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:
Sep. 14, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2001
Jaydeep Y. Kokate, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Eric M. DoBrava, Crystal, MN (US);
SciMed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
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.