Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-17
2001-10-23
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306097
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging of a body, and more specifically to a catheter guiding assembly with a lumen for an imaging catheter and a lumen for a catheter-based working tool.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ultrasound imaging catheters are known to the art. These ultrasound imaging catheters are single use, disposable catheters which provide a radial image inside blood vessels for medical diagnosis and an optional biopsy with an externally mounted needle or a completely separate tissue collecting tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,940 to Seward, et al. discloses an all-in-one ultrasound imaging catheter, allowing a working tool to be inserted with the ultrasound imaging catheter in one body opening. A port helps position the working tool in the field of view of the ultrasound imaging transducer in the catheter.
However, such an ultrasound imaging catheter with a port for a working tool may be too expensive to build as a disposable, one-time use catheter. And if the catheter is not disposable, catheter re-sterilization is difficult, because the port is difficult to flush for complete sterilization. Catheter re-sterilization is also difficult because of the stress re-sterilization creates for catheter materials and catheter designs. Furthermore, the prior art does not disclose a sealed port for a working tool to prevent blood leaks. Nor does the prior art disclose a sealed port for an ultrasound imaging catheter to prevent contact with blood.
Another approach involves using two separate catheters, an ultrasound imaging catheter and a catheter-based working tool. Using two separate catheters makes it more difficult to image the working tool, because the ultrasound imaging catheter needs to be maneuvered to bring the catheter-based working tool into the field of view. Once in the field of view, the working tool or the ultrasound imaging catheter can move and the working tool can leave the field of view of the ultrasound imaging catheter. The ultrasound imaging catheter would need to be continuously maneuvered and would require flexibility for steering to keep the working tool in the field of view.
A need presently exists for a catheter guiding assembly, with gaskets to seal the openings of the catheter guiding assembly, that can coordinate an ultrasound imaging catheter and a catheter-based working tool. A need also exists for sealing a reusable ultrasound imaging catheter from exposure to blood. Finally, a need exists for means to locally deliver drugs which can be activated by sonification from an ultrasound imaging catheter, and for means to locally deliver other fluids, such as chemicals or contrast agents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a catheter guiding assembly with gaskets to seal the openings of the catheter guiding assembly to prevent blood leaks.
Another object of the invention is to coordinate the operation of a catheter-based tool with the imaging of an ultrasound imaging catheter, which is optionally exposed to blood.
Another object of the invention is to provide a practical method to locally deliver drugs which can be activated by sonification from an ultrasound imaging catheter, or locally deliver other fluids, such as chemicals or contrast agents.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to a catheter guiding assembly having two lumens. A first lumen is for an ultrasound imaging catheter that can be slideably inserted. A second lumen provides a working port, and the second lumen has a gasket to prevent blood from leaking out.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to a catheter guiding assembly having two lumens. A first lumen is for an ultrasound imaging catheter that can be slideably inserted into the first lumen that is open to blood, wherein the first lumen has a gasket to prevent blood from leaking out. A second lumen provides a working port, and the second lumen has a gasket to prevent blood from leaking out.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4794931 (1989-01-01), Yock
patent: 5345940 (1994-09-01), Seward et al.
patent: 5368037 (1994-11-01), Eberle et al.
patent: 5469853 (1995-11-01), Law et al.
patent: 5713363 (1998-02-01), Seward et al.
patent: 5778328 (1998-07-01), Lowe et al.
patent: 5842994 (1998-12-01), Tenhoff et al.
patent: 5879499 (1999-03-01), Corvi
patent: 6045508 (2000-04-01), Hossack et al.
Espinosa Ricardo G.
Park William J.
Schlesinger Randall L.
Acuson Corporation
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Lateef Marvin M.
Patel Maulin
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