GB2208805A

GB2208805A - Laser catheter

Info

Publication number: GB2208805A
Application number: GB8825177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Jack Herman; Laurence Andrew Roth; Edward Lawrence Sinofsky; Jr Douglas William Dickinson
Original assignee: CR Bard Inc
Current assignee: CR Bard Inc
Priority date: 1985-05-22
Filing date: 1988-10-27
Publication date: 1989-04-19
Also published as: IN165891B; ES297123U; GB8825177D0; AU588272B2; GB2208805B; GB8825179D0; GB8600577D0; ES297086Y; JPS61268245A; AU5224486A; ES297123Y; GB2175505B; IT1204451B; GB2175505A; CA1295374C; NL8601292A; GB2208806A; IT8619395A0; DE3610270C2; GB2208806B

Description

1 1 1 DUPLICATE 1 - WIRE_GUIDED_LASER_CATHETER r ' 1 2 1- U U, j This

invention relates to catheters and techniques for delivering and applying laser energy to a location within the human body.

is Although the theoretical possibilities for the medical use of laser energy have been recognized for a long time, its practical use has been limited to only a few types of procedures. Typically, the procedures in which laser energy has been used for treatment have been in readily exposed, easily accessible portions of the body such as the patient's skin and eyes. While it has been suggested for some time that laser energy might be useful in the recanalization of obstructed blood vessels to remove the obstruction from the blood vessel, a satisfactory, practical system has not yet been developed. A major obstacle in the development of techniques for applying laser energy to blood vessels has been in the problem of how to deliver the laser beam precisely to the vascular site to be treated and then, how to apply controllably the laser beam so as to remove the biological material causing the blockage 2 without damaging or otherwise adversely affecting the patient's vasculature. The difficulties presented have been compounded further by the dimensional limitations which must be imposed on any catheter which is to be inserted into a blood vessel, particularly narrow blood vessels such as coronary arteries which may have lumens of the order of 1.5 to 4. 5 millimetres in diameter.

is Among the difficulties is the manner of placing and locating the distal end of the catheter so that it is positioned properly with respect to the obstruction. Prior proposals, which have included the use of supplemental optical fibres to transmit illuminating light into the blood vessel in conjunction with other groups of fibres to permit visual observation of the interior of the blood vessel, are not practical because they are too large and too stiff for use in narrow arteries. Another difficulty which has been presented is that there often may be materials such as blood, in the region between the emission point of the laser beam at the end of the fibre and the obstruction. Such material may obstruct the optical path. The blood may become charred at the distal emitting tip of the fibre which can result in overheating and destruction of the 1 is 3 optical fibre. Still another difficulty is that such a catheter which is to be advanced to small, distally located arteries must be very flexible to be able to make sharp, short radius bends in order to reach those arteries. The catheter must also have a small diameter, yet must be capable of being pushed and manipulated, from its proximal end, without becoming bunched up or bent as it advances within the patient's blood vessels. A further, very desirable feature of such a catheter is that it should be capable of providing fluid communication from the proximal to the distal end of the catheter, to enable liquid infusion or to make pressure measurements. The development of a practical catheter which achieves the foregoing objects while avoiding the other difficulties has proved to be a substantial problem.

Although many laser catheters have been proposed in the past, none has proved to be usable to any practical degree. All suffer from one or more of various difficulties. It is among the general objects of the invention to provide a practical and effective catheter system by which laser energy can be delivered to 1 - 4 selected sites in a patient's blood vessels with precision and control.

According to the invention, there is provided a catheter for delivering laser energy comprising an elongate catheter body adapted to be placed internally of the patient, the catheter body having proximal and distal ends, optical fibre means carried by the catheter body and being constructed and arranged to direct laser light from the proximal end to the distal end and to emit a beam of laser light at the distal end of the catheter, and means at the distal end of the catheter for reflecting light reflected or radiated from the biological material thereby to reduce absorption of energy by the distal end of the catheter.

In the preferred embodiment to be described hereafter with reference to the drawings, the catheter is capable of and is intended to be used with a guide wire. The central lumen, which receives the guide wire, extends fully through the catheter and is open at the distal end of the catheter. The catheter has a very small outer diameter, of the order of 1.5 millimetres, and is small enough to be advanced deeply into the patient's i 1 - 5 more narrow blood vessels. A plurality of optical fibres are contained within the wall of the catheter. The distal end of the catheter includes an optically transparent cylindrical cap which covers and protects the distal ends of the optical fibres. The cap has a central aperture which defines the distal outlet aperture of the lumen with the distal end of the cap defining an annular, ring-like configuration about the aperture. The distal ends of the optical fibres are mounted securely with respect to the end cap so that light emitted from the fibres passes through the distal annular portion of the cap and is emitted from the ring-shaped distal end face of the cap.

The proximal end of the catheter includes a branch fitting from which extends a plurality of tubes, there being one tube to receive the proximal end of each optical fibre. The proximal end of each tube has a connector by which the optical fibres may be connected individually to a laser light source. Each of the optical fibres is independent of the other and each can be used and controlled independently of the others should that be desired.

9 is - 6 Another tube extending from the proximal fitting at the. proximal end of the catheter is in communication with the proximal end of the central lumen of the catheter and provides access for a guide wire. The guide wire may be a very small diameter, steerable guide wire. The cross sectional dimensions and shape of the guide wire and the catheter lumen are such that when the guide wire is in place, adequate flow area will remain within the lumen to permit pressure measurements to be within the lumen to permit pressure measurements to be taken in the blood vessel beyond the distal end of the catheter and also to permit liquids to flow through the lumen.

The preferred catheter of the invention is constructed to be highly flexible so as to be adapted to follow relatively short radius, sharply curved paths along the patient's vasculature. The catheter includes a composite wall construction which includes an inner core, through which the central lumen is formed, and an outer sheath. The sheath is not secured to the core and is permitted to slide and shift longitudinally with respect to the core when the catheter is bent. The core is formed to include a plurality of flu,tes which f extend longitudinally along the outer surface of the core. The flutes receive the individual optical fibres. The fibres are retained within the flutes by the surrounding sheath which, although not secured to the core, is dimensioned to cover the flutes and prevent the fibres from shifting out of their respective flutes. The fibres are freely shiftable longitudinally within the flutes. When the catheter is bent, all of the longitudinally extending components are free to shift to minimize resistance to bending. In addition, the flexibility of the composite catheter is enhanced further by forming the core in an articulated configuration. The core is formed to include reduced diameter peripheral notches at spaced locations along the core shaft. The notched sections are more flexible and enable the catheter to be bent to very small radius curves. The flexibility of the catheter may be varied along its length by varying the longitudinal spacing of the notches.

The central lumen is adapted to provide fluid communication from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter to permit pressure measurement and liquid flow while the guide wire is in place in the Tt 8 lumen. Preferably, the tips of the fibres are isolated to protect the fibres and a plurality of optical fibres extend through the catheter, for delivery of laser energy, the individual fibres being provided with separate connective fittings, the transmission of energy through the fibres being controllable independently of the others.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmented illustration of the catheter having a guide wire extending therethrough, Fig. 2 is an isometric illustration of the distal portion of the catheter, broken away and shown in quarter section (enlarged), Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the distal region of the catheter, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal illustration of a section of the main core shaft with the catheter sheath removed to illustrate the articulated nature of the core shaft, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of I 11 - 8a. the catheter as seen along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 with the position of the guide wire within the lumen illustrated in phantom, Fig. 6 is an end view of the distal end of the catheter as seen along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of the distal tip of the catheter illustrating the pattern of light rays emitted from the distal end of the catheter, 1 2B410/714 AZB/dmC 6221B - 9 FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are diagrammatic illustrations of the beams emitted from the catheter having four optical fibers as seen along the image planes indicated at 7A-7A, 7B-7B and 7C-7C of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG.-l iilustrates the catheter, indicated generally,by the reference character 10, with a guide wire, indicated generally at 12, extending through the catheter. The guide wire 12 is shown with its distal end 14 projecting out of the distal end of the catheter 10 and with its proximal end 16 extending out of and being exposed at the proximal end of the catheter 10. The catheter 10 has an elongate main portion 18 which, by way of example only, may be of the order of 160 centimeters long. The guide wire may be of the order of 180 centimeters long, or more. As will be described in further detail, the invention enables the catheter to have a main portion 18 with an outer.diameter of the order of 1.5 millimeters. A branch fitting 20 is molded securely to the proximal end of the main portion 18 of the catheter 10 and a plurality of tubes 22 extend proximally from the fitting 20. The tubes 22 are intended to carry optical fibers, described below, each tube 22 being provided with a single fiber and having a connector 24 at its proximal end by which the fiber within each of the tubes 22 may be connected to a source of laser light.

11 1 1 2B410/714 MB/dmc 62213 - The catheter 10 includes an additional flexible tube 26 extending proximally from the fitting 20 -which communicates with a lumen extending through the catheter through which the guide wire 12 may be passed. The tube 26 has a fitting 28 on its proximal end. Fitting 28 may be a Luer-Lok fitting to enable.the tube 26 to be easily and quickly connected to liquid infusion devices and/or pressure monitoring devices. The fitting 28 can be ponnected 10 to a conventional Y-fitting to permit the guide wire 12 to be controlled while also permitting liquid infusion and pressure monitoring.

The main portion 18 of the catheter 10 includes an inner elongate core 30 which is surrounded by an outer elongate sheath 32. As shown in further detail in PIGS. 2-5 the inner core 30 has a lumen 34 which extends centrally along and within the core 30. The lumen 34 may be circular in cross section although in the preferred embodiment a non-circular cross section is preferredi such as the four-lobed shape shown in FIG. 5 having alternate lands 36 and groove-like lobes 38. The lobes 38 cooperate with the guide wire 12 which has a circular cross section (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 12) to define an enlarged cross sectional flow area in the space between the guide wire 12 and the inner, lumen-defining surface of the core 34. The guide -1 2B410/714 MB/dmc 6221B 1 wire 12 and core lumen 34 are arranged to provide a clearance within the lumen 34 to permit liquid to flow and pressure measurements to be made through the lumen 34 while the guide wire 12 is in place in the lumen. The proximal tube 26 is connected within the fitting 20 to the core 30 so that the lumen 34 is in comqunication with the lumen of the tube 26.

The cqre 30 also is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced flutes 40. Each of the flutes 40 receives waveguide means, such as an optical fiber 42 adapted to transmit radiant energyi such as laser light. The optical fibers 42 are not secured within the flutes 40 and are permitted to shift longitudinally within the flutes as the catheter is bent. The distal ends of the fibers 42 are secured within the distal portion of the catheter, in a manner which will be described. The proximal ends of the fibers 42 pa ss through the fitting 20. extend through the flexible tubes 22 and are secured at their proximal ends within the optical connectors 24. The tubes 22 are secured within the fitting 20 and the fitting is formed to provide a smooth transition and passage for the fibers 42 from the flutes 40 through the fitting 20 into the tubes 22. 1 1 1 8 2B410/714 MB/dMC 6221B 12 - The outer sheath 32 covers the core 30 and fibers 42 and serves to retain the fibers 42 within the flutes 40. Except for its connections to the catheter at its proximal and distal endst the sheath 32 also is not attached to the core 30 or to the optical fibers 42. Thus, there are no points of attachment along the length of the catheter between the core 30, optical fibers 42 or sheath 32 which enhances the high degree of flexibility of the catheter by minimizing internal resistance to bending of the catheter.

The sheath 32 preferably is formed from a heat shrinkable material, such as PTFEI and is heat shrunk about the core 32, but not to a degree of tightness which would impair the freedom of the sheath and core to shift with respect to each other when the catheter is bent. By way of example, the core may have a diameter of the order of.046" and the sheath may have an inner diameter of about.050' and a wall thickness of about.0030, thus leaving a very slight clearance between the core and sheath.

The flexibility of the catheter is enhanced further by forming the core 30 so that it defines a series of articulated segments. FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the core from which it may be seen that the core is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedp circumferential notches 44.

2B410/714 MB/dmc 6221B The notches separate and define the core into a plurality of serially arranged core segments 46 -connected by smaller diameter and shorter connective segments 48. The arrangement of articulated core segments 46 increases the flexibility of the core 30 and, therefore, increases the flexibility of the composite,,, qatheter. The connective segments 48 are smaller indiameter and present less resistance to bending so that a bending force applied to the catheter will cause the core to bend at the connective segments 48. The connective segments 48 may be spaced in equal distances along the length of the catheter to provide a uniform degree of flexibility for the- catheter along its length.

However,, if it is desired to vary the flexibility of the catheter. at any location. that may be achieved by varying the spacing of the connective segments 48. By spacing the segments 48 closer to each other, the resulting catheter segment will have a higher degree of flexibility than where the spacing is greater and in where the length of the core segments 46 is larger. For example, it may be desirable to provide a catheter in which the distal region is more flexible than the proximal portions so as to permit the distal region to be bent into sharper radius curves. Variations in the flexibility of the catheter also may be achieved by c 1. 1 1 23410/714 MB/dMC 6221B 14 - varying the length of the connective segments 48 as well as the core segments 46. By way of example, in a catheter having the dimensions described above the core segments 46 may be between about one to four millimeters long and the connective segments may be one-half to one millimeter in length.

The core 30 preferably is formed from a material hkving a relatively low coefficient of friction. such as PTFE, to reduce resistance.of the guide wire within the lumen 34. The guide wire preferably is also coated with a low friction material such as PTFE to further reduce friction between the two.

The core 30 preferably is provided with radiopaque stripes 35 which extend lengthwise of the core. The stripes 35 may be formed by radiopaque materials added to the resin from which the core is extruded according to procedures well known in the art. In the preferred embodiment a plurality of - radiopaque stripes 35 are formed between adjacent flutes 40. The radiopaque stripes 35 preferably are formed only on the outer surface-of the core so that the inner surface may remain defined completely by the low friction material. It may be noted that the radiopaque stripes are interrupted at the notches 44. The resulting stripe, howeverg presents a sufficiently continuous radiopaque image as to be effective in visualizing its position under fluoroscopy.

k - if 1 2B410/714 AZB/dmc 6221B The distal ends of the optical fibers 42 are secured together by a fiber holder 50 which is secured to the fibers 40 at their distal ends. The fiber holder 50 is contained within and also is secured to an optically transparent distal cap 52 which is formed from an optical glass or crystalline equivalenL- which is transmissive to the wavelength of radiant.-energy with which the catheter is to be used. The cap serves to isolate the fibers 40 from the vascular environment and protects them from exposure to biological material.

The fiber holder 50, shown also in FIG. 61 preferably is formed from a radiopaque material, such as stainless steel or a more radiopaque material such as platinum. The fiber holder 50 is cylindrical and is provided with a central aperture 54 which preferably is substantially about the same size as the lumen 34 in the core 30. The central aperture 54 may be circular or lobe shaped, although a circular aperture 54 may be used in a catheter in which the central lumen 34 is lobe shaped as shown in FIG. 5. The fiber holder 50.is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending holes 56 which extend through the wall of the holder 50 and receive, in a snug fitt the distal ends of the optical fibers 40. The distal face 58 of the combined fibers 40 and fiber holder 50 is polished flat to butt flush against an annular shoulder 60 formed in the optically transparent cap 52.

k 1 1 2B410/714 MB/dmc 6221B The cap 52 is cylindrical and has the same outer diameter as the sheath 32 so that they may -define a smooth and continuous consistent outer diameter. The cap 52 has an enlarged bore 62 formed in its proximal end. The bore terminates at and defines the internal shoulder 60 and a smaller diameter qentral aperture 64 is formed in the distal end of the ' cap 52. The central aperture 64 may be the same diameter as the aperture 54 in the fiber holder 50 to provide a smooth and continuous passage which opens at the distal tip of the catheter. However, the central aperture 64 may be somewhat narrower than the lumen 34 as long as sufficient clearance is provided about the guide wire so as not to adversely interfere with fluid flow and pressure measurement. Some restriction in the flow area can be tolerated at the distal tip as long as the restriction extends over a relatively short length, as would be the case if the openings 64 and 54 presented somewhat of a narrowed or partly restricted flow area.

The cap 52 is securedf as by an epoxy adhesive, to the fiber holder 50 and also to that portion of the core 30 and the fibers 42 which are disposed within the proximal end of the cap 52. The distal end of the sheath 32 is simply butted against the proximal end of the cap 52 and need not be adhesively connected to the cap 52.

2B410/714 AZB/dmc 6221B By way of example the cap 52 may be formed from a pair of Pyrex brand glass cylinders which are fusable to each other. Thus, the cap 50 may be formed from an elongate relatively large diameter Pyrex glass sleeve and a relatively short, smaller diameter Pyrex glass sleeve, the smaller sleeve fitting w_thin and being fused to one end of the outer sleeve. The end where the two sleeves are joined defines the relatively thick walled distal segment 72. The faces 60, 74 may be polished so as to be optically flat. The foregoing arrangement serves to position securely the distal ends of the fibers 42 and in a manner which completely protects and isolates the fibers 42 from exposure to and contact with biological material.

In order to maximize the flexibility of the catheter it is preferred to use relatively few optical fibers. The beam pattern emitted by the catheter preferably should diverge to define a diameter slightly beyond the end of the catheter which is just slightly greater than the diameter of the catheter so that the hole formed through the biological material by the laser energy will be large enough to- permit the catheter to be passed through it. Moreover, it is preferred to accomplish that with a relatively few number of optical fibers so as not to impair the high degree of catheter 1 v 2B410/714 MB/dmC 6221B flexibility which is preferred. A catheter having a very small diameter, of the order of 1.5 millimeters can achieve these ob)ectives using an arrangement of four optical fibers equiangularly spaced about the central axis of the catheter. It should be understood, however, that the advantages of the invention can be achieved using somewhat more, or possibly even fewer than four optical fibers, although it is preferred to maintain the number at the minimum required in order to form the desired beam pattern.

FIG. 7 illustrates, diagramatically, the beam pattern of a pair of diametrally opposed fibers. The beam as defined by l/e 2 radius is suggested by the ray lines 70 in FIG. 7. The beam from each individual fiber 42 is emitted from the distal face of the fiber 42 and enters the distal segment 72 of the cap 52 through the face defining the shoulder 60. The beam is divergent andr in the illustrative embodiment, may have a half angle of the order of between about 60 to 160, depending on the numerical aperture of the fiber. The diverging beam from each of the fibers 42 exits from the distal emission face 74 at the end of the cap 52. FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate the beam pattern, in cross section, as seen along the image planes 7A, 7B and 7C in FIG. 7. At the emission face 74 of the cap 52 the beams, i 2B410/714 MB/dmc 6221B - 19 in the illustrative embodiment, are still separate. At the plane 7B-7B the beams have further diverged and have begun to overlap. At the plane indicated at 7C-7C the beams have overlapped and define an envelope 73 having an outer diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the catheter. Preferably the beams 70 have overlapped to merge and fill in a continuous pattern within a distance from the distal face 74 which is approximally equal to the outer diameter of the catheter, about 1.5 millimeters in the illustrative embodiment. The length of the distal segment 72 preferably is determined so that the distance between the distal face 74 of the cap 52 and the substantially filled-in image plane is as desired.

In another aspect of the invention the optics at the distal end of the catheter are arranged to minimize re-reflection. In that regard it should be understood that some of the light emitted from the catheter may be re-reflected by the biological material within the blood vessel. Additionally, light in the infrared portion of the spectrum may be radiated from biological material which is heated by the absorption of radiant energy. Re-reflection is undesirable because the re-reflected light and emitted IR radiation may be absorbed by the optical fiber and other components at the distal end and may -1 4 0 1 2B410/714 MB/dmc 6221B cause them to overheat and possibly be destroyed. In order to protect the device from re-reflection -and from emitted IR radiation the distal face 58 of the fiber holder 50 and the distal ends of the fibers 42 are highly polished to provide a reflective surface. Light which is reflected or emitted from the biological tissue back toward the catheter wll be.re-reflected by the face 58 and thereby returned toward the biological material.

Additionally,, it is preferred to provide an anti-reflection coating on the proximally facing shoulder surface 60 of the cap to maximize transmission of light distally through the surface 60.

The catheter may be used in a number of pcotocols depending on the preference of the physcian and the vascular anatomy to be treated. For example, the catheter 10 may be preassembled with the guide wire 12 extending through the catheter,, with the distal tip of the guide wire retracted in the distal end of the catheter. The combined catheter and guide wire then may be advanced together through a previously pla-ced guide catheter which will have been placed so that its distal tip will be at the entry to a coronary artery to be treated. The distal end of the combined catheter and guide wire then may be advanced A 2B410/714 AZB/dific 6221B slightly into the coronary artery and then the guide wire may be advancedr alone, through the artery. The guide wire 12 may be manipulated to advance selectively into the arterial branch where the stenosis to be treated is located. Once the guide wire has been placed, the catheter can be advanced over the guide wire and will follow the guide wire to bring the distal end of the catheter to the intended site. The positioning of the guide wire and the catheter may be monitored fluoroscopically. Additionally radiopaque dye may be injected through the catheter lumen 34 at any time during the procedure when it is desired to visualize fluoroscopically the coronary anatomy.

Liquidst such as radiopaque dye# may be injected at any time even while the guide wire is in place. Flushing liquids, such as saline also can be delivered and liquid and debris can be aspirated through the catheter. Similarly, arterial pressure measurements may be taken at any time even while the guide wire is in place. The catheter is advanceable easily over the guide wire and is highly flexible so as to be capable of following any curve or bend in the guide wire necessary to follow the contour of the patient's vasculature. Once the catheter has been advanced to the desired location laser energy may be applied through the optical fibers and 1 1 2B410/714 AU/dmc 6221B - 22 delivered to the site to be treated. The laser energy may be applied simultaneously through all of the optical fibers 42 or it may be applied selectively through the individual fibers.

Thus, the invention provides a catheter and system for delivering laser energy to remote and difficult to reach regions of a patient's vasculatur4k, The invention enables a laser catheter to be placed with the aid of a guide wire and is constructed to be highly flexible so as to be. capable of making sharp, small radius bends. The system enables pressure measurement and liquid infusion without requiring withdrawal of the guide wire. Moreover, these and other advantages are achieved within a very small diameter catheter.

Attention is directed to Application No. 8600577, published no. 2175505, from which this application is divided.

A 91 1

Claims

1. A catheter for delivering laser energy comprising an elongate catheter body adapted to be placed internally of the patient, the catheter body having proximal and distal ends, optical fibre means carried by the catheter body and being constructed and arranged to direct laser light from the proximal end to the distal end and to emit a beam of laser light at the distal end of the catheter, and means at the distal end of the catheter for reflecting light reflected or radiated from the biological material thereby to reduce absorption of energy by the distal end of the catheter.

2. A catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the catheter has a fibre holder at the distal end, the fibre holder having a distal face, the distal end of the optical fibre means being attached to the fibre holder, the reflecting means comprising the distal face of the holder and the distal end of the fibre being highly polished.

Q1 C 1

3. A catheter as claimed in claim 2 wherein a transparent end cap is mounted to the catheter over and covering the distal end of the holder and the optical fibre means, the proximal face of the end cap being coated with an antireElection coating.

4. A catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein the fibre holder is formed from a metal.

5. A catheter for delivering laser energy substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

v Ai'hliclo.d 1998 at The Patent Office. Stal-e House. 6671 High Holborn. London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtamed frorn The Patent Office,