US4878492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser balloon catheter
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
•
Filing: 1987-10-08
•
Granted: 1989-11-07
•
Expires: 2007-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A laser balloon catheter intended primarily for coronary angioplasty includes a flexible tube having an inflatable balloon secured to its distal end, a central shaft within the balloon for carrying a guide wire, an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through the flexible tube into the balloon, and a tip assembly in the balloon for directing laser radiation outwardly through a major portion of the balloon surface while limiting shadowing by the central shaft. The tip assembly preferably includes a tip portion of the optical fiber contained within a transparent, heat-formable tube and formed into a spiral shape around the central shaft by the heat-formable tube. The optical fiber tip portion is tapered so that it directs laser radiation outwardly over its length. Deuterium oxide is preferably used for inflation of the balloon because of its very low attenuation of laser radiation in the wavelength range of interest. The disclosed laser balloon catheter is capable of delivering 30-40 watts of laser radiation to a surrounding artery for times on the order of 30 seconds without excessive heating of the balloon assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L. Sinofsky
- 👤 J. Richard Spears
- 👤 Douglas W. Dickinson
- 👤 Maria S. Wagner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/104; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22002; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22057; A61B2017/22058; A61B2017/22059; A61B2018/2244; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2261; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3933; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0177; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1061; A61M2025/1079; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflated balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; means for inflating and deflating said balloon; central shaft means disposed in said balloon and coupled to said flexible tube; an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon; and tip assembly means coupled to said optical fiber for directing laser radiation outwardly through a major portion of the balloon surface, said tip assembly means being located within said balloon between said central shaft means and the balloon surface and including means for limiting shadowing thereof by said central shaft means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflated balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; means for inflating and deflating said balloon; central shaft means disposed in said balloon and coupled to said flexible tube; an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon; and tip assembly means coupled to said optical fiber for directing laser radiation outwardly through a major portion of the balloon surface, said tip assembly means being located within said balloon between said central shaft means and the balloon surface and including means for limiting shadowing thereof by said central shaft means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said tip assembly means includes a tip portion of said optical fiber and shaping means for retaining the tip portion of said optical fiber in a desired shape having at least one turn around said shaft means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein said shaping means comprises a heat-formable tube containing the tip portion of said optical fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 3 wherein said shaping means further comprises a material located between said heat-formable tube and the tip of said optical fiber and selected to match the indices of refraction of said heat-formable tube and said tip portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein said shaping means comprises a PET tube heat formed to the desired shape and containing the tip portion of said optical fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaping means further includes epoxy between said PET tube and said tip portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 5 wherein said PET tube is attached at its distal end to said catheter shaft means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein said tip portion of said optical fiber is tapered to a smaller diameter at the distal end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein he tip portion of said optical fiber has a uniform taper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein the tip portion of said optical fiber has a greater rate of taper near the distal end thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein the tip portion of said optical fiber has a greater rate of taper near the proximal end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein the tip portion of said optical fiber has a spiral shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said central shaft means includes a laser radiation reflecting outer surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein said tip portion of said optical fiber includes about one full turn per centimeter around said central shaft means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflatable balloon is made of PET.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said central shaft means comprises an inner tube, a concentric outer tube and a spring coil between said inner and outer tubes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 further including a gold layer disposed on an outer surface of said central shaft means for reflecting laser radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 17 wherein said gold layer is disposed on the outer surface of said central shaft means in a pattern generally matching the shape of the tip portion of said optical fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible tube includes a first lumen for inflating and deflating the inflatable balloon, a second lumen for carrying said optical fiber and for venting air bubbles, and a third lumen for carrying a guide wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with a liquid having an attenuation of said laser radiation in a wavelength range between 0.9 and 1.8 micrometers that is less than the attenuation of saline.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with deuterium oxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 21 wherein said laser radiation is in a wavelength range between 0.9 and 1.8 micrometers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with infusate containing a dye dissolved in a solvent, said dye being responsive to said laser radiation of a first predetermined wavelength for emitting radiation at a second predetermined wavelength.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said tip assembly means comprises a tip portion of said optical fiber and waveguide means surrounding said shaft means and said tip portion of said optical fiber for directing laser radiation circumferentially around said shaft means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 further including an inwardly-facing reflector on a portion of said balloon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said central shaft means includes a spring coil having multiple, relatively-rigid turns and wherein said tip assembly means comprises at least one optical fiber and means for pressing said optical fiber against the turns of said spring coil so that laser radiation is emitted from regions of contact between said spring coil and said optical fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with a fluid containing a contrast media.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with a fluid containing a material with thermally-sensitive optical properties for temperature monitoring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 1 further including a second balloon surrounding said first-mentioned balloon and means for inflating said second balloon with gas.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon; and means for inflating said balloon with deuterium oxide.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon; and means for inflating said balloon with deuterium oxide.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 30 wherein said optical fiber includes a tip portion for emitting laser radiation outwardly therefrom along its length and through said deuterium oxide.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 31 wherein said inflatable balloon is made of PET.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 30 further including means coupled to said optical fiber and disposed within said balloon for directing laser radiation carried by said optical fiber outwardly through said deuterium oxide and said balloon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 30 wherein said laser radiation is in a wavelength range between 0.9 and 1.8 micrometers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 31 wherein the tip portion of said optical fiber is tapered from a larger diameter at its proximal end to a smaller diameter at its distal end.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 30 wherein said means for inflating and deflating said balloon includes means for inflating said balloon with a fluid containing a laser dye responsive to said laser radiation of a first predetermined wavelength for emitting radiation at a second predetermined wavelength.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter comprising the steps of: advancing a catheter having an inflatable balloon secured at or near its distal end and having an optical fiber terminating within the balloon through a body passage to a desired treatment location; inflating the balloon with deuterium oxide; and directing laser radiation through said optical fiber into said balloon such that the radiation passes through said deuterium oxide and said balloon for treatment.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter comprising the steps of: advancing a catheter having an inflatable balloon secured at or near its distal end and having an optical fiber terminating within the balloon through a body passage to a desired treatment location; inflating the balloon with deuterium oxide; and directing laser radiation through said optical fiber into said balloon such that the radiation passes through said deuterium oxide and said balloon for treatment.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 37 wherein the step of directing laser radiation includes directing laser radiation in a wavelength range between 0.9 and 1.8 micrometers so that the radiation passes through the deuterium oxide and the balloon without substantial absorption for heating of the surrounding tissue.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 38 wherein the step of directing laser radiation includes directing the laser radiation so as to produce substantially uniform heating of the body passage in a region surrounding the balloon.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 37 wherein the step of inflating the balloon includes inflating the balloon with solvent containing a laser dye responsive to said laser radiation of a first predetermined wavelength for emitting radiation at a second predetermined wavelength.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for operating a laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 37 wherein the step of inflating the balloon includes inflating the balloon with deuterium oxide containing a contrast agent.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of operating a laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 37 wherein the step of inflating the balloon includes the step of inflating the balloon with deuterium oxide containing a material with thermally-sensitive optical properties for temperature monitoring.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
116 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable transparent balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; means for inflating and deflating said balloon; a relatively incompressible central tube located in said balloon and coupled to said flexible tube for carrying a guide wire; and an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon, said optical fiber including a tip portion in said balloon for emitting laser radiation outwardly therefrom through a major portion of the balloon, said tip portion extending around said central tube in a spiral configuration having at least one complete turn.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
116 words
A laser balloon catheter comprising: an elongated flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable transparent balloon secured to said flexible tube at or near the distal end thereof; means for inflating and deflating said balloon; a relatively incompressible central tube located in said balloon and coupled to said flexible tube for carrying a guide wire; and an optical fiber for carrying laser radiation through said flexible tube into said balloon, said optical fiber including a tip portion in said balloon for emitting laser radiation outwardly therefrom through a major portion of the balloon, said tip portion extending around said central tube in a spiral configuration having at least one complete turn.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 43 further including shaping means for retaining said tip portion of said optical fiber in said spiral configuration.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 44 wherein said tip portion of said optical fiber is tapered to a smaller diameter at the distal end thereof.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 45 wherein said shaping means comprises a preformed transparent tube containing the tip portion of said optical fiber and a material between said transparent tube and said tip portion selected to match the indices of refraction of said transparent tube and said tip portion.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser balloon catheter as defined in claim 46 wherein the material between said transparent tube and said tip portion contains a laser dye responsive to laser radiation of a first predetermined wavelength for emitting radiation at a second predetermined wavelength.
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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) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |