HYBRID CATHETER APPARATUS AND METHODS
A hybrid catheter device for performing cutting action on a region of a tissue, using sequential laser and mechanical cutting processes, and incorporating an acoustic sensor on the end of the device, such that if a pulsed laser beam is used for the laser cutting, the absorption of that beam in the tissue being cut can provide information about the progress of the cut by means of the opto-acoustic effect. Other hybrid catheter devices incorporate blunt protrusions on the end of said device, but having sharp lateral edges, such that rotation of the catheter device generates mechanical cutting action in the tissue. The blunt protrusion ends prevents uncontrolled cutting in the forward motion. Other hybrid catheter devices enable controlled incisions into an organ wall, such as the duodenum, and held in place by means of an inflatable balloon. A dual-wavelength nail fungus treatment hybrid catheter is also shown.
1 . A device for performing cutting action on a region of a tissue, comprising:
an applicator adapted to direct energy from the distal end of said device onto said region of said tissue;
an element for performing mechanical cutting, said element being aligned such that said mechanical cutting is performed in the same regions of said tissue where said energy is applied; and
at least one acoustic sensor disposed in said distal region of said device, wherein when said energy is pulsed, said at least one acoustic sensor is configured to perform imaging of said tissue by detecting acoustic waves generated therein by impingement of said pulsed energy in said tissue.
2 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said energy is laser energy, and said acoustic waves are generated by a photo-acoustic effect.
3 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said energy is RF electrical discharge energy, and said acoustic waves are generated by the thermo-acoustic effect.
4 . The device according to claim 2 wherein said applicator is an array of optical fibers adapted to direct said pulsed laser energy onto said region of said tissue.
5 . The device according to claim 4 wherein said optical fibers are arranged in a circular disposition, and said element for performing mechanical cutting is a circular cutter co-axially aligned with said optical fibers.
6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said acoustic sensors is an ultrasound transducer.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said pulsed energy is also used to degrade said tissue.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a separate source of pulsed energy is used to degrade said tissue.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one acoustic sensor is an array of acoustic sensors.
10 . A device for performing cutting action on a region of a tissue, comprising:
a circular array of optical fibers disposed at the distal end of said device such that laser emission from said optical fibers falls on said region of said tissue; and a plurality of protrusions disposed on said distal end of said device, said protrusions having a blunt distal end face, and sharp lateral edges, such that rotation of said device causes said protrusions to generate mechanical cutting action in said region of said tissue.
11 . The device according to claim 10 wherein said blunt distal end faces of said protrusions are configured such that they generate resistance to penetration of said device into said tissue when said device is pushed towards said tissue.
12 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein said lateral edges are sufficiently sharp to cut said tissue when said device is rotated manually.
13 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein said device has low friction coatings on at least its inner wall, such that it can slide readily into said tissue.
14 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein said device has a rounded profile to the inner wall of its distal end, such that it can slide readily over a guide wire or a pacemaker lead or a defibrillator lead.
15 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein said device has a rounded profile to the outer wall of its distal end, such that it can slide over the tissue.
16 . A device for performing cutting action on a region of a tissue, comprising:
an applicator adapted to direct energy from the distal end of said device onto said region of said tissue;
an element for performing mechanical cutting, said element being aligned such that said mechanical cutting is performed in the same regions of said tissue where said energy is applied,
wherein said mechanical cutting element comprises a first set of blades for detaching material from said tissue, and a second set of blades for cutting up said detached material to facilitate its removal from said region.
17 . The device according to claim 16 , wherein at least said second set of blades has a scooped shape for removing said detached material.
18 .- 33 . (canceled)