Abstract: The invention is based on the realisation that inflamed plaques in blood vessel walls, which are potentially vulnerable to rupture, can be detected at elevated temperatures which are lower than previously realised. In particular, the low temperatures at which inflamed plaque can be detected are often associated with systems in which blood flow is generally close to normal in particular temperature differences above zero but not more than 0.39° C. have been found to be indicative of the presence of inflamed plaque.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body, at least one resiliently biased projection depended from the body, a sensor carried by the projection and an electrical carrier for transmitting data from the sensor to a remote device, wherein the projection, in a deployed configuration, adopts an arcuate shape along at least part of its length, wherein the gradient of the arcuate portion of the projection, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, increases as a function of distance along the projection from the end attached to the catheter body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vascular catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body, at least one resiliently biased projection depended from the body, a sensor carried by the projection and an electrical carrier for transmitting temperature data at the vascular wall from the sensor to a remote device. The electrical carrier may be coiled around the length of the projection to reduce the strain at critical points where it is necessary to maintain a seal and hence electrical isolation.

Abstract: In the present invention, a catheter comprises a resiliently biased projection and a detector which generates a signal which varies as a function of radial displacement of the resiliently biased projection relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. In a preferred example, the catheter comprises a resiliently biased projection comprising one plate of a variable capacitor, wherein the capacitance varies as a function of radial displacement of the resiliently biased projection. Thus, a signal processing system electrically coupled to the variable capacitor plate may be adapted to detect changes in the capacitance of the variable capacitor. This affords a method of studying the physiology and/or morphology of a vessel wall by detecting capacitance variations between capacitor plates inserted into the vascular tissue. The present invention allows dimensional characteristics of the vascular tissue to be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vascular catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body (14, 15, 18), at least one resiliently biased projection (11) depended from the body, a sensor carried by the projection and an electrical carrier (13) for transmitting temperature data at the vascular wall from the sensor (10) to a remote device. The electrical carrier (13) is coiled around the length of the projection (11) to reduce strain at critical points where it is necessary to maintain a seal and hence electrical isolation.

Abstract: The invention is based on the realisation that inflamed plaques in blood vessel walls, which are potentially vulnerable to rupture, can be detected at elevated temperatures which are lower than previously realised. In particular, the low temperatures at which inflamed plaque can be detected are often associated with systems in which blood flow is generally close to normal in particular temperature differences above zero but not more than 0 39° C. have been found to be indicative of the presence of inflamed plaque.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vascular catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body (14, 15, 18), at least two thermal sensors (10) mounted on resiliently biased projections (11) depended from the body; and a carrier (13) for transmitting temperature data at the vascular wall from the sensors (10) to a remote device. A computer program associated with the vascular catheter apparatus is provided for manipulating image data and temperature data to generate an output in which the temperature data is mapped onto a corresponding position on an image where that temperature data was detected to provide an integrated graphical image output. The temperature data is thermography data that represents surface temperature at a vascular wall, and the image data is representative of the vascular wall morphology.

Abstract: A catheter positioning system comprises a guide catheter extension adapted to co-operate with a guide catheter, a catheter positioning device adapted to engage a catheter and guide the catheter within the guide catheter extension, wherein the guide catheter extension further comprises a plurality of engagement means for fixing the relative points of the guide catheter extension and the positioning device at any one of a number of positions over its length and a guide catheter extension capable of receiving a catheter, comprising a substantially rigid tubular section capable of sealing engagement within a compression fitting of the guide catheter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body, at least one resiliently biased projection depended from the body, a sensor carried by the projection and an electrical carrier for transmitting data from the sensor to a remote device, wherein the projection, in a deployed configuration, adopts an arcuate shape along at least part of its length, wherein the gradient of the arcuate portion of the projection, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, increases as a function of distance along the projection from the end attached to the catheter body.