Patent ID: 6962585
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An arterial catherization system for removing arterial blockage from an artery, which comprises: a cylindrical tube having a longitudinal passageway and at least one port; an annular tip axially aligned and abutting said cylindrical tube to effect a thermal cutting of said arterial blockage and to provide an entry into said longitudinal passageway for removing arterial debris; plural optical fibers pneumatically sealed within and extending along a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical tube, and abutting said annular tip to accommodate a heating of said annular tip to a thermal cutting temperature; and arterial guards formed into and extending from an outer surface of said cylindrical tube to separate inner walls of said artery from said annular tip and outer walls of said cylindrical tube, thus avoiding physical and thermal damage to said artery and providing blood pathways around said arterial catherization system to downstream body tissue.