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:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1996
Michael S Chu, Brookline, MA (US);
Yem Chin, Burlington, MA (US);
Demetrius H Bagley, Philadelphia, PA (US);
William H Stahley, Andover, MA (US);
David K Young, Boston, MA (US);
Christopher G Fishbein, Norfolk, MA (US);
George G Brusard, Cambridge, MA (US);
Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA (US);
Abstract
The invention features a catheter having a catheter body of extended length for insertion within a body of a living being. The catheter also includes an ultrasound imaging device disposed within a distal portion of the catheter body. The ultrasound imaging device generates electrical signals used by an ultrasound imaging system to display a real-time image of tissue surrounding the distal portion of the catheter. The catheter further includes a cutting element, e.g., an electrode wire or a laser fiber, having a proximal portion disposed within the catheter body. The catheter also includes a mechanism connected to the catheter body that causes the distal portion of the cutting element to extend from the catheter body. The distal portion of the cutting element generates energy in tissue with which it is brought in proximity to form a cut in the tissue. The ultrasound imaging device is positioned relative to the cutting element such that the real-time image produced by the ultrasound imaging system can include the cutting element in relation to the tissue.