초록 ▼

Vascular catheters include ultrasonic imaging capability and optical waveguides for delivering laser energy for ablating vascular obstructions. The ultrasonic imaging capability comprises a fixed ultrasonic transducer which directs ultrasonic energy at a reflective surface on a rotating element. The

Vascular catheters include ultrasonic imaging capability and optical waveguides for delivering laser energy for ablating vascular obstructions. The ultrasonic imaging capability comprises a fixed ultrasonic transducer which directs ultrasonic energy at a reflective surface on a rotating element. The rotating element allows the interior of the blood vessel to be scanned prior to the application of laser energy to ablate the obstruction.

대표청구항 ▼

A vascular catheter comprising: a flexible tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end defining a longitudinal axis; a rotatable member having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, said surfaces being oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis; means for rotating

A vascular catheter comprising: a flexible tube having proximal and distal ends, said distal end defining a longitudinal axis; a rotatable member having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, said surfaces being oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis; means for rotating the rotatable member about the longitudinal axis; an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the distal end of the flexible tube, said transducer being disposed to direct ultrasonic energy against the first reflective surface whereby a preselected path can be ultrasonically scanned; and an optical waveguide disposed to direct laser radiation against the second reflective surface, wherein said first and second reflective surfaces are relatively oriented so that reflected laser radiation will intersect the ultrasonic scan path at a preselected location outside of the distal end of the flexible tube, whereby rotation of the rotatable member synchronously rotates the ultrasonic energy and the laser radiation.