocardium tissue in the ventricle wall of a human heart, comprising: - a body member; - a neck member connected to said body member; - a flared stop member on the distal end of said neck member; - an optical fiber means having a distal tip and a proximal end connectable to a source of laser energy, said fiber means extending through said body member, said neck member and said stop member; - means on said body member for moving said fiber means axially by increments to stop and position said distal tip at preselected positions relative to said stop member; and - means for triggering the source of laser energy at each said position of said distal tip to thereby create a zone of partially ablated tissue in the myocardium that stimulates revascularization of the tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of the fiber means is tapered and pointed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said distal tip of the fiber means has at least one outer surface that lies in a plane that forms an oblique angle with the axis of said fiber means, for deflecting the laser beam transmitted with said fiber means radially outwardly from its axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said distal tip of said fiber means has a plurality of outer surfaces, each surface being in a plane forming a oblique angle with the axis of said fiber means, whereby multiple laser beams are deflected radially outwardly from the axis of said fiber beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said fiber means comprises a plurality of parallel, spaced apart optical fiber prongs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device according to claim 5 wherein said optical fiber prongs each have a diameter of around 0.1 to 0.5 mm and a length of around 1.5 to 3.0 cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber means comprises a central optical fiber surrounding by a plurality of outer optical fibers having a smaller diameter than said central optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein said central optical fiber has a diameter of around 0.6 mm and said outer fibers have a diameter of around 0.2 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 7 or 8 wherein said central optical fiber has a proximal end connected to an Argon Nd:YAG laser and said outer optical fibers are connected to a Holmium HO:YAG laser.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
31 words
The device according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said central and outer optical fibers all have flat, non-tapered end faces which are perpendicular to the fiber axis.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
31 words
The device according to any one of the preceding claims including a hollow piercing means connected to said stop member, said optical fiber means being movable axially through said piercing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 11 wherein said optical fiber means has its proximal end connected to a laser energy source which is operable at different, selectable power levels.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
24 words
The device according to any one of the preceding claims including means for adjusting the extension of said neck member from said body member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
82 words
The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said neck member has a proximal end portion slidably connected within a frontal aperture of said body member, said proximal end portion having a series of spaced apart circular grooves, and neck adjustment means attached to said body member having a locking means adapted to fit within a selected said groove to thereby retain said stop member at a preselected initial distance from the distal end of said optical fiber means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device according to claim 14 wherein said neck adjustment means comprises a latch member pivotally attached to said body member said latch member having a locking end projection at its outer end that fits in a selected groove, and a thumb actuated inner end portion connected to spring means for urging said end projection into engagement within the selected groove.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for moving said fiber means axially comprises a shuttle having first a second spaced apart internal gear racks, a driving gear between said gear racks and connected to an operating handle, and means for urging said driving gear into engagement with said first gear rack to move said fiber means forwardly, and control means for alternatively moving said driving gear into engagement with said second gear rack for moving said fiber means rearwardly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 16 wherein said means for urging includes a series of springs extending between an interior portion of said body member and said shuttle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said control means includes a pivotal member having a cam portion adapted to bear against and move said shuttle against said springs so that said driving gear engages said second gear rack.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
24 words
The device according to any one of the preceding claims including electrical power means for moving said fiber means axially, either forwardly or rearwardly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device as described in claim 19 including shuttle means fixed to said optical fiber means within said body member; - helical drive means extending through said shuttle means and rotatably supported within said body means; - motor means for driving said helical drive means to move said shuttle axially; and - means for controlling said motor means so that said fiber means can be moved in increments backwardly or forwardly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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