Catheter for removing arteriosclerotic plaque

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method for identifying and removing arteriosclerotic plaque deposits from blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a catheter (6) having an optical fiber (18) for transmitting laser irradiation and an ultrasonic transducer (12) mounted at the tip of the catheter for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals. The apparatus further comprises a transmitting unit (7) for generating electrical impulses for activating the ultrasonic transducer, a receiving unit for displaying electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducer and a laser (8). Arteriosclerotic plaque deposits are identified by the ultrasonic echoes which result from transmitted ultrasonic signals and are removed by laser irradiation.

Inventors

• 👤 Wilton W. Webster, Jr.

Bibliographic Details