Abstract:
A system for treating occlusions present within a body vessel. The device comprises a plaque-treating device having an elongate shaft and a distal plaque-treating portion adapted to remove hardened plaque from within a body vessel. The device further comprises a multi-balloon positioning catheter with a lumen into and through which lumen the plaque-treating device may be extended, the positioning catheter having at least three inflatable balloons positioned circumferentially about the lumen to controllably stabilize the lumen and its distal opening at a desired location within the body vessel, thus controlling the location of the plaque-treating device when extended from the distal end of the positioning catheter's lumen.
Abstract:
An electrical wire has a stranded copper conductor and an adherent electrically insulating refractory coating that extends around the conductor but not around the individual strands. The conductor is provided with at least one intermediate layer around the individual strands that is formed from a metal that acts as a barrier to diffusion of copper or oxygen. Preferably the intermediate layer has a thickness of at least 1.5 micrometres and/or an additional metal layer is present. The wires may be used in the manufacture of circuit or signal integrity cables and exhibit improved high temperature performance.
Abstract:
A method of delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to tissue is provided including the steps of inserting a catheter into a bodily cavity, the catheter having a proximal balloon and a distal balloon, inflating the proximal and distal balloons to create a chamber between the proximal and distal balloons, delivering the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the chamber, measuring fluid pressure in the chamber, measuring at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of a subject, and adjusting the delivery of the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent based at least in part on the measured volumetric pressure in the chamber and the at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of the subject.
Abstract:
A vascular interventional device may comprise a combination of inflatable and cutting elements and embodiments may comprise structures and functionality for dilatation of blood vessels narrowed by diseases, removal of plaque and debris from diseased blood vessels and delivery of drugs for the prevention of re-narrowing of vessel luminal cross-section area as well as to provide scaffolding when needed to keep vessels patent.
Abstract:
A self-propelled device for locomotion through a lumen, comprising a set of serially arranged inflatable chambers, and incorporating a number of novel aspects. To enable easy insertion and use, the rigidity of the device is increased by means of rigid inserts in the balloons, or by use of stiff springs between segments. The working channel can be attached to the distal chamber of the device, such that it is pulled from the leading end of the device during inflation, rather than being pulled from the trailing end of the device during deflation. Lumen wall inspection or treatment facilities are enabled by means of a camera or treatment arm mounted between two distally positioned balloons, the device is able to provide observation capabilities to the lumen wall, yet without becoming excessively dirty by exposure to the front end of the device, as in prior art camera units.
Abstract:
A kit for performing removal of a vermiform appendix (20) from a patient comprises an elongated flexible element (140) extending between a proximal end and a distal end, means (150) attached to the distal end of the elongated flexible element for anchoring the distal end to interior walls of a central lumen (26) defined by the appendix when the distal end is disposed within the central Lumen, a tubular element (100) defining a central Lumen adapted for receiving a colonoscope (90), and means for ligating or cutting (168) the appendix at the appendix Base after the appendix is inverted into the cecum (12). A method for performing removal of a vermiform appendix from a patient comprises positioning a colonoscope into the cecum of the patient, irrigating the central lumen of the appendix, guiding a distal end of an elongated flexible element into the central lumen of the appendix, wherein the flexible element comprises anchoring means anchoring the distal end to the interior walk of the appendix, providing counterforce against the appendix base, pulling the elongated flexible element toward the cecum, wherein the elongated flexible element draws the appendix into the cecum, and ligating or cutting the appendix.
Abstract:
A thermal therapy catheter (28) includes a catheter shaft (32) having an outer surface (52) that is insertable into a body lumen. The catheter shaft (32) carries an energy-emitting element (74). A multi-lobe balloon (71) is positioned around the outer surface (52) of the catheter shaft (32) adjacent to the energy-emitting element (74), with opposing ends of the multi-lobe balloon (71) being sealingly connected to the catheter shaft (32) to form a chamber between the multi-lobe balloon (71) and the outer surface (52) of the catheter shaft (32). A fluid is circulated between the outer surface (52) of the catheter shaft (32) and the multi-lobe balloon (71) in a defined fluid flow path to firmly contact the wall of the body lumen and thereby conductively cool the body lumen tissue while thermally treating targeted tissue at a depth from the body lumen wall.
Abstract:
An apparatus for surgically treating tissues, preferably the prostate, using hyperthermia. The apparatus (500) for treating tissues which are accessible with a lumen, comprises a probe (520) inserted in the lumen and including a heating device (518), and is characterized in that it includes a device (600) for temporarily or intermittently increasing the outer diameter of the probe, the device being arranged relative to the probe in order to allow the lumen to dilate when required and at least in the area of the tissues to be treated. A very effective treatment of the prostate can therefore be carried out while dilating the urethra.