Thermography catheters allowing for rapid exchange and methods of use

摘要

An intravascular thermography device comprising an elongate catheter having a distal guidewire port, a proximal guidewire port at a location closer to the distal end of the catheter than the proximal end, and a guidewire lumen. An expansion frame is attached to the catheter. The expansion frame is operable to expand, and has at least one temperature sensor. A capture sheath is slideably disposed about the expansion frame and operable from the proximal end of the catheter to release the expansion frame when the capture sheath is removed from the expansion frame. The capture sheath has a passage in a distal region of the capture sheath, the passage being shaped to align with the proximal guidewire port of the catheter. A registry mechanism is provided to maintain circumferential alignment between the proximal guidewire port and the passage in the distal region of the capture sheath. Methods of use are also disclosed.