Myocardial revascularization-optical reflectance catheter and method
US6660001B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00904
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A myocardial revascularization device has a catheter suitable for use in a myocardial revascularization procedure, the catheter including an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, and tissue-ablating means housed at least partially within the catheter and capable of effectuating tissue ablation adjacent the distal end of the catheter. The device further has an optical reflectance fiber housed within the catheter and coupled to an optical reflectance system. The device is operative to transmit a reflectance signal in the optical reflectance fiber, the reflectance signal including either short optical pulses or low-coherence light. The optical reflectance system is operative to gauge tissue ablation, measure a thickness of tissue adjacent the catheter, and/or determine a position of the distal end relative to adjacent tissue using either of optical time-domain reflectance or optical coherence interferometry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.