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. 24, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 25, 1995
William J Drasler, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Robert G Dutcher, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Mark L Jenson, Greenfield, MN (US);
Joseph M Thielen, Buffalo, MN (US);
Emmanuil I Protonotarios, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Possis Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A technique for treatment of plaque deposits on the arterial wall of a patient. The technique employs a high pressure jet of sterile saline solution directed at the plaque deposit. The high pressure jet is located at the distal end of a guide wire or catheter which is advanced through the vascular system to the site of the plaque deposit. Optional removal of the debris is via an evacuation lumen within the catheter. This particular technique directs the high pressure jet of fluid distal to the distal tip of the guide wire or catheter. This permits treatment of arteries, which are totally occluded, because the device need not transit the lesion to be effective. Some applications will use the high pressure jet of fluid to open a sufficient passage within the occlusion to permit further dilatation using a balloon integral to or passed over the device. An ultrasonic transducer array located adjacent the high pressure jet permits the attending physician to monitor the procedure. This may be particularly important for those embodiments for which the high pressure jet of fluid may be inadvertently directed toward the vessel wall at short range. The ultrasound device ensures that the jet of fluid is directed at plaque, rather than the native vessel.