US5938609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guidewire with imaging capability
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1997-08-01
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Granted: 1999-08-17
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Expires: 2017-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A guidewire imaging catheter includes a catheter body, housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a drive cable extending through a central lumen of the catheter body, and an imaging system disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive cable. A fixed guidewire is secured to the distal tip of the housing, and the catheter body is highly flexible while retaining sufficient torsional stiffness to allow the entire catheter to be used as a guidewire. Thus, the imaging guidewire can be used to first image a desired region within a patient's vascular system and subsequently as a guidewire to allow placement of a desired interventional catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark L. Pomeranz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
An improved imaging and interventional method wherein a target region is treated with an interventional catheter, said improvement comprising sweeping an ultrasonic signal radially within said target region using an imaging guidewire which is movably disposed within the interventional catheter to produce a cross-sectional image of the target region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improved imaging and interventional method wherein a target region is treated with an interventional catheter, said improvement comprising sweeping an ultrasonic signal radially within said target region using an imaging guidewire which is movably disposed within the interventional catheter to produce a cross-sectional image of the target region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improved method as in claim 1, comprising extending an imaging system of the imaging guidewire distally beyond the distal end of the interventional catheter in order to image the target region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An improved method as in claim 2, comprising positioning an imaging system of the imaging guidewire within the interventional catheter while the target is being treated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An improved method as in claim 1, wherein the sweeping step comprises generating a generally axial ultrasonic imaging signal and rotating a reflective surface within the imaging guidewire, where the reflective surface is disposed to transversely reflect the generally axial ultrasonic imaging signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 4, wherein the reflective surface is rotated at a rate in the range from about 50 rpm to 2000 rpm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1, comprising rotating an ultrasonic transducer within the imaging guidewire catheter, where the transducer is disposed to project an ultrasonic imaging signal transversely relative to the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the interventional catheter is initially introduced over the imaging guidewire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improved imaging and balloon angioplasty method wherein a stenosed region in a blood vessel is treated with a balloon angioplasty catheter, said improvement comprising imaging the stenosed region using an imaging guidewire which is movably disposed in a lumen of the balloon angioplasty catheter to produce a cross-sectional image of the blood vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improved imaging and balloon angioplasty method wherein a stenosed region in a blood vessel is treated with a balloon angioplasty catheter, said improvement comprising imaging the stenosed region using an imaging guidewire which is movably disposed in a lumen of the balloon angioplasty catheter to produce a cross-sectional image of the blood vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved method as in claim 8, comprising extending an imaging system of the imaging guidewire distally beyond the distal end of the balloon angioplasty catheter in order to image the stenosed region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is rotated at a rate in the range from about 50 rpm to 2000 rpm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An improved method as in claim 9, comprising positioning an imaging system of the imaging guidewire within the balloon angioplasty catheter while the stenosis is being treated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An improved method as in claim 8, comprising generating a generally axial ultrasonic imaging signal and rotating a reflective surface within the imaging guidewire, where the reflective surface is disposed to transversely reflect the generally axial ultrasonic imaging signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 8, comprising rotating an ultrasonic transducer within the imaging guidewire catheter, where the transducer is disposed to project an ultrasonic imaging signal transversely relative to the catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein the balloon angioplasty catheter is initially introduced over the imaging guidewire.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for imaging and treating a vascular stenosis, said method comprising: introducing an imaging guidewire to a patient's vascular system; imaging at least a portion of the stenosis using the imaging guidewire to produce a cross-sectional image of the stenosis; introducing a balloon catheter having a guidewire lumen over the guidewire to position the balloon at the stenosis; and expanding the balloon within the stenosis while the balloon catheter remains over the imaging guidewire.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for imaging and treating a vascular stenosis, said method comprising: introducing an imaging guidewire to a patient's vascular system; imaging at least a portion of the stenosis using the imaging guidewire to produce a cross-sectional image of the stenosis; introducing a balloon catheter having a guidewire lumen over the guidewire to position the balloon at the stenosis; and expanding the balloon within the stenosis while the balloon catheter remains over the imaging guidewire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the stenosis is imaged by rotating a reflective surface within the guidewire imaging catheter, where the reflective surface is disposed to transversely reflect a generally axial ultrasonic imaging signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 16, wherein the reflective surface is rotated at a rate in the range from about 50 rpm to 2000 rpm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the stenosis is imaged by rotating an ultrasonic transducer within the guidewire imaging catheter, where the transducer is disposed to project an ultrasonic transducer transversely relative to the catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein the transducer is rotated at a rate in the range from about 50 rpm to 2000 rpm.
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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) | 2002-08-16 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-16 | 2007-02-15 | 2007-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-16 | 2011-02-15 | 2011-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |