Patent · US Expired

Systems and methods for visualizing tissue during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

US5904651A · kind A · utility

632Cited by
16References
63Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1996
Grant dateMay 18, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B6/541
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A catheter tube carries an imaging element for visualizing tissue. The catheter tube also carries a support structure, which extends beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element. The support element stabilizes the imaging element, while the imaging element visualizes tissue in the interior body region. The support structure also carries a diagnostic or therapeutic component to contact surrounding tissue.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.