Method of ablating arterial plaque

摘要

A method of ablating plaque from an artery section, using a catheter having a longitudinal body and a distal imaging and ablation tip connected to a distal end of the longitudinal body. The tip has an ultrasound imaging array, and a distal, forward directed face, distal to the ultrasound imaging array, and including a set of electrodes arranged circumferentially about the distal face. The catheter further includes a set of conductors connected to the tip and extending through the body. The catheter is connected to an image display. In the method the tip is introduced into the artery section and images the artery section in front, thereby creating imagery of the artery, which is shown on the image display. This imagery is reviewed and in reliance thereon selectively the electrodes are selectively activated to ablate plaque, while not activating any electrode that would damage any bare arterial wall.

主权项

1. A method of ablating plaque from an artery section, comprising:
(a) providing a catheter having a longitudinal body and a distal imaging and ablation tip connected to a distal end of said longitudinal body, said tip including:
(i) an ultrasound imaging array, comprising array elements; and(ii) a distal, forward directed face, distal to said ultrasound imaging array, and including a set of electrodes, said electrodes being arranged circumferentially about said distal face; (b) said catheter further including a set of conductors connected to said tip and extending through said body of said catheter; (c) providing an image display device, connected to said catheter; (d) introducing said tip into said artery section; (e) using said ultrasound array to image said artery section immediately forward of said tip, thereby creating imagery of said artery and displaying said imagery on said image display device; and (f) reviewing said imagery and in reliance thereon selectively activating one or more of said electrodes to ablate plaque where it appears in said imagery, while not activating any electrode that is positioned closely enough to bare arterial wall, that electrode activation would damage said bare arterial wall.