Methods for Positioning an Ultrasonic Catheter
AssigneeP Tech, LLC
InventorPeter M. Bonutti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An emitter may be disposed in a patient. Output from the emitter may be detected by a detector connected with the guide rod and by a detector connected with the tracheal tube. Alternatively, a detector may detect the output from an emitter connected with the guide rod and by an emitter connected with the tracheal tube. Emitter units may be ultrasonic transducers and emit ultrasonic energy. The detector may respond to ultrasonic energy.
Claims17
1-20. (canceled)
A method for positioning a medical device in a respiratory system of a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a medical device system including a flexible guide rod having a distal end, a visible light source operatively connected to the flexible guide rod such that visible light from the visible light source is emitted outward from adjacent the distal end of the flexible guide rod, and a medical device for treating the patient slidably receivable on the flexible guide rod;
- inserting the flexible guide rod into a treatment portion of a respiratory system of the patient's body;
- emitting visible light from the visible light source outward from adjacent the distal end of the flexible guide rod and into said treatment portion of the respiratory system such that the emitted visible light within said treatment portion of the respiratory system transmits through the patient's body;
- visually observing, outside the patient's body, the emitted visible light transmitted through the patient's body to determine the location of the distal end of the flexible guide rod within said treatment portion of the respiratory system of the patient's body;
- slidably moving, after said visually observing the emitted visible light transmitted through the patient's body, the medical device distally along the flexible guide rod toward the distal end of the flexible guide rod to a selected position relative to the distal end of the flexible guide rod and within said treatment portion of the respiratory system of the patient's body.
A method for positioning a medical device in a respiratory system of a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a medical device system including a guide tube having an open distal end, a flexible guide rod having a distal end, a visible light source operatively connected to the flexible guide rod such that visible light from the visible light source is emitted outward from adjacent the distal end of the flexible guide rod, wherein the flexible guide rod is slidably receivable in the guide tube;
- inserting the guide tube into the respiratory system of the patient's body;
- positioning the open distal end of the guide tube adjacent a treatment portion of the respiratory system of the patient's body;
- slidably moving the flexible guide rod relative to the guide tube in a distal direction such that the distal end of the flexible guide rod moves distally away from the open distal end of the guide tube and into the treatment portion of a respiratory system of the patient's body;
- emitting visible light from the visible light source outward from adjacent the distal end of the flexible guide rod and into said treatment portion of the respiratory system such that the emitted visible light within said treatment portion of the respiratory system transmits through the patient's body;
- visually observing, outside the patient's body, the emitted visible light transmitted through the patient's body to determine the location of the distal end of the flexible guide rod within said treatment portion of the respiratory system of the patient's body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.