Guidewire with imaging capability
US5095911A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1990 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/4461
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.