Guidewire catheter and apparatus for diagnostic imaging
US5383467A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/0086
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter comprising a unitary guidewire and single mode optical fiber is used to illuminate human body channels, such as a tissue mass within a blood vessel, for purposes of diagnosis. A low coherent light source illuminates the tissue and provides a reference beam. Illumination that is reflected from the tissue is combined with the reference beam in an interferometer process. The path length of the reference beam is changed in a known manner in order to provide a known reference to the distance inside of the tissue from which reflected radiation is being received, thus providing information as to both the nature and the geometry of the tissue. A high signal to noise ratio is provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.