Guidewire tipped laser fiber
AssigneeVascular Solutions, Inc.
InventorsKenneth Zinn, Jeff Welch, Howard Root
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for application of energy within a tubular bodily structure including an optical fiber couplable to a source of laser energy and a guidewire tip. The optical fiber has a laser emitting portion remote from the source of laser energy and a distal end. The guidewire tip is operably secured to the optical fiber and extends distally outwardly away from the distal end of the optical fiber. The guidewire tip assists in advancing the device through the tubular bodily structure.
Claims18
A device for application of energy within a tubular bodily structure, comprising:
- an optical fiber couplable to a source of laser energy at a proximal end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber having a laser emitting portion that is located remotely from the source of laser energy and the optical fiber also having a distal end, the laser emitting portion and the distal end being enclosed in a tip sleeve having openings therein;
- and
- a metallic guidewire tip operably secured to the optical fiber via the tip sleeve and extending distally outwardly away from and distally beyond the distal end of the optical fiber whereby the guidewire tip assists in advancing the device through the tubular bodily structure.
A method of insertion and advancement of a device for application of energy within a tubular bodily structure, comprising:
- accessing the tubular bodily structure;
- coupling an optical fiber to a source of laser energy, the optical fiber having a laser emitting portion remote from the source of laser energy and a distal end both enclosed in a tip sleeve having openings therein;
- and
- advancing a guidewire tip operably secured to the optical fiber via the tip sleeve and extending distally outwardly away from and distally beyond the distal end of the optical fiber into and through the tubular bodily structure without use of a catheter.
A device for application of energy within a tubular bodily structure, comprising:
- an optical fiber couplable to a source of laser energy, the optical fiber having a laser emitting portion remote from the source of laser energy and the optical fiber also having a distal end, the laser emitting portion and the distal end being enclosed in a tip sleeve having openings therein;
- and
- means for guiding that are operably secured to the optical fiber via the tip sleeve and that extend distally outwardly away from the distal end of the optical fiber whereby the means for guiding assists in advancing the device through the tubular bodily structure.
A device for application of energy within a tubular bodily structure, comprising:
- an optical fiber couplable to a source of laser energy, the optical fiber having a laser emitting portion remote from the source of laser energy and the optical fiber also having a distal end, the laser emitting portion and the distal end being enclosed in a tip sleeve having openings therein;
- and
- a resiliently flexible guidewire portion operably secured to the optical fiber via the tip sleeve and extending distally outwardly away from and distally beyond the distal end of the optical fiber whereby the flexible guide portion assists in advancing the device through the tubular bodily structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.