Tissue penetrating catheters having integral imaging transducers and their methods of use

US8727988B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Vascular, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Christopher J. Flaherty · Topsfield, US
• Jason B. Whitt · San Francisco, US
• John Y. Chang · Mountain View, US
• David R. Tholfsen · San Francisco, US
• Philip C. Evard · Palo Alto, US
• Joshua Makower · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 24, 2011
• Grant date: May 20, 2014
• Expiry date: May 24, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/1052
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Devices and methods for penetrating from a vessel lumen in which a catheter device is positioned to a target location outside of that vessel lumen. A tissue penetrator advances from a catheter positioned within the vessel lumen to the target location when properly aimed. An imaging transducer fixedly mounted on or within the catheter body provides an imaging signal from which an image of the target location can be obtained. An imageable marker may be present on the catheter to form on the image obtainable from the imaging signal to predict the path that will be followed by the tissue penetrator when the tissue penetrator exits from the catheter. Alternatively, or addition thereto, the imaging transducer may comprise a plurality of imaging elements which are located so that the penetrator path indication can be obtained electronically without use of an imageable marker on the catheter.