| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7450241 |
Detecting vulnerable plaque |
November 11, 2008 |
| An apparatus and associated method for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall is described. The apparatus includes a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The apparatus includes an optical waveguide extending along the probe. The op |
| 7426410 |
Spectroscopy of deeply-scattered light |
September 16, 2008 |
| A spectroscope includes first and second beam redirectors in optical communication with first and second fibers respectively. The first and second beam redirectors are oriented to illuminate respective first and second areas. The second area is separated from the first area by a sepa |
| 7376456 |
Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of blood vessel walls |
May 20, 2008 |
| The invention relates to methods and devices for characterizing tissue in vivo, e.g., in walls of blood vessels, to determine whether the tissue is healthy or diseased, and include methods of displaying results with or without thresholds. |
| 7313432 |
Phase discrimination for detection of vulnerable-plaque |
December 25, 2007 |
| A system for identifying vulnerable plaque includes an illumination subsystem for passing an illumination beam, modulated by a first modulation waveform, through a catheter. A receiving subsystem detects a collection beam, which is modulated by a second modulated waveform, from the c |
| 7310357 |
Providing low-coherence light |
December 18, 2007 |
| The invention features an apparatus and an associated method for illuminating a target area. The apparatus includes reflectors defining a first optical cavity. The first optical cavity defines a first set of longitudinal modes. The apparatus includes a first gain medium defining a fi |
| 7292715 |
Display of diagnostic data |
November 6, 2007 |
| A system for displaying diagnostic data includes a display on which is displayed an image having an anatomic map and a diagnostic map. The diagnostic map, which is disposed at a location indicative of the spatial distribution of the diagnostic data, shows a spatial distribution of that |
| 7132645 |
System and method for assessing catheter connection using return loss |
November 7, 2006 |
| A system for assessing the quality of the optical connection between a catheter and a console is described that avoids the necessity of a calibration port, although one can still be provided if desired. It operates by monitoring the level of light returning from the catheter head and |
| 6980573 |
Tunable spectroscopic source with power stability and method of operation |
December 27, 2005 |
| A laser system for a spectroscopic catheter system utilizes an overmoded cavity in order to reduce mode hoping induced power fluctuations during wavelength scanning. In the preferred embodiment, a semiconductor gain medium is used to reduce cost. A fiber pigtail is used to define the las |
| 6949072 |
Devices for vulnerable plaque detection |
September 27, 2005 |
| An intravascular probe includes a sheath with a distal portion and a proximal portion. The intravascular probe includes a first optical waveguide extending along the sheath, the first optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portio |
| 6904199 |
Optical catheter with double-clad fiber |
June 7, 2005 |
| A double-clad fiber extends along an axis of a catheter. The fiber has a core and an annular cladding surrounding the core. A lens assembly has a first sub-aperture in optical communication with the core and a second sub-aperture in optical communication with the annular cladding. |
| 6895137 |
Multi-channel optical coupler for spinning catheter |
May 17, 2005 |
| A system for identifying vulnerable plaque includes a catheter having a collection fiber and a delivery fiber extending therethrough. The catheter is engaged to a distal face of a housing configured to spin about an axis. The proximal face of the housing has a central aperture. First and |
| 6873868 |
Multi-fiber catheter probe arrangement for tissue analysis or treatment |
March 29, 2005 |
| A catheter tip apparatus is arranged in a catheter for the delivery and collection of an energy signal to permit analysis and/or treatment of body tissue by the energy signal. The apparatus comprises an elongated housing having a plurality of annularly disposed elongated grooves arranged |
| 6706004 |
Balloon catheter |
March 16, 2004 |
| An apparatus includes a feedback loop for controlling an extent of a gap between a wall of a balloon mounted on a catheter and a wall of a lumen into which the catheter is inserted. The apparatus includes a radiation detector mounted within the balloon for generating a feedback signal |
| 6701181 |
Multi-path optical catheter |
March 2, 2004 |
| First and second optical-redirectors mounted on a catheter couple radiation to a target along separate first and second paths. Either the first or second optical-redirectors, or both, can include a steering mechanism for selecting the first and/or second path. |
| 6654630 |
Apparatus and method for the optical imaging of tissue samples |
November 25, 2003 |
| A catheter based optical system for generating data as to the condition of a tissue sample of a mammalian vessel. The system includes an elongated catheter shaft having a tissue engaging distal end and a coupled proximal end and an elongated optical delivery fiber arrangement disposed th |
| 6615062 |
Referencing optical catheters |
September 2, 2003 |
| The invention provides methods and apparatus to reference or normalize optical measurements, by removing or accounting for background factors and artifacts, such as motion artifacts, that arise during use of optical catheters. |
