Method and apparatus for performing intra-operative angiography

Abstract

Method for assessing the patency of a patient's blood vessel, advantageously during or after treatment of that vessel by an invasive procedure, comprising administering a fluorescent dye to the patient; obtaining at least one angiographic image of the vessel portion; and evaluating the at least one angiographic image to assess the patency of the vessel portion. Other related methods are contemplated, including methods for assessing perfusion in selected body tissue, methods for evaluating the potential of vessels for use in creation of AV fistulas, methods for determining the diameter of a vessel, and methods for locating a vessel located below the surface of a tissue.

1 - 52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . A method for assessing the patency of a portion of a blood vessel in an animal, during an invasive surgical procedure on an animal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) administering a fluorescent dye to the animal; (b) obtaining at least one angiographic image of the vessel portion; and (c) evaluating the at least one angiographic image to assess the patency of the vessel portion; wherein the blood vessel portion comprises an anastomosis.  
   
   
       54 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is selected from the group consisting of coronary arteries, the peripheral vasculature, carotid arteries, intracranial vasculature and A V fistulas.  
   
   
       55 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel portion is a bypass graft.  
   
   
       56 . The method according  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is a carotid artery.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the carotid artery has undergone an endarterectomy.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is a coronary artery.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein a plurality of angiographic images is obtained during step (b).  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein a plurality of images of the vessel portion are obtained during an invasive procedure in which a bypass graft is created in the vessel portion, and wherein a first angiographic image of the vessel portion is obtained prior to creation of the bypass graft and a second angiographic image of the vessel portion is obtained after the bypass graft.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of obtaining at least one angiographic image of vasculature located downstream of the tissue portion treated by an invasive procedure, wherein the treated tissue portion is a blood vessel.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the treated blood vessel is selected from the group consisting of a coronary artery, carotid artery and peripheral vasculature.  
   
   
       63 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein step (c) is performed prior to an invasive procedure.  
   
   
       64 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein step (c) is performed after an invasive procedure.  
   
   
       65 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein step (c), is performed during an invasive procedure.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein a plurality of angiographic images is obtained during step (c).  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one angiographic image is obtained using an endoscope.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of ICG, analogue members of the tricarbocyanine dyes, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the fluorescent dye is ICG.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising displaying a plurality of angiographic images on a video monitor.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the angiographic image is obtained using a camera.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising storing the plurality of angiographic images on a recordable medium.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is a blood vessel closed by suture or adhesive.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is a blood vessel where an aneurysm or other vessel malformation has been removed, wherein the remaining ends of the vessel have been joined to one another and wherein the fluorescent dye is indocyanine green.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the blood vessel is a blood vessel where an aneurysm or other vessel malformation has been removed, wherein the ends are joined by the interposition of a natural or synthetic vessel graft and wherein the fluorescent dye is indocyanine green.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the graft is a synthetic graft.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the camera is a CCD camera.