Laser catheter having wide angle sweep
OwnerRobert Ginsburg, David F. Profittinventors
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Abstract
An improved laser catheter system includes a flexible catheter tube having proximate and distal ends. The distal end, which is intended for inserting into a patient's artery, is axially split into at least two segments. Optical waveguides extend the length of the catheter tube and terminate at the distal end, with at least one waveguide secured to each of the spreadable segments. A mechanism is provided for spreading the segments while the catheter is implaced in the patient. Conveniently, a balloon catheter may be used by inserting it into the lumen of the laser catheter so that the balloon tip lies within the spreadable segments. By then inflating the balloon, the spreadable segments are spread apart as desired.
Claims15
A catheter system comprising:
- an elongate flexible tube having a proximate end and a distal end, said distal end being axially split into at least two spreadable segments;
- a plurality of optical waveguides, with at least one waveguide being secured to each segment of the flexible tube;
- and
- means for spreading the segments in order to radially diverge the waveguides.
A catheter system comprising:
- an elongate flexible tube defining an internal lumen and having distal and proximal ends, said distal end being insertable into a blood vessel and being axially split into a plurality of spreadable segments;
- a plurality of optical waveguides, with at least one waveguide being disposed axially within each segment of the flexible tube;
- an inflatable balloon disposed within the lumen at the distal end;
- and
- means for inflating the balloon.
A method for ablating an obstruction in a blood vessel, said method comprising:
- inserting a catheter into the blood vessel proximate the obstruction, said catheter having a plurality of discrete optical waveguides arranged axially therein;
- directing laser radiation through said waveguides onto the obstruction for a preselected time period;
- and
- diverging the waveguides by a preselected angle during at least a portion of the time period they are carrying the radiation, whereby the area of the obstruction exposed to the radiation is increased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.