Patent ID: 7780608
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A catheter system for detecting vulnerable plaque of a blood vessel having a lumen surface, said catheter system comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a supply lumen and an exhaust lumen extending therebetween; a balloon disposed at the distal end of the catheter body and having a balloon wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the balloon wall being an outer surface of the catheter system and the inner surface defining a balloon inflation cavity, the balloon in fluid communication with the supply lumen and exhaust lumen; an inflation supply in fluid communication with the supply lumen at the proximal end of the catheter body, the inflation supply configured to inflate the balloon inflation cavity with a gas when detecting the vulnerable plaque; a gas disposed in the balloon inflation cavity, wherein the gas has a temperature of about 30° C. or more; a plurality of temperature sensors affixed to the balloon so as to provide temperature measurements of the lumen surface; and external equipment comprising a circuit and an indicator that provides an indication to a user of the catheter system, the circuit adapted to measure a temperature differential between at least two different ones of the plurality of temperature sensors, and to generate a vulnerable plaque signal on the indicator when the temperature differential is about 1° C. or more.