CATHETER FOR REMOVING ARTERIOSCLEROTIC PLAQUE

摘要

Method and apparatus for identifying and removing arteriosclerotic plaque deposits in blood vessels. The device includes a catheter (6) having an optical fiber (18) transmitting a laser beam and an ultrasonic transducer (12) mounted on the catheter tip for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals. The device further comprises a transmitting unit (7) producing electrical pulses which activate the ultrasonic transducer, a receiving unit to display the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducer and a laser (8). The arteriosclerotic plaque deposits are identified thanks to ultrasonic echoes resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals and are removed with the laser beam.