Patent ID: 6027450
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter system for recanalization of a totally or near totally occluded body lumen of a patient, comprising:a) a elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen extending therein;b) means at the distal end of the elongated catheter shaft to remove occluded body lumen;c) means disposed proximal to the distal end of the elongated catheter shaft and within the inner lumen extending therein to emit ultrasonic energy forward of the distal end of the catheter shaft toward a wall defining the body lumen;d) means to receive ultrasonic energy reflected from the wall defining the body lumen; ande) means to generate a transverse image of the wall from received reflected ultrasonic energy which indicates the radial position of the distal end of the elongated catheter shaft within the body lumen to aid an operator to maintain the means to remove occluding material at a desired radial position within the body lumen.