Patent US4096622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5771895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Catheter for obtaining three-dimensional reconstruction of a vascular lumen and wall
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-04-24
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A catheter system and method of use thereof to obtain accurate three-dimensional reconstruction of a body vessel. The method employs X-ray angiography (ANG) in combination with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to overcome limitations existing in present three-dimensional reconstruction techniques using a method termed ANGUS. The IVUS data represent a cylindrical stack of cross-sections. A 3-D path of the catheter axis is reconstructed from two X-ray images, after which the stack of IVUS contours is wrapped around this 3-D catheter centerline. In order to establish the correct rotational position of the stack around the centerline, use is made of "landmarks" or catheter features which are visible in angiograms, as well as in a simulation of these angiograms derived from the reconstructed 3-D contour.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis J. Slager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/02007; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/48; A61B8/483; A61B6/00; A61B6/54; A61B6/541; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/54; A61B8/543; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and at least four radiopaque markers disposed about the distal region of said sheath, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and at least four radiopaque markers disposed about the distal region of said sheath, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers are arranged in a helical pattern along said elongate sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 5, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are on said sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a guidewire operably disposed within the distal region of said sheath, wherein the markers are on said guidewire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the markers are on said drive shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are disposed about a region of said sheath which lies within the vessel at the region of interest and overlaps longitudinally with a segment of the pull-back trajectory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an imaging core or imaging catheter adapted to operate within said elongate sheath, said imaging core or catheter having an ultrasound transducer operably disposed at a distal region thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 13, wherein said imaging core or imaging catheter is substantially more flexible than said elongate sheath.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 13, wherein said imaging core or imaging catheter further includes an angiographic orientation marker which is radially fixed relative to said ultrasound transducer to permit X-ray visualization of rotational orientation of said ultrasound transducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 13, wherein said transducer further includes a radiopaque component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath alonge a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and said catheter having associated therewith a gradual change in X-ray radiopacity extending longitudinally along a distal region thereof, wherein said change in radiopacity enables determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath alonge a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and said catheter having associated therewith a gradual change in X-ray radiopacity extending longitudinally along a distal region thereof, wherein said change in radiopacity enables determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 17, wherein said gradual change in X-ray radiopacity comprises doping material incorporated into the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 17, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 19, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 17, wherein said change in radiopacity is on said sheath.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 17, further comprising a guidewire operably disposed within the distal region of said sheath, wherein the change in radiopacity is on said guidewire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 17, further comprising a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the change in radiopacity is on said drive shaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 17, wherein the change in radiopacity occurs about a region of said sheath which lies within the vessel at the region of interest and overlaps longitudinally with a segment of the pull-back trajectory.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
135 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; a guidewire operably disposed within said distal region of said elongate sheath; and at least four radiopaque markers disposed about a distal region of said guidewire, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
135 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; a guidewire operably disposed within said distal region of said elongate sheath; and at least four radiopaque markers disposed about a distal region of said guidewire, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 25, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 25, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said guidewire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 25, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 28, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 25, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 25, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
127 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter; an ultrasound transducer adapted to operate within said elongate sheath, and capable of rotation, and simultaneous longitudinal translation relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, the drive shaft having at least four radiopaque markers disposed about its distal region, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
127 words
A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising: an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter; an ultrasound transducer adapted to operate within said elongate sheath, and capable of rotation, and simultaneous longitudinal translation relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, the drive shaft having at least four radiopaque markers disposed about its distal region, wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said drive shaft.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers are arranged in a helical pattern along said drive shaft.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 32, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said drive shaft is substantially more flexible than said elongate sheath.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said drive shaft further includes an angiographic orientation marker which is radially fixed relative to said ultrasound transducer to permit X-ray visualization of rotational orientation of said ultrasound transducer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein said transducer further includes a radiopaque component.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 32, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.
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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) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |