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. 14, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 23, 2003
Scott R. Smith, Chaska, MN (US);
Jaydeep Y. Kokate, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Leonard B. Richardson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Eric M. Dobrava, Champlin, MN (US);
Scott R. Smith, Chaska, MN (US);
Jaydeep Y. Kokate, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Leonard B. Richardson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Eric M. Dobrava, Champlin, MN (US);
Scimed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring the pH of blood in the vicinity of a vulnerable plaque. A balloon including an opto-electric device may be positioned proximate a vulnerable plaque. The balloon can be inflated to partially occlude blood flow enabling interaction between lipid laden blood and pH-sensitive material either within the balloon or on the wall(s) of the balloon. The selected pH-sensitive material is one whose optical properties change as a function of the pH of blood in the vasculature. An opto-electric device may be used for measuring the optical property and/or the change in the optical characteristics of the pH-sensitive compound.