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:
Apr. 21, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Chandrashekhar P Pathak, Waltham, MA (US);
Amarpreet S Sawhney, Newton, MA (US);
Jeffrey A Hubbell, Concord, MA (US);
Stephen J Herman, Andover, MA (US);
Laurence A Roth, Windham, NH (US);
Patrick K Campbell, Georgetown, MA (US);
Kevin M Berrigan, Woburn, MA (US);
Peter K Jarrett, Southbury, CT (US);
Arthur J Coury, Boston, MA (US);
Focal, Inc., Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for molding polymeric structures in vivo is disclosed. The structures comprise polymers that may be heated to their molding temperature by absorption of visible or near-visible wavelengths of light. By providing a light source that produces radiation of the wavelength absorbed by the polymeric material, the material may be selectively heated and shaped in vivo without a corresponding heating of adjacent tissues or fluids to unacceptable levels. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a shaping element positioned near its distal end. An emitter provided with light from at least one optical fiber is positioned within the shaping element. The emitter serves to provide a moldable polymeric article positioned on the shaping element with a substantially uniform light field, thereby allowing the article to be heated and molded at a desired treatment site in a body lumen.