CO Laser Angioplasty (III)

The Coronary Angioscope

Abstract

A new thin coronary angioscope which has a function of complete balloon-catheter is described in this paper. It has been formed into very thin flexible catheter, 4F (1.33mm) in outer diameter. In this angioscope, the balloon has two major functions, that is, occlusion of the blood flow to decrease the flush material and manipulation to control the endoscope view. Clear view in left coronary artery anterior descending (LAD) and circumuflex (CX) of dog (15kg in weight) were carried out continuously (up to 20s) until occurring of ST segment change of ECG.