Self-cooling ultrasound ablation catheter

• US 10,549,127 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tran, Binh C., Jenson, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Della, Jaymi E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Sean W
• Application Number:
  US14/032,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/003 Destruction of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0043 intra-cavitary
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

Systems for nerve and tissue modulation are disclosed. An example system may include an intravascular nerve modulation system including an elongated shaft having a proximal end region and a distal end region. The system may further include a bar element extending distally from the distal end region of the elongated shaft and one or more ablation transducers affixed to the bar element.

Claims

1. A tissue modulation system, comprising:

an elongated shaft having a proximal end region and a distal end region;

a control unit positioned adjacent the proximal end region of the elongated shaft;

a bar element connected to the control unit and extending distally from the distal end region of the elongated shaft;

a tension member extending adjacent to the bar element, the tension member configured to extend proximally to a location exterior to a patient'"'"'s body during intravascular nerve modulation; and

one or more ablation transducers affixed to the bar element and electrically connected to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to intermittently activate the bar element and the one or more ablation transducers in an alternating fashion;

and wherein the control unit is configured to vibrate the bar element at a first frequency in a range of 10 kHz to 200 kHz.

2. The tissue modulation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ablation transducers are configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

3. The tissue modulation system of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the bar element is attached to a distal end of the elongated shaft.

4. The tissue modulation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ablation transducers are configured to radiate acoustic energy from at least one side surface.

5. The tissue modulation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ablation transducers affixed to the bar element are positioned on a side of the bar element opposite the tension member.

6. The tissue modulation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to vibrate the bar element in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.

7. The tissue modulation system of claim 6, wherein vibration of the bar element causes the bar element to buckle in a direction generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.

8. A tissue modulation system, comprising:

a catheter shaft having a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a lumen extending therebetween;

a control unit positioned adjacent the proximal end region of the catheter shaft;

a bar element having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the bar element disposed adjacent to the distal end region of the catheter shaft;

a tension member extending adjacent to the bar element, the tension member configured to extend proximally to a location exterior to a patient'"'"'s body during tissue modulation; and

one or more ablation transducers secured to the distal end region of the bar element and electrically connected to the control unit;

wherein the bar element is connected to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to vibrate the bar element in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft;

wherein the control unit is configured to intermittently activate the bar element and the one or more ablation transducers in an alternating fashion; and

wherein the control unit is configured to vibrate the bar element at a first frequency in a range of 10 kHz to 200 kHz.

9. The tissue modulation system of claim 8, wherein the control unit is a mechanical oscillator or an ultrasonic oscillator.

10. The tissue modulation system of claim 8, wherein the tension member is fixedly secured to a distal end of the bar element.

11. The tissue modulation system of claim 8, wherein proximal and distal actuation of the tension member causes the bar element to flex and relax.

12. The tissue modulation system of claim 11, wherein the bar element is configured to be flexed in a direction generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.

13. The tissue modulation system of claim 10, wherein the tension member limits longitudinal vibration of the bar element causing a central portion of the bar element to buckle.

14. The tissue modulation system of claim 8, wherein the one or more ablation transducers secured to the distal end region of the bar element are positioned on a side of the bar element opposite the tension member.

15. The tissue modulation system of claim 8, wherein vibration of the bar element causes the bar element to buckle in a direction generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.