Claims
- 1. A device for detecting a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient, the device comprising:
a catheter including at least one aperture formed therein; a flexible guidewire slidably carried within the aperture, the guidewire including a coiled configuration portion; and at least one sensor disposed on the coiled configuration portion of the guidewire; wherein the sensor adapted for receiving information about the blood vessel for determining presence of the vulnerable plaque.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the information comprises electromagnetic radiation information.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from a group consisting of radio wave radiation, microwave radiation, infrared radiation, visible light radiation, ultraviolet radiation, x-ray radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation, and fluorescence radiation.
- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is adapted to provide a low-profile shape.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the guidewire comprises a surface material for reducing at least one of friction between the guidewire and the blood vessel and coagulation associated with the guidewire.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the surface material is selected from a group consisting of Teflon®, Carmeda®, Hepamed®, a ceramic material, a hydrophilic material, a lubricating material, a carbon-based material, and a silicon-based material.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the coiled configuration portion comprises a corkscrew configuration wherein the guidewire is coiled a plurality of turns around a central axis.
- 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the coiled configuration portion is adapted to expand radially toward a blood vessel wall.
- 9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a carrier coupled to the sensor for transferring the information from a diagnostic site to a site external the patient.
- 10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
an input device for receiving input; a processing unit in communication with the sensor and the input device, the processing unit determining presence of vulnerable plaque based on at least one of the information and the input; a controller in communication with the processing unit, the controller positioning the guidewire within the patient based on at least one of the information and the input; and an output device in communication with the processing unit, the output device for transmitting at least one of the information, the input, and the determined presence of vulnerable plaque.
- 11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drug delivery element adapted for delivering therapeutic agents to the blood vessel.
- 12. A method for detecting a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
inserting a flexible guidewire into a lumen of the blood vessel; positioning a coiled configuration portion of the guidewire adjacent a wall of the blood vessel; receiving information about the blood vessel wall from at least one sensor disposed on the coiled configuration portion; and determining presence of the vulnerable plaque based on the received information.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the information comprises electromagnetic radiation information.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from a group consisting of radio wave radiation, microwave radiation, infrared radiation, visible light information, ultraviolet radiation, x-ray radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation, and fluorescence radiation.
- 15. The method of claim 12 wherein positioning the coiled configuration portion comprises sliding the guidewire longitudinally with respect to the blood vessel.
- 16. The method of claim 12 wherein positioning the coiled configuration portion comprises rotating the guidewire about a central axis.
- 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the coiled configuration portion comprises a corkscrew configuration wherein the guidewire is coiled a plurality of turns around a central axis.
- 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the coiled configuration portion is adapted to expand radially toward a blood vessel wall.
- 19. The method of claim 12 wherein determining presence of vulnerable plaque comprises comparing received information from a healthy blood vessel site to received information from a vulnerable plaque site.
- 20. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting the received information from a diagnostic site to a site external the patient.
- 21. The method of claim 12 further comprising delivering a therapeutic agent to the blood vessel based on the information.
- 22. A system for detecting a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient, the system comprising:
a catheter; and a flexible guidewire slidably carried by the catheter, the guidewire including a coiled configuration means for positioning at least one sensor; wherein the coiled configuration means are positioned adjacent a wall of the blood vessel to allow the sensor to receive information for determining presence of the vulnerable plaque.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/464,441, “Device, System and Method for Detecting Vulnerable Plaque in a Blood Vessel” to Mark Brister and Patrice Tremble, filed Apr. 22, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60464441 |
Apr 2003 |
US |