Abstract: A catheter comprising a unitary guidewire and single mode optical fiber is used to illuminate human body channels, such as a tissue mass within a blood vessel, for purposes of diagnosis. A low coherent light source illuminates the tissue and provides a reference beam. Illumination that is reflected from the tissue is combined with the reference beam in an interferometer process. The path length of the reference beam is changed in a known manner in order to provide a known reference to the distance inside of the tissue from which reflected radiation is being received, thus providing information as to both the nature and the geometry of the tissue. A high signal to noise ratio is provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber storage and manipulation system (1) is disclosed, including a storage container (2) and a fiber insertion tool (3). The storage apparatus (2) includes a housing (11) containing a reel (13) onto which portions of a bare fiber (6) as well as a sheathed tube (36) coaxially covering the fiber (6) is wound. The fiber (6) may be withdrawn from the housing (11) and inserted into a fiber insertion tool (3) having a frame (15) which houses a sliding fiber gripping assembly (16) which permits the application of longitudinal compressive force to the fiber and advances the fiber (6) by means of a fiber advance tube (17) which telescopes into a larger diameter cannula insertion tube (18). The present system can be used, for example, in the field of laser angiosurgery in which arterial blockages are removed by the application of laser energy to arterial blockages by means of advancing an optical fiber to the site of the blockage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylindrical balloon mounted near the distal tip of a percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty catheter. Proximal and distal neck sections of the balloon are sealed to the catheter tubing, and a balloon inflation lumen originating at the tubing proximal end is open to the balloon interior. An elongate cylindrical body of the balloon is joined to the distal neck by a substantially transverse distal wall. As the balloon dilates in response to fluid under pressure supplied to the lumen, the distal wall tends to position the distal neck and distal end of the catheter tubing in centered, coaxial relation to the balloon body.

Abstract: A transluminal balloon laser catheter has an inflatable distal tip formed by an elongated balloon sealed at the distal end of a length of catheter tubing, and inflatable to an operating configuration in which the balloon effectively extends the distal end of an optical fiber lumen through the catheter tubing. One embodiment of the balloon is formed with a substantially planar distal face, transverse with respect to the extension of the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the distal face of the balloon is formed as a truncated cone, converging proximally from a radially outward longitudinal balloon section to a radially inward longitudinal balloon section whereby the distal tip of an optical fiber, even when advanced distally of the optical fiber lumen, is proximal with respect to the most distal portion of the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter manifold for an angioplasty balloon catheter assembly houses a plurality of serially arranged luers. Longitudinal sections of the luers are joined by tubular connectors, and with the connectors form a central passage through the manifold. At the most distal tubular connector is a reduction in passage diameter. A plurality of elongate, longitudinally directed flutes are formed in that connector just proximal of the diameter reduction. The flutes are engaged by a guide wire insertion tube or fiber insertion tube as it is loaded into the manifold, and tend to center the tube in the passageway. The flutes tend to maintain it in coaxial relation to the passageway, while permitting fluids from the proximal luers to flow in the passageway exteriorly of the tube.

Abstract: A multi-lumen laser enhanced transluminal angioplasy catheter apparatus provided with a balloon or expandable member which is coupled to a catheter connecting manifold member providing a plurality of inlet ports for handling and delivering procedure-dependent materials. A laser fiber advance unit, in turn, controllably advances and couples the lasing fiber between the catheter manifold and a laser control unit. The fiber advance unit provides interlock means preventing actuation or operation of the control unit, unless and until the tip of the laser beam transmitting fiber extends beyond the distal end of the catheter, and means are provided for controlling the insertion extent of advancement of the laser fiber and its transmitting tip into the body of the catheter.