# US 8,465,480 B2 · Expandable laser catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,480 B2 - Document ID: US8465480B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/451,359 - Filed: 2012-04-19 - Published: 2012-10-18 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 1998-08-13 - Assignees: The Spectranetics Corporation - Applicants: Thomas R. Winston; John M. Neet - Inventors: Thomas R. Winston; John M. Neet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465480B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/245: {for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi} - A61M 25/0021: {characterised by the form of the tubing (A61M25/0054 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/0023: {by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter} - A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)} - A61M 29/02: Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)} - A61B 18/24: with a catheter (A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence) - A61B 2017/22051: {with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation (A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence)} - A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/2211: {Plurality of fibres} - A61B 2018/2238: {with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre} - A61B 2018/2266: {with a lens, e.g. ball tipped} - A61B 2018/2288: {the optical fibre cable having a curved distal end} - A61M 2025/0024: {Expandable catheters or sheaths} - A61M 2025/1004: {Balloons with folds, e.g. folded or multifolded} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Expandable laser catheters for utilizing laser energy to remove obstructions from body passages are described. The laser catheter includes a shaftway having a distal end including a flexible portion configured in a series of radial folds. Multiple optical fibers, configured to transmit laser energy, extend along the shaftway and are attached to the flexible portion. An inflatable, ring-shaped balloon is attached to the catheter within the flexible portion. In use, the catheter is inserted into a body passage such as an artery, and advanced until the distal end is adjacent to an obstruction. The balloon is inflated to expand the flexible portion and to bring the optical fibers nearer the inner wall of the body passage. Laser energy is directed by the optical fibers toward targeted regions of the obstruction. As the catheter is advanced and the process repeated, as described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laser catheter for removing an obstruction within a stent, said catheter comprising: a shaftway having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis, wherein the shaftway comprises a flexible portion, said flexible portion having a plurality of folds; a plurality of optical fibers having distal end portions attached to said plurality of folds; and an expandable elastomeric structure for expanding said plurality of folds so that upon expansion of said exapandable elastomeric structure, at least one of the plurality of optical fibers is directed outward from said central axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laser catheter of claim 1, further comprising a guidewire, wherein said shaftway is configured to slidably extend over said guidewire. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The laser catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion comprises a fin type structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laser catheter of claim 1, further comprising a laser system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The laser catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable elastomeric structure comprises a balloon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The laser catheter of claim 5, wherein the balloon comprises a ring shaped balloon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The laser catheter of claim 5, wherein the balloon is attached to a guidewire. ### Claim 8 A laser catheter for removing an obstruction from a body passage, said catheter comprising: a shaftway having a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis; a flexible portion adjacent said shaftway distal end, said flexible portion configured to expand outward from the shaftway, where said flexible portion comprises a plurality of folds; an optical fiber extending between said proximal end and said flexible portion distal end, said optical fiber having distal end attached to said at least one of plurality of folds; and an elastomeric structure for expanding said plurality of folds, wherein said distal end of said optical fiber is configured to move at an angle to aim the distal end to a desired ablation site outward from said central axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The laser catheter of claim 8, wherein the desired ablation site is an interior of a stent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The laser catheter of claim 8, wherein the desired ablation site is plaque within a blood vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The laser catheter of claim 10, further comprising a laser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The laser catheter of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises an excimer laser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The laser catheter of claim 12, wherein said laser comprises a CO2 laser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The laser catheter of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises an Nd:YAG laser. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The laser catheter of claim 8, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The laser catheter of claim 8, wherein said elastomeric structure comprises a ring-shaped balloon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The laser catheter of claim 8, further comprising an outer catheter body, wherein said shaftway is configured to be slidably inserted through at least a portion of said outer catheter body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method of removing an obstruction from within a stent in a body passage using the laser catheter, of claim 1 comprising: inserting the laser catheter of claim 1 into the body passage; advancing the laser catheter until the distal end is adjacent to the obstruction; inflating the expandable elastomeric structure for aiming said at least one of the plurality of optical fibers to the obstruction and outward from the central axis; and photoablating at least a portion of the obstruction by transmitting laser energy through the at least one of the plurality of optical fibers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of inflating and deflating the expandable elastomeric structure to impart radial motion to the at least one of the plurality of optical fibers while photoablating.