US5865178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for intravascular ultrasonography
Assignee: Cardiovascular Imaging Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-06
•
Granted: 1999-02-02
•
Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A catheter is provided for insertion into the blood vessel of a patient for ultrasonically imaging the vessel wall. The catheter includes a tubular element and an internally housed drive cable for effective a circumferential scan about the catheter of an ultrasonic generating means. Both the tubular element and the drive cable are of a size and flexibility sufficient to permit their introduction into the vessel and subsequent advancement through the vessel to the location of the vessel wall where imaging is desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul G. Yock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320783; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/02007; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00902; A61B2017/00924; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22045; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22052; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22078; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/376; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2090/3784
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A vascular catheter system comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal regions and a balloon inflation lumen disposed within the proximal region of the catheter body and extending to the distal region of the catheter body; an ultrasonic transducer operably disposed within the distal region of said catheter body; and a balloon disposed about the distal region of said catheter body and in communication with the balloon inflation lumen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vascular catheter system comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal regions and a balloon inflation lumen disposed within the proximal region of the catheter body and extending to the distal region of the catheter body; an ultrasonic transducer operably disposed within the distal region of said catheter body; and a balloon disposed about the distal region of said catheter body and in communication with the balloon inflation lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the transducer is adapted to rotate within the catheter body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter system of claim 2, further comprising a flexible rotatable elongate element and a therapeutic device carried thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter system of claim 3, wherein the therapeutic device comprises a cutting element for reducing a stenosis within the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter system of claim 4, further comprising means for collecting material which is removed by the cutting element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter system of claim 3, wherein the flexible rotatable elongate element comprises a drive cable comprising helically braided wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter system of claim 2, further comprising a flexible guidewire associated with the catheter body and adapted to assist steering of the elongate flexible element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 2, further comprising apparatus for displaying an image from the signals received from the transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a crystal together with a backing material carried by the crystal for inhibiting propagation of sonic waves from the crystal in the direction of the backing material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the catheter body further includes an acoustically transparent material over the distal region thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for imaging and treating a region of a patient's blood vessel using a catheter system comprising a catheter body having proximal and distal regions, an ultrasonic transducer operably disposed within the distal region of the catheter body, a balloon inflation lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region of the catheter body, and a balloon disposed about the distal region of the catheter body, said method comprising the steps of: advancing the catheter body into the blood vessel until the balloon lies within a region of interest; generating an image using the transducer located within the region of interest; and inflating the balloon through the inflation lumen.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for imaging and treating a region of a patient's blood vessel using a catheter system comprising a catheter body having proximal and distal regions, an ultrasonic transducer operably disposed within the distal region of the catheter body, a balloon inflation lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region of the catheter body, and a balloon disposed about the distal region of the catheter body, said method comprising the steps of: advancing the catheter body into the blood vessel until the balloon lies within a region of interest; generating an image using the transducer located within the region of interest; and inflating the balloon through the inflation lumen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic transducer generates a signal having a frequency in the range from about 5 to 50 megahertz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic transducer generates a signal which is directed generally axially relative to the blood vessel and deflected transversely by a rotating reflective surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic transducer generates a signal which is directed generally transversely by rotating said transducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic transducer generates a signal which is directed at a forward angle of from about 10° to 85° relative to the axis of the blood vessel, whereby a conical scan is performed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of re-canalizing a region of stenosis using interventional means located on the distal end of a flexible rotatable elongate element disposed within the catheter body, wherein the location of intervention is based at least partly on the image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the interventional means is a rotating blade used to sever stenotic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the interventional means is an abrasive surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the interventional means is a drill.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the interventional means is a perfusion port for delivery drugs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic transducer generates a signal which is swept about a preselected pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3779234A
Cited
US3817089A
Cited
US3938502A
Cited
DE2305501A1
Cited
US3942530A
Cited
US4020847A
Cited
US4275597A
Cited
FR2424733A1
Cited
US4319580A
Cited
US4354501A
Cited
US4391282A
Cited
US4442842A
Cited
US4259970A
Cited
US4408612A
Cited
US4374525A
Cited
US4489728A
Cited
US4489727A
Cited
US4466443A
Cited
US4466444A
Cited
US4494549A
Cited
WO1983001893A1
Cited
US4546771A
Cited
EP0088620A2
Cited
US4558706A
Cited
US4633882A
Cited
US4475553A
Cited
US4572203A
Cited
US4582067A
Cited
US4576177A
Cited
US4572201A
Cited
EP0163502A2
Cited
US4587972A
Cited
US4641657A
Cited
US4732156A
Cited
US4669469A
Cited
EP0234951A1
Cited
US4794931A
Cited
US5000185A
Cited
US4771788A
Cited
US4920967A
Cited
US4991588A
Cited
US4967753A
Cited
US4928699A
Cited
US4841977A
Cited
US4917097A
Cited
US4887605A
Cited
US4899757A
Cited
US4951677A
Cited
US4917104A
Cited
US4911170A
Cited
US5049130A
Cited
US4998916A
Cited
US5007434A
Cited
US5002059A
Cited
US5115814A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |