Abstract:
An agent delivery catheter that includes an anti-whipping feature, improved assembly of distal parts and/or accuracy / repeatability of needle delivery to a target tissue. Additional features include fitting a catheter with a pneumatic delivery device for delivery of a therapeutic agent without using a needle.
Abstract:
A catheter (10) for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft (11) having a needle-through lumen (12) slidably containing a needle (13) therein, and an expandable member (15) on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port (14) spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for positioning medical devices onto (or close to) a desired portion of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as for scan imaging, for photodynamic therapy and/or for optical temperature measurement. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly has a distal portion that can be changed from a configuration suitable for traversing the internal channel to another configuration suitable for scan at least a spiral section of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as an artery. In one example, the distal portion spirals into gentle contact with (or close to) a spiral section of the artery wall for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanning. The spiral radius may be changed through the use of a guidewire, a tendon, a spiral balloon, a tube, or other ways.
Abstract:
An agent delivery catheter (10) and method, configured to deliver an agent to an inner surface of a patient's body lumen (30) by forming an agent containment pocket (32) along the inner surface of the patient's body lumen wall between a proximal expandable frame (13) and a distal expandable frame (14), while minimizing ischemic conditions during the procedure.
Abstract:
Various apparatuses are described to treat vulnerable plaque with the use of combination drug therapy. In one /embodiment, the apparatus (1001) has an elongated catheter body (1010) adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device (1013) attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a therapeutic or biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plague. In another embodiment, a drug eluting stent is delivered and deployed in conjunction with a second apparatus that delivers drug in pressurized retrograde perfusion. Still another embodiment uses a uniquely shaped balloon to deploy a stent while utilizing a drug infusion needle to inject drug into the vessel wall through a hollow guide wire.
Abstract:
Various apparatuses and methods are described to treat vulnerable plaque with the use of combination drug therapy. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a therapeutic or biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plaque. In another embodiment, a drug eluting stent is delivered and deployed in conjunction with a second apparatus that delivers drug in pressurized retrograde perfusion. Still another embodiment uses a uniquely shaped balloon to deploy a stent while utilizing a drug infusion needle to inject drug into the vessel wall through a hollow guide wire.
Abstract:
A controlled volume inflation-deflation device (100) to inflate a balloon to occlude a blood vessel by dialing a knob (130) that locks at rotational positions to locate a plunger (110) at equally spaced locations within a syringe (112) of the inflation-deflation device. The inflation-deflation device includes a releasable latch (150) to lock the proximal (140) and distal (120) housings together to hold the plunger forward for occlusion, and to separate and hold the proximal and distal housings to retract the plunger for perfusion. When the inflation-deflation device is returned to the latched position, the balloon is re-inflated to its previous occlusive diameter. Also, an extension tube made of a lower modulus outer material co-extruded over and miscible with a higher modulus inner material may be used to produce a suitably low compliance extension tube for the inflation-deflation device. The balloon may have tapered ends and a cylindrical center portion so that it increases by more equal increments in outer diameter in response to incremental equal increases in inflation volume.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for the image guidance and documentation of medical procedures. One embodiment includes combining small field of view images into a recorded image of with a large field of view and aligning the small field of view real time image with the recorded image through correlation of imaging data. A location and orientation determination system may be used to track the imaging system and provide a starting set of image alignment parameters and/or provide change updates to a set of image alignment parameters, which is then further improved through correlating imaging data. The recorded image may be selected according to real time measurement of a cardiac parameter during an image guided cardiac procedure. Image manipulations planned based on the recorded image can be stored and applied to the real time information. The position of the medical device may be determined and recorded through manipulating a cursor in a 3-D image space shown in two non-parallel views.
Abstract:
An infusion catheter having a distal shaft with an infusion tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the distal shaft, and a proximal cannula with an inner dimension and a distal end attached to a proximal end of the distal shaft to define an opening between the inner diameter of the infusion tube and the inner dimension of the proximal cannula. Also, a guidewire tube disposed within the inner dimension and the distal shaft and extending from the proximal end of the proximal cannula to the distal end of the distal shaft. The inner diameter of the infusion tube, the opening, the exterior dimension of the guidewire tube and the inner dimension cooperate and define sufficient cross sectional sizes to allow a treatment agent to be infused between the proximal end of the proximal cannula and the region of interest.
Abstract:
An agent delivery catheter that includes an anti-whipping feature, improved assembly of distal parts and/or accuracy / repeatability of needle delivery to a target tissue. Additional features include fitting a catheter with a pneumatic delivery device for delivery of a therapeutic agent without using a needle.