Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates in general to laser catheters and, but not by way of limitation, to laser catheter calibration among other things. 
     Laser catheters are often calibrated prior to use in order to regulate the fluence and/or the repetition rate of the laser catheter. A user may calibrate a laser catheter by holding the tip of a catheter near an energy detector connected with the catheter system. Having a user hold the catheter near an energy detector may introduce calibration errors by presenting individual variations. Different individuals may hold the catheter at different positions relative to the energy detector and may not hold the catheter steady during the calibration process. Moreover, potential calibration errors may occur if a user does not properly follow calibration procedures. Furthermore, catheters also are sterilized prior to use and as such the person performing the hand-held calibration procedure must exercise sterility protocols. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved laser catheter calibrator and/or calibration procedures. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A catheter is disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. The catheter may include a catheter body including a distal tip, a proximal end, and a fiber optic extending between the proximal end and the distal tip. The catheter may be supported within a channel of a housing. The channel may be adapted to receive and support at least a portion of the distal tip of the catheter body at a fixed distance from a detector. The channel is also adapted to provide a sterile environment for the distal tip of the catheter. Both the catheter and the housing may be sterilized before or after the distal tip is inserted into the channel. The catheter distal tip may be supported a specific distance from the detector within the channel, for example, the catheter may be supported, for example, approximately ¼, ½, ¾, 1¼, 1½, 1¾, 2, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, or 3 inches from the detector. The proximal end of the catheter may include a connector that is designed to optically connect with a laser. 
     A calibration method is also disclosed according to another embodiment of the invention. The method includes providing a catheter with the distal tip of the catheter supported within a housing. The housing may include a channel and a detector. The channel may support the distal tip of the catheter at a fixed distance from the detector. The catheter, channel, and/or housing may be sterilized together or separately. Moreover, the catheter within the housing may be packaged within a sterile packaging and provided to a consumer. The proximal end of the catheter may be coupled with a laser and calibrated. The calibration may include pulsing the laser with fixed parameters and detecting laser light from the distal tip of the catheter at the detector. The pulsing may end when/if the detector detects light that is of a significantly strong signal, at or above a threshold value or within pre-selected or pre-entered parameters defined by the catheter type. If the detected light is not sufficient the operating parameters of the laser may be adjusted and pulsed until the detected light reaches the threshold value. In another embodiment, if the detected light is not within pre-selected or pre-entered parameters the calibration fails. 
     A method for providing a sterile catheter to a customer is provided according to another embodiment of the invention. The method may include providing a housing that includes a channel and a detector and placing at least the tip of a sterilized catheter within the channel. The channel, catheter tip and/or housing may be sterile. The channel may be adapted to keep the tip of the catheter sterilized at least until the tip is removed from the channel. The channel may be adapted to support the catheter a fixed distance from the detector. The catheter and housing may be provided to a customer within a sterile package. 
     The method may also include calibrating the catheter with a laser. Calibration may include coupling the catheter with a laser and pulsing the laser with fixed operating parameters. Light may then be detected at the detector and compared with a threshold value. If the detected light is greater than or equal to a threshold value and/or within pre-entered or pre-selected parameters defined by the user or the catheter type, the calibration stops. These pre-entered parameters may be found within a look-up table. For example, the laser may receive an indication of the type of catheter inserted within the channel from the catheter or from a user through the user interface. Pre-entered parameters for the specific catheter may then be found with the look-up table and used to calibrate the catheter. Otherwise the operating parameters may be adjusted and pulsed until the detected light is at or within 1%, 5%, or 10% of the threshold value. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary laser catheter according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary laser catheter within a sterilized package according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary laser catheter coupled with a laser system according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary method for providing a sterile catheter supported within a housing to a customer according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows an exemplary method for calibrating a catheter supported within a housing according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows another exemplary method for calibrating a catheter according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a laser catheter coupled with a laser according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a laser catheter with the distal tip of the catheter held near a manual calibrator. 
         FIG. 9  shows a laser catheter according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a laser catheter secured within a sterile bag and with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within the channel according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a laser catheter secured within a sterile bag, with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within the channel and the housing of the laser catheter coupled with the laser according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows a laser catheter with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within the channel according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Where the reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same reference label. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferred exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims. 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a catheter supported within a housing. The housing, for example, may include a channel and a detector. The catheter may be supported within the channel such that the tip of the distal tip of the catheter is a fixed distance from the detector. Moreover, the distal tip of the catheter and/or the channel may be sterilized prior to placing the distal tip of the catheter within the channel. The distal tip of the catheter may remain sterile while supported by the channel within the housing. Thus, the catheter may be sterilized, packaged, and provided to a user. The housing and catheter may be coupled together and then sterilized according to another embodiment of the invention. The user may then have a catheter that may be used without requiring sterilizing of the catheter prior to use. The catheter and housing may also be disposable. 
     Prior to operation and while the catheter is supported within the channel of the housing, the catheter may be calibrated. The proximal end of the catheter may be optically connected with a laser, for example, an excimer laser. The laser may the be operated or pulsed. The laser may be operated in response to receiving an indication from a user through a user interface, for example, through a button, switch, keyboard, mouse, pointer, touch screen, etc. The user may also input laser operation parameters as well as calibration threshold parameters. During operation of the laser, the detector may detect laser light from the catheter. The detected light may be compared with a threshold value. If the detected laser light has a sufficient signal based on a comparison with a threshold value, the calibration may be complete. The laser may the be pulsed using different operating parameters and calibrated with these parameters. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a catheter is shown according to one embodiment of the invention. A catheter  140  is shown with a long fiber optic section between a distal tip  142  and a proximal end that is secured to a housing  110 . The housing  110  includes a connector  120  that is used to couple the catheter to a laser system. The distal tip  142  of the catheter  140  is secured within a channel  130  of the catheter housing  110 . The channel  130  is shown as a slot or tube within the catheter housing  110 . The catheter  140  may include a fiber optic that channels light through the catheter and through the distal tip  142  of the catheter. An exemplary catheter  140  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,680 issued 10 Oct. 1995, entitled “Fiber optic catheter with shortened guide wire lumen,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     The distal tip of the catheter  142  may be detachable from the catheter  140 . The distal tip of the catheter  142  may be replaced with another sterile distal tip of a catheter  142 . Prior to supporting the distal tip of the catheter  142  within the channel  130 , the channel  130 , the housing,  110  and/or catheter  140  may be sterilized. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing  110  and catheter  140  may then be packaged in a sterile package  210  and provided to a user. The package  210  may be a sterilized bag of any type. Because the catheter and/or housing have been sterilized the user may use the catheter without first sterilizing the catheter. 
     The catheter  140  and housing  110  may be coupled with a laser  300  as shown in  FIG. 3  according to another embodiment of the invention. The laser  300  may be optically connected with the catheter  140  through the connector  120  and may transmit light through the fiber optic portion of the catheter  140 . As shown, the catheter  140  may be coupled with the laser system  300  while partially secured within the package  210 , thus preserving sterilization. The laser system  300  may also include a detector  305 . When the catheter  140  is coupled with the laser system  300 , the distal tip  142  of the catheter  140  may be secured a fixed distance from the detector  305 . The distal tip of the catheter  142  may be positioned one inch from the detector. In other embodiments the distal tip of the catheter may be positioned approximately ¼, ½, ¾, 1¼, 1½, 1¾, 2, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, or 3 inches from the detector. In another embodiment, the distal tip of the catheter is secured less than four inches from the detector but is not touching the detector. The laser system  300  may also include a user interface  305 ,  310 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the proximal end of the catheter may be connected with the laser. For example, the laser may be an excimer laser operating in the ultraviolet range. The laser may produce laser light at 308 nm. Other laser types of lasers may also be used depending on the specific needs of the user and may produce laser light at various other wavelengths of light. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any type of laser may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The detector  305  may include, for example, a pyroelectric sensor. 
     The channel  130  may comprise an elongated hollow tube that supports and/or secures the distal tip of the catheter  142  near the detector  305 . The channel  130  may include detents, ridges, rings, discs, risers, etc. that may be used to support and/or secure the distal tip of the catheter  142 . The distal tip of the catheter may also include flanges, detents, rings, discs, etc. that may also be used to support and/or secure the distal tip of the catheter  142  near the detector within the channel  130 . Moreover, physical features of the distal tip of the catheter  142  may match and/or interact with corresponding physical features of the channel  130  to secure the distal tip of the catheter  142  with the channel  130 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an exemplary method for providing a sterile catheter supported within a housing to a customer according to one embodiment of the invention. A housing with a channel may be provided at block  410 . As mentioned above, the housing and/or channel may be sterilized. A catheter may also be provided at block  420 . The catheter may also be sterilized in whole or in part, for example, the distal tip of the catheter or the tip of the catheter may be sterilized. 
     The distal tip of the catheter may then be supported within a housing at block  430 . The housing may support the distal tip of the catheter using a channel and/or a sheath at a fixed distance. The housing and catheter may then be packaged within a sterile package. The housing and catheter may be provided to a customer at block  440 . The catheter and housing may be disposable. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary method for calibrating a laser and catheter according to one embodiment of the invention. The distal tip of a catheter may be provided and supported near a detector within a housing at block  510 . The proximal end of the catheter may be optically connected with a laser at block  520 . The laser-catheter combination may then be calibrated at block  530 . The calibration may be started in response to an indication received from a user through a user interface to start the calibration. The user may also enter calibration parameters such as laser operating parameters and/or calibration threshold parameters through the user interface. The calibration may end when the detector detects light at, near, or above a threshold value at block  540 . For example, light within 1%, 5% or 10% of the threshold value may work. During this calibration, the distal tip of the catheter remains supported at a fixed distance from the detector within the channel. 
       FIG. 6  shows another exemplary method for calibrating a catheter according to another embodiment of the invention. A user, such as a doctor, nurse or assistant is provided with a catheter sterilized and placed within a sterile package. The user removes at least the connector from the package at block  610  and connects the connector with the laser system at block  620 . While the connector may be partially removed when connected with the laser system, a length of the catheter may remain with the package as shown in  FIG. 3 . Returning to  FIG. 6 , the laser system may detect the type catheter inserted at block  630  and then look up the catheter-specific calibration parameters used for the specific catheter at block  640 . A calibration sequence may then be performed at block  650 . For example, during calibration, the laser may fire, for example, for 100 pulses. As another example, the laser may fire between 10 and 500 pulses. During this operation, the detector detects the light incident from the tip of the catheter. The system then determines whether the received energy is within the catheter specific parameters at block  660 . For example, various catheters the calibration parameters may include measuring the received energy, the threshold of which may be in the range of 5 mJ to 100 mJ. These values may vary depending on the type of catheter, type or procedure or may even be manually input by a physician. If the calibration passes, the catheter may be used at block  670 . If the calibration fails, then the catheter is rejected at block  680 . During calibration the user may or may not be present; there is no need for the user to hold the catheter in place to ensure the catheter remains sterile as most of the catheter is within a sterile package. That is, the user may attend to other matters during calibration. An indication may occur through the laser system user interface whether the calibration has passed of failed. 
       FIG. 7  shows a laser catheter  100  coupled with a laser  300  according to one embodiment of the invention. The housing  100  is coupled with laser such that the lower portion of the housing is inserted within the laser. Note that the distal tip of the laser catheter  100  is secured within a channel  130  within the housing  100  in such away as to be near a calibration sensor  305 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a laser catheter with the distal tip of the catheter held near a manual calibrator. Shows the distal tip of the catheter positioned near an external calibration sensor. In some cases, the distal tip of the catheter may be manually held near the calibration sensor. 
       FIG. 9  shows an exemplary laser catheter. 
       FIG. 10  shows a laser catheter secured within a sterile bag  1000  and with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within channel  130  according to one embodiment of the invention. The laser catheter may be shipped in this configuration and may be sterilized prior to packaging.  FIG. 11  shows a laser catheter secured within a sterile bag  1000 , with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within the channel and the housing of the laser catheter coupled with the laser  300  according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the laser catheter may be calibrated within the sterile packaging by simply removing the housing and connecting the laser catheter to the laser  300  while the remaining portions of the laser catheter remain within the sterile package.  FIG. 12  shows a laser catheter with the distal tip of the laser catheter secured within the channel according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 1