Excimer laser angioplasty system
US5989243A · kind A · utility
84Cited by
84References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/32
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber-optic waveguide, used for ablating lesions in blood vessels, is mounted within and guided by a catheter having multiple lumens extending therethrough and parallel to each other. The waveguide fits within at least one lumen and a guidewire, previously inserted in a blood vessel, extends through another lumen. The distal end of the waveguide can have a short section of larger diameter fiber fused to it to cause a laser beam transmitted through the fiber to expand as it emerges from the waveguide to provide a larger ablation area. The waveguide may also be connected to an energy source by means of an energy coupler.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.