Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Eric M DoBrava

Jaydeep Yeshwant Kokate

Brian J Lowe

Michael F Hoey

Scott Raymond Smith

Jeffrey H Vogel

Avram Bar-Cohen

Marwane S Berrada

Suzana Prstic

Daniel M Lafontaine

David Allan White

Paul Anthony Iaizzo

William Martin Belef

Michael J Urick

Scott Kimmel

Bradley Frank Slaker

W Scott Andrus

Jonathan C Sell

Joseph D Farrell

Bruce Persson

Scott Kimmell

A catheter with a fluorescent temperature sensor is shown and described. The catheter includes a lumen, a fiber-optic cable that extends through the lumen. A distal end of the fiber-optic cable is coated with a fluorescent material and a proximal end of the fiber-optic cable is connected to a console. The console includes a light source for transmitting light through the fiber-optic cable for exciting the fluorescent material. The console further includes a photo multiplier tube for converting light emitted by the excited fluorescent material to a plurality of analogue voltage signals. The console further includes a digital oscilloscope linked to the photo multiplier tube for converting the plurality of analogue voltage signals to at least one digital signal. The console further includes a processor linked to the digital oscilloscope for converting the at least one digital signal to a temperature value for the distal end of the fiber-optic cable.

Catheters with fluorescent temperature sensors

Methods and devices for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel are disclosed. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft and a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof. A tip member is slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the tip member is configured such that the housing is substantially centered about the guidewire. In another preferred embodiment, the tip member is slidingly disposed within the housing, and the tip member may be moved between a first position and a second position.

Filter retrieval catheter

Devices and methods for extracting core material contained in plaque deposits inside a blood vessel are presented. A device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a collection array of a plurality of collection lumens disposed about the distal portion of the elongate shaft, a means for radially extending and/or collapsing the collection array, and a suction means for extracting material from the lumen of the blood vessel. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of inserting the distal portion of the catheter into a lumen of the blood vessel, positioning the distal end of the collection array proximate plaque deposits, extending the collection array to rupture the plaque deposits and urging core material therefrom, and extracting the material using a suction means fluidly coupled to the proximal end of the collection array.

Aspirating balloon catheter for treating vulnerable plaque

A catheter with a fluorescent temperature sensor is shown and described. The catheter includes a lumen, a fiber-optic cable that extends through the lumen. A distal end of the fiber-optic cable is coated with a fluorescent material and a proximal end of the fiber-optic cable is connected to a console. The console includes a light source for transmitting light through the fiber-optic cable for exciting the fluorescent material. The console further includes a photo multiplier tube for converting light emitted by the excited fluorescent material to a plurality of analog voltage signals. The console further includes a digital oscilloscope linked to the photo multiplier tube for converting the plurality of analog voltage signals to at least one digital signal. The console further includes a processor linked to the digital oscilloscope for converting the at least one digital signal to a temperature value for the distal end of the fiber-optic cable.

Methods and devices for treating vulnerable plaque deposits within a blood vessel, having an inner surface and one or more plaque deposits containing a core material are disclosed. A device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a balloon disposed about the elongate shaft for engaging one or more plaque deposits and extracting the core material therefrom, a first venturi section disposed proximally of the balloon, and a second venturi section disposed distally of the balloon. An exemplary method in accordance with the present invention may include the steps of inserting a distal portion of the catheter into a lumen of the blood vessel, positioning the balloon proximate a plaque deposit, inflating the balloon, creating a first stream of fluid proximally of the balloon, collecting the first stream of fluid proximally of the balloon, creating a second stream of fluid distally of the balloon, and collecting the second stream of fluid distally of the balloon.

Aspirating devices for removal of thrombus/lipid from a body lumen

Devices and methods for detecting vulnerable plaque within a blood vessel are disclosed. A system in accordance with the present invention includes a first wire having a distal end coupled to a voltage source and a proximal end coupled to an instrument capable of measuring voltage. A distal end of a second wire is also coupled to the voltage source and a proximal end of the second wire is coupled to the instrument. The amplitude of the electromotive force produced by the voltage source preferably varies with the temperature of a tissue proximate the voltage source.

Methods and devices for detecting vulnerable plaque

Methods and devices for detecting vulnerable plaque within a blood vessel are disclosed. An elongate medical device in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A substrate is fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof, and a plurality of sensors are disposed on the substrate. Each sensor is preferably coupled to a switching device. The switching devices are preferably disposed on the substrate.

Catheter with thermal sensor for detection of vulnerable plaque

Devices and methods for detecting vulnerable plaque within a blood vessel are disclosed. A catheter in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. At least one temperature sensor is disposed proximate to the distal end of the elongate shaft. In one preferred embodiment, the at least one temperature sensor is adapted to contact an inner surface of the blood vessel. In another preferred embodiment, at least one temperature sensor is disposed within a channel defined by a body member that is disposed about the elongate shaft.

Intravascular temperature sensor

Devices and methods for percutaneous translumenal minimally invasive coronary surgery, particularly bypass surgery involving the following basic steps: determining a proper location for treatment, navigating a suitable device to the treatment site, creating an extravascular opening and pathway, guiding and/or monitoring the progress of creating the opening and pathway, and maintaining the extravascular opening and pathway. One or more extravascular openings and/or pathways may be created to define a fluid path or bypass around the vascular restriction. For example, an intravascular catheter for creating an extravascular opening in a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft adapted for intravascular navigation, an anchoring mechanism disposed on the distal end of the shaft, and a tissue penetrating member having a proximal end slidably disposed in the shaft and a distal end including a tissue penetrating mechanism.

Percutaneous bypass apparatus and method

A balloon catheter for locating vulnerable plaque lesions within a body lumen comprising a unique balloon mounted on a catheter shaft. The balloon having an uninflated state and being expandable to an inflated state, the balloon further having an inside and an outside, the balloon being made at least partially of at least one temperature responsive material. The at least one temperature responsive material designed to exhibit at least one predetermined color when the material is in contact with an object having an elevated temperature, such as a vulnerable plaque lesion. The catheter having a lumen which allows a light source to transmit light into the inside of the balloon. The light directed to illuminate at least a portion of the temperature responsive material. A light detector positioned to detect the light reflected off of the portion of the temperature responsive material to provide indicate the presence of the suspected lesion based on one or more characteristic changes to the light reflected from the temperature responsive material.

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Crystal, MN, United States of America

Eric M DoBrava