Systems and methods for maintaining a narrow body lumen

Abstract

Devices and processes for maintaining a narrow body lumen are described. One embodiment of the inventive device includes: (i) a hydraulic propulsion mechanism for propelling an imaging portion or a therapeutic portion through the narrow body lumen; and (ii) a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the imaging portion or the therapeutic portion from the narrow body lumen.

1 . A narrow body lumen diagnostic device, comprising:
 a guide wire capable of providing light or sensing an image and for guiding a catheter to a target location, said guide wire including illuminating fibers or imaging fibers; and   a catheter including imaging fibers if said guide wire includes illuminating fibers or said catheter including illuminating fibers if said guide wire includes imaging fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said guide wire includes optical fibers for providing light. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein during an operation state of said device, said guide wire extends from a location outside said narrow body lumen to another location inside narrow body lumen, such that light is conveyed from said location outside said narrow body lumen to said another location inside said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said guide wire includes a plurality of substantially transparent portions along said length of said guide wire, and each of said plurality of substantially transparent portions allows light to pass through and, during an operational state of said device, illuminate a plurality of different locations along said narrow body lumen that are adjacent to said plurality of substantially transparent portions. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor located at a proximal end of a catheter shaft or inside a handle portion of said catheter, and wherein said imaging fibers extend along a length of said catheter shaft such that, during an operational state of said device, said imaging fibers facilitate imaging by sending imaging signals from a distal end of said catheter to said imaging sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor for sensing an image, and wherein said imaging sensor is located at a distal end of a catheter shaft such that, during an operational of said device, an image of said narrow body lumen sensed by said imaging sensor is conveyed by said imaging fibers, which extend along a length of said catheter shaft, to a display unit that is located outside said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially transparent protective shield that, during an operational state of said device, protects an image sensor or said imaging fibers and that provides an approximate focal length between said image sensor or said imaging fibers and said narrow body lumen to obtain a substantially focused image of said narrow body lumen, and said focal length is associated with said image sensor or said imaging fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said guide wire is located outside said substantially transparent protective shield, which has defined therein an ingress aperture and an egress aperture, such that during said operational state of said device, said guide wire is capable of passing through said ingress aperture and said egress aperture to allow said guide wire to access a portion of said narrow body lumen that is located distal to said protective shield. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a light source that is located at a distal end of a catheter shaft, and wherein said substantially transparent protective shield protects said image sensor or said imaging fibers, and a said light source is located outside said protective shield. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a light source that is protected by said substantially transparent protective shield. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor that is located at a distal end of said guide wire or said catheter and during an operational state of said device, said pressure sensor capable of measuring a value of pressure exerted by said guide wire or said catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said pressure sensor is communicatively coupled to a processor that provides an alert signal during said operational state of said device when said value of pressure exerted by said guide wire or said catheter inside said narrow body lumen is equal to or exceeds a predetermined unacceptable value of pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide wire lumen having defined therein a channel for housing said guide wire, such that during an operational state of said device and in absence of said guide wire inside said guide wire lumen, said guide wire lumen is capable of transporting therapy to said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said therapy is at least one member selected from a group consisting of an anti-inflammatory agent, bio-absorbable stent and a drug-coated inflatable body. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein during said operational state of said device, said inflatable body is capable of applying sufficient mechanical force to a blockage of said narrow body lumen to dislodge debris blocking portions of said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         16 . A narrow body lumen diagnostic device, comprising:
 a guide wire capable of providing light or sensing an image and for guiding a catheter to a target location, the guide wire including illuminating fibers and a plurality of substantially transparent portions along a length of the guide wire, the plurality of substantially transparent portions allowing light to pass through and, during an operational state of the device, illuminate a plurality of different locations along the narrow body lumen that are adjacent to the plurality of substantially transparent portions; and   a catheter including imaging fibers.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein during an operation state of said device, said guide wire extends from a location outside said narrow body lumen to another location inside narrow body lumen, such that light is conveyed from said location outside said narrow body lumen to said another location inside said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a pressure sensor that is located at a distal end of said guide wire or said catheter and during an operational state of said device, said pressure sensor capable of measuring a value of pressure exerted by said guide wire or said catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a guide wire lumen having defined therein a channel for housing said guide wire, such that during an operational state of said device and in absence of said guide wire inside said guide wire lumen, said guide wire lumen is capable of transporting therapy to said narrow body lumen. 
     
     
         20 . A narrow body lumen diagnostic device, comprising:
 a guide wire capable of providing light for guiding a catheter to a target location, the guide wire including illuminating fibers;   a catheter including a catheter shaft and imaging fibers; and   an image sensor located at a proximal end of the catheter, wherein the imaging fibers extend along a length of the catheter shaft such that, during an operational state of the device, the imaging fibers facilitate imaging by sending imaging signals from a distal end of the catheter to the imaging sensor at the proximal end of the catheter.