Appeal No. 2000-0323 Page 12
Application No. 08/608,920
22, to facilitate fluoroscopic guidance of the catheter
assembly 12 into the pulmonary artery 88 or 90. Typical
contrast agents used include ionic contrast agents such
as Renograffin or MD 76, or nonionic contrast agents such
as Optiray or Hexabrix. Renograffin is commercially
available through Bristol-Myers Squibb Diagnostics in
Princeton, N.J. MD 76, Optiray and Hexabrix are all
commercially available from Mallinckrodt Incorporated in
St. Louis, Mo.
Selective injection of the radiographic contrast
agent into the cardiac chambers 102, 104, pulmonary trunk
106 or pulmonary vessels 88, 90, 108, 110 facilitates
contrast radiographic inspection of the vessel, which in
turn permits the placement of the catheter assembly 12
into the intravascular site of interest. A contrast agent
is also injected into the site under examination during
recording of radiographic images. Each vessel is usually
viewed in several projections, to permit assessment of
severity of stenosis or occlusive emboli and to minimize
overlap of adjacent vessels. Injecting the contrast agent
into the pulmonary system also facilitates the location
of occlusions such as clots in the pulmonary vessels 108,
110.
Under fluoroscopic guidance, the catheter assembly
12 is advanced to the occluded pulmonary artery. Next,
the guidewire 24 may be withdrawn from the catheter
assembly 12 and treatment of the intravascular site in
accordance with the present invention begins. The
guidewire 24 may, however, be left in place during
treatment.
Ruggio further teaches that the catheter assembly 12 is
conventional, and comprises a catheter 22 which travels over a
steerable guidewire 24, as is known in the art. The catheter
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