Abstract: A catheter provided on the tip with a balloon of the type which can be inflated by being filled with a fluid, and particularly a catheter provided with a balloon around the inside circumference of which are formed multiple compartments. The direction of said catheter can be controlled at bifurcations in the blood vessel by supplying fluid through a fluid supply channel to at least one compartment so as to inflate the compartment corresponding to said channel.

Abstract: A laser beam guiding fiber comprising, in a tip portion of an optical fiber, an oscillating member which oscillates the tip of the optical fiber along a direction which intersects an axis of the optical fiber can irradiate a wide range with laser beam, since the tip of the optical fiber oscillates by means of the oscillating member along the direction which intersects the axis of the optical fiber and the irradiated position with the laser beam reciprocates periodically with the oscillation.

Abstract: An optical fiber for laser beam guiding comprising a secondary non-linear optical element at one tip thereof can irradiate a lesion portion with a short wavelength beam useful for cure, since the non-linear optical element converts a long wavelength beam transmitted through the optical fiber to the short wavelength laser beam.

Abstract: A diagnostic and therapeutic catheter accommodating a plurality of optical fibers and tubes, including a small diameter portion formed at a distal end portion of the catheter, the small diameter portion having at least one duct, the optical fibers and the tubes confronting an inlet of the small diameter portion so as to be retractably inserted into the small diameter portion selectively.

Abstract: An intravascular laser operating device and method for examining and removing a diseased part in a blood vessel. The device includes a catheter having endoscopic fibers for performing an endoscopy and diagnostic of a diseased part in a blood vessel and laser light projecting fibers for projecting a laser light, a visible guide light, and an excited light to the diseased part. An laser device applies laser light to converting elements. A first wave length converting element converts part of the laser light into the visible guide light, and a second wave length converting element converts a part of the visible guide light into the excited light. The excited light is used for generating a fluorescent spectrum. An image is received representing the condition of the inside of the blood vessel based on image light received by the endoscopic fibers. A spectrum analyzing unit diagnoses the diseased part by obtaining the components of the fluorescent spectrum of the received image light.

Abstract: This invention relates to an intracavitary laser operating device using a laser.The device, has a catheter (2) accommodating laser light projecting fibers, a pulse laser oscillator device (1), an acoustic detector (4) detecting the acoustic wave generated from the diseased portion, an acoustic analyzer (5) analyzing the acoustic wave from the acoustic detector (4) and obtaining the amplitude change data and spectrum data of the acoustic wave, and a controller (7) for calculating the optimum condition of the projection of the laser light to be projected to the diseased part depending on the data from the acoustic analyzer (5) and controlling the pulse laser oscillator device (1) based on said optimum condition of the projection.

Abstract: A mechanism for bending an elongated body such as the tube of an endoscope without the use of electric elements, thereby eliminating a shock hazard. A shape-memorizing alloy is inserted into the elongated body at portions to be bent. In some embodiments, heat for causing the shape-memorizing alloy and hence the elongated body to bend is produced by light carried by an optical fiber, while in other embodiments frictional heat produced by a mechanism vibrator is employed. In some embodiments using light, a shutter arrangement is added to control the heating of the shape-memorizing alloy.

Abstract: A mechanism for bending an elongated body such as the tube of an endoscope without the use of electric elements, thereby eliminating a shock hazard. A shape-memorizing alloy is inserted into the elongated body at portions to be bent. In some embodiments, heat for causing the shape-memorizing alloy and hence the elongated body to bend is produced by light carried by an optical fiber, while in other embodiments frictional heat produced by a mechanism vibrator is employed. In some embodiments using light, a shutter arrangement is added to control the heating of the shape-memorizing alloy.

Abstract: A catheter type sensor, which is inserted into a living body in order to directly measure within the living body biological data such as blood pressure, has at least one base in its distal end or intermediate portion, at least one sensor element supported on the base to detect biological data, and lead wires for electrically connecting together the sensor element and an external measuring device. The base, the sensor element and the lead wires are buried in a resin material which has excellent compatibility with living bodies and which is shaped in the form of a catheter. Accordingly, the whole of the cross-sectional area of the sensor can be utilized as a space for mounting the assembly constituted by the base, the sensor element and the lead wires.