US5304173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spectral diagonostic and treatment system
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1993-07-20
•
Granted: 1994-04-19
•
Expires: 2013-07-20
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
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:25
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; B23K26/064; B23K26/0648; B23K26/0665; 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; G02B6/353; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/3586; G02B6/3588; G02B6/3598
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having a given spectral range; separating optical radiation returning from the material in response to the irradiating light into a plurality of wavelengths; electronically sensing selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returning from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation, said separated wavelengths being obtained in the separating step; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a stored reference signal such that the comparison results in a relationship between the electronic signal and the reference signal; and based upon the relationship, directing radiant energy onto the material to be removed from tissue, the radiant energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having a given spectral range; separating optical radiation returning from the material in response to the irradiating light into a plurality of wavelengths; electronically sensing selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returning from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation, said separated wavelengths being obtained in the separating step; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a stored reference signal such that the comparison results in a relationship between the electronic signal and the reference signal; and based upon the relationship, directing radiant energy onto the material to be removed from tissue, the radiant energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the radiant energy is directed to the material through fiber optics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating light and the optical radiation returning from the material are directed to and from the material through fiber optics.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having given spectral range; separating optical radiation returning from the material in response to the irradiating light into a plurality of wavelengths; electronically sensing selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returned from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation, said separated wavelengths being obtained in the separating step; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a reference spectrum such that the comparison results in a relationship between the electronic signal and the reference spectrum; and based upon the comparison, directing laser energy onto the material to be removed from tissue, the laser energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having given spectral range; separating optical radiation returning from the material in response to the irradiating light into a plurality of wavelengths; electronically sensing selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returned from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the selected separated wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation, said separated wavelengths being obtained in the separating step; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a reference spectrum such that the comparison results in a relationship between the electronic signal and the reference spectrum; and based upon the comparison, directing laser energy onto the material to be removed from tissue, the laser energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the laser energy is directed to the material through fiber optics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the irradiating light and the optical radiation returning from the material are directed to and from the material through fiber optics.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having a given spectral range; electronically sensing wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returning from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a stored reference signal such that the comparison results in a determination of whether the material is to be removed; and directing radiant energy onto any material to be removed from tissue based on said determination, the radiant energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of surgically removing unwanted material from tissue comprising: irradiating material to be removed from tissue with irradiating light having a given spectral range; electronically sensing wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation returning from the material and generating an electronic signal representative of the wavelengths of fluorescent or Raman scattered radiation; electronically comparing the generated electronic signal with a stored reference signal such that the comparison results in a determination of whether the material is to be removed; and directing radiant energy onto any material to be removed from tissue based on said determination, the radiant energy having a wavelength and energy density sufficient to remove a portion of the material from the tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the radiant energy is directed to the material through fiber optics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the radiant energy is directed onto the portion of material with a fiber optic probe having an optical shield on a distal end of the probe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising providing a detector to electronically sense returning fluorescent or Raman scattered light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising positioning the fiber optics within a body lumen to direct irradiating light onto the material to be removed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the irradiating light and the optical radiation returning from the material are directed to and from the material through fiber optics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the laser energy is directed to the material through fiber optics.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3327117A
Cited
US3417745A
Cited
US3327119A
Cited
US3315680A
Cited
US3471215A
Cited
US3461856A
Cited
US3467098A
Cited
US3690769A
Cited
US3647299A
Cited
US3866599A
Cited
US3865113A
Cited
US3821510A
Cited
US3858577A
Cited
US4040413A
Cited
US4006738A
Cited
US4072147A
Cited
US4050450A
Cited
US4273109A
Cited
US4146019A
Cited
US4295470A
Cited
US4141362A
Cited
US4169464A
Cited
US4207874A
Cited
SU929050A1
Cited
US4267844A
Cited
DE2826383A1
Cited
US4259948A
Cited
US4313431A
Cited
US4266548A
Cited
US4292961A
Cited
US4513751A
Cited
US4515165A
Cited
US4539987A
Cited
US4336809A
Cited
US4402569A
Cited
US4409993A
Cited
WO1982002604A1
Cited
DE3210593A1
Cited
DE3218739A1
Cited
US4458683A
Cited
US4500181A
Cited
US4418688A
Cited
US4480636A
Cited
US4576147A
Cited
US4564012A
Cited
WO1983001893A1
Cited
US4470407A
Cited
US4564011A
Cited
US4445892A
Cited
US4567362A
Cited
GB2126717A
Cited
US4556057A
Cited
US4512762A
Cited
US4569335A
Cited
WO1984004665A1
Cited
US4503854A
Cited
US4570638A
Cited
US4543090A
Cited
US4589404A
Cited
WO1985005263A1
Cited
US4588294A
Cited
US4641650A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-18 | 1997-10-18 | 1998-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-10-18 | 2002-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-18 | 2005-10-18 | 2006-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |