Abstract:
A short backloading wire is provided to facilitate the backloading of a catheter onto a guidewire that has a tubular connector. This backloading wire is preferably shorter than the guidewire and at least one end is engageable with the hypotube connector at the proximal end of many guidewires. The free end of the backloading wire has a reduced diameter making easier to insert into the distal tip of a catheter during backloading.
Abstract:
A radio-frequency ablation system is disclosed in which the power, voltage, or temperature delivered to multiple electrodes may be dynamically controlled, and in which the electrodes may be simultaneously energized in phase with each other to achieve a desired lesion pattern. The system comprises a multiple electrode ablation catheter, each electrode having a temperature sensor operatively associated therewith. Each electrode is energized by its own RF amplifier, and all of the electrodes are driven in phase with each other by a common sine wave oscillator. A feedback network controls the degree of amplification of the separate RF amplifiers. According to a further aspect of the invention, a modular power supply arrangement is disclosed which is configurable to dynamically control the power, voltage, or temperature delivered to multiple electrodes of a multipolar ablation device. An arbitrary number of electrodes may be simultaneously energized in phase with each other to achieve a desired lesion pattern using the modular power supply by providing a sufficient number of removable modules.
Abstract:
A guidewire for use with a catheter has varying radiopacity as well as at least one radiopaque marker in its distal end. In one embodiment, the guidewire includes a shaft having a distal radiopaque coil supported by and attached to a distal portion of the shaft and a proximal radiopaque coil supported by and attached to an intermediate portion of the shaft. The proximal and distal coils are spaced apart from one another. The distal coil may be more radiopaque than or equally radiopaque to the proximal coil such that when viewed under fluoroscopy, the highly radiopaque coil will define a dark image whereas the more proximal radiopaque coil will define a moderately radiopaque image or both will define a dark image. The area between the two coils will appear white. Between the coils, at least one radiopaque marker band is attached to the shaft. The marker bands provide several reference lengths for a physician. A polymer sleeve encases the marker bands and the shaft between the first and second coils providing a uniform outer diameter to the distal region of the guidewire. In another embodiment, the proximal coil of the first embodiment is absent and the polymer sleeve extends proximally of the radiopaque marker bands. In a further embodiment, a radiopaque coil having varying pitch along its length is supported by and attached to a distal region of the core wire.
Abstract:
An improved self-lubricating catheter and guide wire introducer (2) is provided with a reservoir (30) containing lubrication fluid located proximally of a sealing gasket (8) in a modified end cap (14). An improved self-sealing gasket provides hemostatis while reducing the force required to move a catheter or guide wire positioned within the gasket.
Abstract:
A vascular graft fabric containing air jet textured yarns. The woven, knitted or braided fabric possesses a beneficial combination of strength, tissue infiltratability, handling and permeability.
Abstract:
An angioplasty system and method for identification and laser ablation of atherosclerotic plaque at a target site in a blood vessel includes fluorescence analysis for identification of noncalcified plaque and calcium photoemission analysis for identification of calcified plaque. Calcified plaque is identified by time domain analysis of calcium photoemission. A high energy pulsed ultraviolet laser can be used for stimulation of fluorescence and for stimulation of calcium photoemission. The system is capable of distinguishing between calcium photoemission and a defective condition of optical fibers that are used to deliver laser energy to the target site. In another embodiment of the angioplasty system, calcium photoemissionis identified during a nonablative initial portion of the laser ablation pulse. When calcium photoemission is not identified, the laser ablation pulse is terminated during the initial nonablative portion thereof.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger (8) is provided which has a plurality of wave shaped sinusoidal, channels on one or both sides. The heat exchanger has a cap (30) attached at the upper end. The heat exchanger is disposed within a housing (inner wall 10 and outer wall 12). The bottom end of the heat exchanger is bonded to the bottom end of the housing, and the upper end of the heat exchanger with the cap (30) attached is spaced apart from the upper end of the housing. A liquid inlet (26) and outlet (58) are in fluid communication with the inner surface of the heat exchanger. A blood inlet (54) and outlet (45) are in fluid communication with the outer surface of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be used with a blood oxygenating chamber (38) containing a plurality of permeable hollow fibers which oxygenate blood flowing through the blood oxygenating chamber.
Abstract:
A woven vascular graft fabric that permits limited radial compliance but resists long term dilation and longitudinal extension. The thin walled graft has a double wall thickness of less than 0.02 inches and a greater number of picks per inch than ends per inch.
Abstract:
A guidewire (10) for use in endoscopic retrograde chol-angio pancreato-graphy includes a proximal section defined by a fiber rod (24), a tube (22), and a connection mechanism for attaching the tube (22) and the fiber rod (24) together in a collinear relationship. The guidewire (10) also includes a flexible distal section (19) which is attached to the distal end of the tube. The distal section is comprised of a super-elastic core (20) having a radiopaque marker (40) disposed about its distal end, and at least a portion of the distal section is enveloped by an insulating sleeve (36).