Catheter with balloon and imaging
AssigneeVolcano Corporation
InventorsBret Millett, David Goodman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an intravascular catheter with an expandable member such as a balloon with an imaging device on a surface of the expandable member. The imaging device can use an optical fiber on a surface of the expandable member to image a treatment site. Since an image can be captured directly from the surface of the expandable member, an operator can examine the treatment site while positioning the expandable member. With the treatment site in view, the operator can deliver the treatment (e.g., inflate the balloon or deploy the stent) with confidence that it will be located properly.
Claims20
A vascular intervention device comprising:
- a catheter comprising an expandable member;
- and
- a detector at a surface of the expandable member.
A method for treating a patient comprising:
- introducing an expandable member into a lumen within tissue;
- positioning the expandable member near a site to be treated;
- and
- imaging the site from a surface of the expandable member.
A medical device comprising:
- a catheter configured for insertion into vasculature of a patient;
- an intravascular ultrasound imaging device on a distal portion of the catheter;
- and
- a balloon on the distal portion of the catheter in fluid communication with an inflation lumen extending through the catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.