Reduction of an arteriosclerotic lesion by selective absorption of electromagnetic energy in a component thereof
US5876397A · kind A · utility
124Cited by
32References
10Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/2261
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A novel method for reducing an arteriosclerotic lesion is disclosed in which the electromagnetic energy directed at the lesion is selectively absorbed by a lesion component, e.g. cholesterol. The resulting decomposition of said lesion component leads to reduction of the lesion with minimal risk of damage to blood constituents and adjacent healthy blood vessel tissue. Preferably, monochromatic electromagnetic energy is generated by a laser and is conducted to the vicinity of the lesion by at least one optical fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.