US5290275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter for laser angiosurgery
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1991-07-16
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2011-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A laser catheter is disclosed wherein optical fibers carrying laser light are mounted in a catheter for insertion into an artery to provide controlled delivery of a laser beam for percutaneous intravascular laser treatment of atherosclerotic disease. A transparent protective shield is provided at the distal end of the catheter for mechanically diplacing intravascular blood and protecting the fibers from the intravascular contents, as well as protecting the patient in the event of failure of the fiber optics. Multiple optical fibers allow the selection of tissue that is to be removed. A computer controlled system automatically aligns fibers with the laser and controls exposure time. Spectroscopic diagnostics determine what tissue is to be removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Carter Kittrell
- 👤 Robert M. Cothren, Jr.
- 👤 Michael S. Feld
- 👤 Barry Sachs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:42
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/03; B23K26/032; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00096; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0071; A61B5/0075; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; B23K26/06; B23K26/067; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/24; G02B6/241; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/2238; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/4738; G01N21/474; G01N2021/4742; G01N2021/4747; G02B6/10; G02B6/14; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3504; G02B6/3508; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/3516; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/3598
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A medical laser catheter for removing tissue from a site comprising; a catheter having an optical waveguide extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter; a lumen extending within the catheter and defining a central opening at the distal end of the catheter through such that the distal end of the catheter comprises a rigid output surface surrounding the central opening; and a laser coupled to the optical waveguide such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, the waveguide emitting a diverging output beam of radiation through the output surface of the catheter such that the diverging output beam substantially overlies the output surface surrounding the central opening at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A medical laser catheter for removing tissue from a site comprising; a catheter having an optical waveguide extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter; a lumen extending within the catheter and defining a central opening at the distal end of the catheter through such that the distal end of the catheter comprises a rigid output surface surrounding the central opening; and a laser coupled to the optical waveguide such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, the waveguide emitting a diverging output beam of radiation through the output surface of the catheter such that the diverging output beam substantially overlies the output surface surrounding the central opening at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The medical laser catheter system of claim 1 further comprising an optical system at the distal region of the catheter to couple radiation emitted a the distal end of the waveguide to the output surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 1 wherein the waveguide comprises a plurality of optical fibers each fiber spaced at a radius from a central longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 3 further comprising a retainer at the distal region of the catheter, the retainer securing the distal end of each optical fiber relative to every other optical fiber in a fixed spaced-apart relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 4 wherein the retainer positions the distal ends of the fibers such that the fibers generate overlapping output spots of radiation at a fixed distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 3 wherein the optical fibers are symmetrically spaced at radius from a central longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 3 further comprising a selector to selectively couple the laser to any selected group of optical fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 3 wherein the optical fibers are positioned in a circular array that is concentric about the opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the catheter further comprises a distal tapered surface such that a diameter of the distal surface increases proximal to the central opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
The medical laser catheter system for removing tissue from a site comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical waveguides extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter; a retainer at the distal region of the catheter, the retainer securing a distal potion of each optical waveguide a fixed distance from a distal portion of every other optical waveguide of the catheter, the waveguides being concentrically arrayed about a longitudinal axis of the catheter; a guidewire lumen extending within the catheter and defining a central opening at the distal end of the catheter such that the distal end of the catheter comprises an output surface surrounding the opening; and a laser coupled to any selected group of the optical waveguides such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, each selected waveguide emitting an output beam of radiation through the output surface of the catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
The medical laser catheter system for removing tissue from a site comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical waveguides extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter; a retainer at the distal region of the catheter, the retainer securing a distal potion of each optical waveguide a fixed distance from a distal portion of every other optical waveguide of the catheter, the waveguides being concentrically arrayed about a longitudinal axis of the catheter; a guidewire lumen extending within the catheter and defining a central opening at the distal end of the catheter such that the distal end of the catheter comprises an output surface surrounding the opening; and a laser coupled to any selected group of the optical waveguides such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, each selected waveguide emitting an output beam of radiation through the output surface of the catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The medical laser catheter system of claim 10 wherein each optical waveguide further comprises an optical fiber an optical element at the distal region of the catheter to couple radiation emitted at the distal end of each fiber to the output surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 10 wherein at least one of the optical waveguides comprises a fiberoptic bundle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 10 wherein the output surface comprises an optical shield extending over the distal end of the catheter, the opening at the distal end of the catheter extending through the optical shield.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
169 words
A medical laser catheter system for insertion into a body lumen comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical waveguides extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter, the optical waveguides being adapted for transmission of laser radiation through the catheter; a rigid optical system at the distal end of the catheter, the optical system including an output surface such that light exiting a distal end of each waveguide is transmitted through the optical system output surface; a guidewire lumen extending within the catheter and defining an opening at the distal end of the catheter through which a guidewire can be displaced such that the output surface is adjacent to the opening; and a laser coupled to the optical waveguides such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, the waveguides emitting an output beam of radiation through the optical system output surface of the catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
A medical laser catheter system for insertion into a body lumen comprising: a catheter having a plurality of optical waveguides extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal region at a distal end of the catheter, the optical waveguides being adapted for transmission of laser radiation through the catheter; a rigid optical system at the distal end of the catheter, the optical system including an output surface such that light exiting a distal end of each waveguide is transmitted through the optical system output surface; a guidewire lumen extending within the catheter and defining an opening at the distal end of the catheter through which a guidewire can be displaced such that the output surface is adjacent to the opening; and a laser coupled to the optical waveguides such that laser radiation can be transmitted from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, the waveguides emitting an output beam of radiation through the optical system output surface of the catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 wherein each optical waveguide further comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 wherein the optical waveguide comprises at least one fiber optic bundle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 wherein the guidewire lumen is centrally positioned at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 wherein the opening for the guidewire lumen is acentrically located at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 wherein each optical waveguide provides a diverging output beam of radiation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medical laser catheter of claim 14 further comprising an optical shield at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
224 words
A catheter for delivering laser energy within a body lumen, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a cross-sectional area and comprising: a lumen extending through the catheter, the lumen being open at the distal end of the catheter; an opening at the proximal end of the lumen for permitting fluid communication with the lumen and to permit a guidewire to be received within the lumen; a plurality of optical fibers extending through the catheter; an optical shield mounted on the distal end of the catheter and covering the distal end of the fibers, the optical shield having a distal surface defining an emission surface and providing an optical path from the distal end of the fibers to the emission surface; a distal opening formed through the optical shield in communication with the catheter lumen; a retainer for holding the distal ends of the optical fibers in optically transmissive relations to the shield to direct light from the optical fibers through the shield and emit light in a divergent beam such that light emitted from each of the fibers may overlap increasingly in a distal direction and such that the overlapping beams emitted by the optical fibers in combination diverge to define an area which is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
224 words
A catheter for delivering laser energy within a body lumen, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a cross-sectional area and comprising: a lumen extending through the catheter, the lumen being open at the distal end of the catheter; an opening at the proximal end of the lumen for permitting fluid communication with the lumen and to permit a guidewire to be received within the lumen; a plurality of optical fibers extending through the catheter; an optical shield mounted on the distal end of the catheter and covering the distal end of the fibers, the optical shield having a distal surface defining an emission surface and providing an optical path from the distal end of the fibers to the emission surface; a distal opening formed through the optical shield in communication with the catheter lumen; a retainer for holding the distal ends of the optical fibers in optically transmissive relations to the shield to direct light from the optical fibers through the shield and emit light in a divergent beam such that light emitted from each of the fibers may overlap increasingly in a distal direction and such that the overlapping beams emitted by the optical fibers in combination diverge to define an area which is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 21 wherein the catheter has a diameter of about 1.2 millimeters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
9 words
The catheter of claim 21 further comprising a guidewire.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 21 wherein the catheter has a cross-sectional area such that the catheter can be advanced through a vascular or coronary lumen of a patent.
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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) | 1997-02-28 | 1997-08-30 | 1998-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-28 | 2001-08-30 | 2002-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-28 | 2005-08-30 | 2006-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |