pH measuring balloon
US6999807B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/1459
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring the pH of blood in the vicinity of a vulnerable plaque. A balloon including an opto-electric device may be positioned proximate a vulnerable plaque. The balloon can be inflated to partially occlude blood flow enabling interaction between lipid laden blood and pH-sensitive material either within the balloon or on the wall(s) of the balloon. The selected pH-sensitive material is one whose optical properties change as a function of the pH of blood in the vasculature. An opto-electric device may be used for measuring the optical property and/or the change in the optical characteristics of the pH-sensitive compound.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.