The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1992
Colin J Nichols, Fremont, CA (US);
Interventional Thermodynamics, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
A catheter for thermally treating a hollow body organ includes a first flexible elongate member having a heater element at or near its distal end. A second flexible elongate member may be slidably disposed within a central lumen of the first flexible elongate member and may include an occluding means, such as an inflatable balloon, at its distal end. By first inserting the distal end of the second flexible elongate member within a hollow body organ or connecting region, the heater element on the first flexible elongate member may then be positioned and repositioned by axially translating the first flexible elongate member over the exterior of the second flexible elongate member. A collapsible shield may also be provided about the exposed heater element on the first flexible elongate member. The shield typically comprises a cylinder having a plurality of axial slots near its distal end. A plurality of ribs defined by the slots may be expanded radially outward by compressing the cylinder in the distal direction or by releasing tension which has maintained the shield in a radially collapsed configuration. Once expanded, the shield may be rotated to effect mixing of the fluid surrounding the catheter.