Plaque resolving device

Claim 1

A plaque softening device adapted to be inserted into and through the lumen of a blood vessel and manipulatable therethrough to a desired position where said device is operated to soften atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the blood vessel in a process for reestablishing desired blood flow through the blood vessel, said device comprising: an elongate tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end; a tubular tip member mounted to said distal end of said tubular body; heating means mounted in said tip member for heating said tip member; temperature sensing means mounted in said tip member for sensing the temperature of said tip member; energy supply and control means coupled to said heating means and to said sensing means for maintaining the temperature of said tip member within a predetermined temperature range relative to the ambient temperature of blood flowing through the blood vessel and of the plaque buildup in the blood vessel, said tubular tip member and said tubular body having means for facilitating liquid flow therethrough including an opening at the distal end of said tubular tip member which communicates through said tip member with at least one port in a wall of said tubular body adjacent said tip member to permit flow of blood through the vasicular area of plaque buildup while such area is being heated by said tip member, said tip member having a cylindrical cavity therein and said heating means including a heating coil mounted within said cylindrical cavity; and an insulating tube extending from said tubular body into and through said cylindrical cavity to said opening to isolate said heating coil from blood flowing through said insulating tube between said opening and said at least one port.