Tuned RF energy for selective treatment of atheroma and other target tissues and/or structures
AssigneeMinnow Medical, Inc.
InventorsCorbett Stone, Michael Hoey, Tom Steinke, Raphael Michel, Arthur Blanck
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Abstract
A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring.
Claims26
A method for analyzing a vessel wall of a blood vessel, the method comprising:
- engaging the vessel wall with an electrode of a probe;
- energizing the electrode with a variable frequency power source;
- varying a frequency of the power source;
- and
- characterizing a target plaque of the vessel wall by monitoring a frequency-dependent characteristic of an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit comprising the power source, the electrode, and engaged vessel wall.
A system for analyzing a vessel wall of a blood vessel, the system comprising:
- a vascular probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode disposed near the distal end for engaging the vessel wall;
- a variable frequency power source coupled to the electrode such that, when the electrode engages the vessel wall, an electrical circuit comprising the power source, the electrode, and engaged vessel wall can be defined;
- a processor coupled with the variable frequency power source, the processor configured to characterize a target plaque of the vessel wall by monitoring a frequency-dependent characteristic of the electrical circuit.
A system for analyzing a lumen wall of a body lumen, the system comprising:
- a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a radially expandable electrode array disposed near the distal end for circumferentially engaging the lumen wall;
- a power source coupled to the electrode such that, when the electrode engages the vessel wall, an electrical circuit comprising the power source, the electrode, and engaged vessel wall can be defined;
- and
- a processor coupled with the variable frequency power source, the processor configured to characterize an eccentric target material of the lumen wall by monitoring a characteristic of the electrical circuit.
A catheter system for remodeling and/or reduction of a target material of or adjacent to a body lumen of a patient;
- the system comprising:
- an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween;
- at least one energy delivery surface disposed near the distal end of the catheter body;
- and
- a power source is electrically coupled to the energy delivery surface(s), the power source configured to energize the energy delivery surface(s) with an electrical energy form that helps the energy heat the material and inhibits collateral tissue damage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.