Abstract: A catheter comprises a flexible tubular member having a drive cable disposed in a lumen thereof. A work element is secured to a distal end of the lumen while a coupling member for rotating the cable secured to the proximal end thereof. The cable includes a more flexible end located within the distal region of the catheter and a less flexible section located within the proximal region of the catheter. In this way, the drive cable is able to transmit torque sufficiently from the proximal end to the distal end even when the catheter is subject to tortuous twisting and bending as a result of positioning within confined regions of the body, such as the vascular system.

Abstract: Front-end and side-on intravascular catheters are described that comprise an abrasive head contained substantially within a housing. Aspiration means and flushing means are connected to the region of grinding to remove dislodged debris. A preferred embodiment has the abrasive surface of a rotatable head comprised of diamond powder, fused silica, tungsten carbide, aluminum oxide, or boron nitride. Another preferred embodiment has an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the head to permit transluminal imaging of the site of occlusion.

Abstract: A guidewire imaging catheter includes a catheter body, housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a drive cable extending through a central lumen of the catheter body, and an imaging system disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive cable. A fixed guidewire is secured to the distal tip of the housing, and the catheter body is highly flexible while retaining sufficient torsional stiffness to allow the entire catheter to be used as a guidewire. Thus, the imaging guidewire can be used to first image a desired region within a patient's vascular system and subsequently as a guidewire to allow placement of a desired interventional catheter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging catheter comprises a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end. An ultrasonic imaging transducer is located within the distal end and is arranged to produce an image in an image plane which is generally normal to the axial direction of the catheter. An ultrasonically opaque element is attached to the catheter body and disposed through the image plane so that an image artifact or marker appears on the resulting ultrasonic image. The artifact corresponds to the location on the catheter where the element is located. A fluoroscopic marker is also provided on the catheter body, typically located proximally of the region where the ultrasonic imaging transducer and other components are located. The fluoroscopic marker has a geometry selected so that the marker has a unique appearance depending on the rotational orientation of the catheter when viewed by fluoroscopy.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes an elongate catheter tube having proximal and distal ends as well as a lumen extending between said ends. A catheter housing secured to the distal end of the catheter tube is covered by an elastic sheath. A vent path formed in the catheter tube housing is normally blocked by the sheath, but fluid being fed into the catheter lumen may be flushed through the housing by employing a sufficiently high pressure.

Abstract: Vascular catheters include ultrasonic imaging capability and optical waveguides for delivering laser energy for ablating vascular obstructions. The ultrasonic imaging capability comprises a fixed ultrasonic transducer which directs ultrasonic energy at a reflective surface on a rotating element. The rotating element allows the interior of the blood vessel to be scanned prior to the application of laser energy to ablate the obstruction.

Abstract: Intravascular catheters including both a flexible catheter body and a less flexible housing mounted at a distal end of the catheter body are provided with a flexible distal tip, preferably having a conical geometry. Guidewire channel or lumen is formed within the tip, and optionally additional guidewire lumens are formed in the housing or the distal end of the catheter body, or both. The catheters may thus be inserted and withdrawn over a guidewire without the need for the entire length of the catheter to pass over the guidewire.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus, system and method for high resolution intravascular imaging to assist indovascular lesions and to monitor the results of interventional therapy. An ultrasonic transducer is carried by the distal end of a catheter adapted for insertion into a vessel, and either the transducer or another element is rotated and/or translated relative to the catheter to image different portions of the vessel.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus, system and method for high resolution intravascular imaging to assist indovascular lesions and to monitor the results of interventional therapy. An ultrasonic transducer is carried by the distal end of a catheter adapted for insertion into a vessel, and either the transducer or another element is rotated and/or translated relative to the catheter to image different portions of the vessel.