Systems and methods for treating hollow anatomical structures
AssigneeVNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsWalter J. Stevens, Stephen W. Lee, Michael S. Mirizzi, Hoa D. Nguyen
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Abstract
An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure can include a light delivery device. The light delivery device comprises an optical fiber that is located in a lumen of a shaft suitable for insertion into the hollow anatomical structure and has a fiber tip located proximal of a distal end of the shaft during treatment of the hollow anatomical structure. The apparatus can further include a liquid source for providing a liquid flow over the optical fiber at a predetermined liquid flow rate.
Claims50
Apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a sheath, the sheath having an elongate shaft defining an internal lumen, the shaft having a sidewall, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, the sidewall being more transmissive of therapeutic light energy in the distal portion than in the proximal portion, the distal portion forming a distal tip of the shaft and having a distal-facing opening at the distal tip;
- an optical fiber disposed within and movable along the lumen, the optical fiber having a fiber tip located in the distal portion of the shaft at a firing position which is 2-20 mm proximal of the distal tip of the shaft;
- and
- a light propagation path which extends distally from the fiber tip and through the distal-facing opening.
A method of treating a hollow anatomical structure, the method comprising:
- inserting a sheath with a distal end into the hollow anatomical structure;
- inserting an optical fiber into the sheath;
- positioning a tip of the optical fiber at a firing position anywhere from 2-20 mm proximal of the distal end;
- emitting light energy from the fiber tip while the tip is disposed in the sheath proximal of the distal end;
- and
- withdrawing the sheath and optical fiber along the hollow anatomical structure while emitting the light energy.
An apparatus for treating a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a sheath defining an inner lumen and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the sheath configured for insertion into the blood vessel;
- an optical fiber positioned in the lumen and having a distal tip positioned in the distal portion;
- a liquid flow advancing distally along the lumen and contacting the distal tip;
- and
- a liquid source in fluid communication with the inner lumen, the liquid source configured to provide the liquid flow at a predetermined liquid flow rate of 5-60 cc/hour.
A method of treating a hollow anatomical structure, the method comprising:
- positioning a treatment system in the hollow anatomical structure, the treatment system comprising a sheath having a lumen and an optical fiber with a distal tip located in the lumen;
- establishing a liquid flow at a liquid flow rate of 5-60 cc/hour proceeding distally through the lumen and past the distal tip;
- emitting light energy from the optical fiber, thereby causing heating of a wall of the hollow anatomical structure, while the distal tip is located in the lumen and the liquid flow is present;
- and
- withdrawing the treatment system along the hollow anatomical structure while emitting the light energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.