Device and method for locating inflamed plaque in an artery
OwnerDavid Lloyd Browninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for locating inflamed plaque in an artery of a patient includes a catheter with an expander mounted at a catheter distal end. An infrared carrier, e.g., an optical fiber is mounted on the catheter with a carrier distal end attached to the expander. A sensor is connected to a carrier proximal end to measure infrared radiation transmitted through the carrier from the carrier distal end. In use, the expander is operable to selectively move the carrier distal end into contact with the arterial wall. Infrared radiation can then be measured to determine the temperature at the arterial wall. Temperatures at various locations can be taken, with elevated temperatures being indicative of inflamed plaque.
Claims22
A device for locating inflamed plaque on an artery wall of an artery of a patient, the device comprising:
- a plurality of detectors, each detector being insertable into the artery, and being adapted for receiving information about the artery wall of the patient;
- a sensor for receiving the information from the detectors and determining the presence of inflamed plaque based upon the information received from the detectors;
- and
- an expander for selectively positioning each detector proximate the artery wall in the artery;
- wherein the detectors are spaced apart substantially around a circumference of the expander.
A device for locating inflamed plaque on an artery wall of an artery of a patient, the device comprising:
- a plurality of detectors, insertable into the artery, for receiving information from the artery wall;
- a sensor for receiving information from each detector and determining temperature at each detector based upon the information received, the sensor including a comparator for determining a temperature difference between each of the detectors and determining a temperature change at each detector;
- and
- an expander movable between a first configuration and a second configuration for selectively positioning the detectors against the artery wall;
- wherein the detectors are spaced apart substantially around a circumference of the expander.
A method for determining a temperature at an artery wall of an artery, the method comprising the steps of:
- advancing an expander in the artery while the expander is at a first configuration;
- moving the expander to proximate a second configuration so that a plurality of detectors, which move with the expander substantially contact the artery wall so that each detector can receive information about the artery wall, the detectors being spaced apart substantially around a circumference of the expander;
- transmitting the information from each detector to a sensor;
- and
- determining the temperature of the artery wall at each detector with the sensor.
A device for locating inflamed plaque on an artery wall of an artery of a patient, the device comprising:
- at least one detector, insertable into the artery, and being adapted for receiving information about the artery wall of the patient;
- a sensor for receiving the information from the detector and determining the presence of inflamed plaque based upon the information received from the detector;
- an expander for selectively positioning each detector proximate the artery wall in the artery, the expander being adapted to selectively move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
- and
- at least one flow passageway which allows for the flow of blood past the expander when the expander is proximate its second configuration.
A method for locating inflamed plaque on an artery wall of an artery of a patient, the method comprising the steps of;
- advancing an expander in the artery while the expander is at a first configuration;
- moving the expander to a second configuration so that a detector, which moves with the expander, contacts the artery wall, the detector being adapted to receive information about the artery wall;
- transferring the information from the detector to a sensor;
- and
- determining the presence of inflamed plaque based upon the information received from the detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.