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:
Mar. 27, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2003
James Kevin Carney, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
David L. Thompson, Andover, MN (US);
Mark Brister, Forestville, CA (US);
James Kevin Carney, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
David L. Thompson, Andover, MN (US);
Mark Brister, Forestville, CA (US);
Medtronic Vascular, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining vulnerable plaque in a cardiovascular lumen is disclosed. In one embodiment, a guide member comprising a temperature sensor and a distance sensor are inserted into the cardiovascular lumen. The temperature of the cardiovascular wall is measured with the temperature sensor, and the distance from the temperature sensor to the cardiovascular wall is determined. The cardiovascular wall temperature is adjusted based on the distance determination, and the vulnerable plaque is determined based on the adjusted wall temperature measurement.