Catheter.

摘要

A catheter (4') for insertion into a blood vessel and for use in the treatment of heart disease comprises a flexible tube-like sheath (19) including radially expansible and contractible balloon (11) arranged about the peripheral surface of its distal end, a light guide (5, 31) for transmitting illumination light to the leading end of the catheter (4') and an image guide (8) for transmitting an image from the distal end of the catheter (4'). The catheter also includes a fluid passage (6) for expanding and contracting the balloon (11) and a transparent liquid guide passage (9, 31) opening at the distal end to provide a flush of transparent liquid. Such a catheter (4') thus functions concurrently as an endoscope to observe and locate a stenosis and a device to dilate a blood vessel to relieve the stenosis.