Patent US2544914A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6048349A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6048349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for guiding a medical instrument through a body
Assignee: Spectranetics LLC
•
Filing: 1997-07-09
•
Granted: 2000-04-11
•
Expires: 2017-07-09
Abstract
Abstract Guidance systems for guiding a catheter through tissue within a body are described. In one form, the system is implemented in connection with a catheter which includes a catheter body having optic fibers extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The guidance system is coupled to the catheter body and includes a first optic fiber, a second optic fiber, and a detecting element. The first optic fiber includes a first end and a second end, and is coupled to the catheter body so that the first optic fiber second end is adjacent the catheter second end. The second optic fiber also includes a first end and a second end, and a reference mirror is positioned adjacent the second optic fiber second end. The first optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element and the second optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element. The detecting element is configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through the first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through the second optic fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Winston
- 👤 John M. Neet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00057; A61B2017/00106; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22075; A61B2018/2205; A61B2018/2211; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3614; A61B90/37; A61B2090/373; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
A medical system configured to be guided through body tissue, said medical system comprising: a medical instrument having a first end and a second end; a first guidance system comprising a first optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a second optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a reference mirror positioned adjacent said second optic fiber second end, and a detecting element communicatively coupled to said first ends of said first and second optic fibers, said first optic fiber coupled to said medical instrument so that said second end of said first optic fiber is adjacent said second end of said medical instrument, said detecting element configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through said first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through said second optic fiber; and a second guidance system comprising a first optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a second optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a reference mirror positioned adjacent said second optic fiber second end, and a detecting element communicatively coupled to said first ends of said first and second optic fibers, said first optic fiber coupled to said medical instrument so that said second end of said first optic fiber is adjacent said second end of said medical instrument, said detecting element configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through said first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through said second optic fiber, wherein at least one of said first and second guidance system is configured to determine a type of tissue positioned a distance from said second end of said respective first optic fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
A medical system configured to be guided through body tissue, said medical system comprising: a medical instrument having a first end and a second end; a first guidance system comprising a first optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a second optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a reference mirror positioned adjacent said second optic fiber second end, and a detecting element communicatively coupled to said first ends of said first and second optic fibers, said first optic fiber coupled to said medical instrument so that said second end of said first optic fiber is adjacent said second end of said medical instrument, said detecting element configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through said first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through said second optic fiber; and a second guidance system comprising a first optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a second optic fiber having a first end and a second end, a reference mirror positioned adjacent said second optic fiber second end, and a detecting element communicatively coupled to said first ends of said first and second optic fibers, said first optic fiber coupled to said medical instrument so that said second end of said first optic fiber is adjacent said second end of said medical instrument, said detecting element configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through said first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through said second optic fiber, wherein at least one of said first and second guidance system is configured to determine a type of tissue positioned a distance from said second end of said respective first optic fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical instrument is an atherectomy device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical instrument is an angioplasty balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical instrument is a catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said catheter is a laser catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said laser catheter comprises a plurality of optic fibers, one of said plurality of fibers comprising said first guidance system first optic fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first guidance system first optic fiber is communicatively coupled with both a diagnostic energy source and a therapeutic energy source, said diagnostic energy source configured to emit an energy beam having a different wavelength than an energy beam emitted by said therapeutic energy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical instrument is a biopsy device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical instrument is a hollow tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one additional guidance system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second guidance systems is configured to determine a distance between said second end of said respective first optic fiber and an artery wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second guidance systems is coupled to a motor, said motor coupled to said medical instrument, and wherein said guidance system and said motor are configured to cooperate and automatically control advancement of said medical instrument through the body tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A medical system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second guidance systems is configured to determine a type and density of tissue adjacent said medical instrument at periodic intervals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5057099A
Cited
US4830460A
Cited
US5280788A
Cited
US5441053A
Cited
US5208699A
Cited
US5573531A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-11 | 2003-10-11 | 2004-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-10-11 | 2008-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-11 | 2011-10-11 | 2012-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |