Method and apparatus for catheterization by detecting signals indicating proximity to anatomical features
US8000771B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
16References
30Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/0219
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A guiding catheter for use in medical procedures includes a flexible shaft with one or more audio transducers and a distal tip. An audio signal may be sent to one or more of the transducers and a reflected signal is received at one or more transducers. The reflected signal is used to detect the presence of an anatomical structure to assist in navigating the catheter to its destination. In another arrangement, the transducer can be used passively to detect physical characteristics of the heart such as sound, subsonic energy or temperature, that indicate relative proximity of a destination vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.