Devices for applying energy to tissue

• US 20030130657A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Broncus Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Broncus Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Tanaka, Don, Thompson, David, Kramer, Thomas A., Roschak, Ed, Tom, Curtis P.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 : Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 : Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 : whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 : both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 : with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 : Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 : Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 : Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 : Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 : Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 : with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 : made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 : Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 : provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 : Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More particularly, a medical catheter is disclosed to detect the presence of blood vessels and to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

Claims

1. A medical catheter having a proximal section, a distal section and a distal end, said catheter comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said distal section, said ultrasonic transducer adapted to emit and receive ultrasonic signals; and

a tip assembly located at and forming said distal end of said catheter, said tip assembly comprising an acoustically-transmitting material and an electrode at least partially coating said acoustically-transmitting material, said acoustically-transmitting material insulating said electrode from said ultrasonic transducer, wherein said electrode and said ultrasonic transducer are positioned such that when ultrasonic signals are emitted and received by said ultrasonic transducer said signals are transmitted through said electrode.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is ceramic.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said electrode is an electrically-conductive coating partially covering said acoustically-transmitting material.

4. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is adjacent to a distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

5. The catheter of claim 4 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is adhered to the distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

6. The catheter of claim 3 comprising a flexible tubular member coaxially surrounding said ultrasonic transducer.

7. The catheter of claim 6 wherein said tubular member extends partially over said acoustically-transmitting material such that a distal edge of said tubular member mates with a proximal edge of said electrode coating.

8. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

9. The catheter of claim 4 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is fused to the distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

10. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising an electrode-conducting element connected to said electrode and wherein said electrode-conducting element is electrically insulated from said ultrasonic transducer.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material has an axial length less than 0.9 mm.

12. The catheter of claim 7 wherein said tubular member is polyimide.

13. The catheter of claim 3 wherein said electrically-conducting coating is titanium.

14. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said tip assembly has a flat end.

15. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal section has a constant outer diameter.

16. The catheter of claim 8 wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a conductive coating disposed over at least a portion of a distal surface of an ultrasonic transducer element.

20. The catheter of claim 16 comprising a second conductive wire in electrical contact with said conductive coating disposed over at least a portion of a distal surface of the ultrasonic transducer element.

22. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material electrically insulates said electrode from said ultrasonic transducer.

23. The catheter of claim 22 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material also thermally insulates said electrode from said ultrasonic transducer.

17. The catheter of clam 16 wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a metal conductive member in electrical contact with a proximal surface of said ultrasonic transducer element.

18. The catheter of claim 17 comprising a first conductive wire in electrical contact with said metal conductive member.

19. The catheter of claim 18 wherein said metal conductive member is a metal tube.

21. The catheter of claim 19 further comprising a backing layer within said metal tube, said backing layer made of material which does not acoustically transmit ultrasonic waves.

24. A medical catheter having a proximal section, a distal section and a distal end, said catheter comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said distal section, said ultrasonic transducer adapted to emit and receive ultrasonic signals; and

a tip assembly located at and forming said distal end of said catheter, said tip assembly comprising an acoustically-transmitting material and an electrode adjacent to said acoustically-transmitting material, said acoustically-transmitting material also insulating electrical energy of said electrode from said ultrasonic transducer, and wherein said ultrasonic transducer is positioned such that when ultrasonic signals are emitted and received by said ultrasonic transducer said signals propagate axially through the end of said tip assembly.

25. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said electrode is ring-shaped and mounted circumferentially on at least a portion of said acoustically-transmitting material.

26. The catheter of claim 25 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is adjacent to a distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

27. The catheter of claim 26 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is adhered to a distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

28. The catheter of claim 27 comprising a flexible tubular member coaxially surrounding said ultrasonic transducer.

29. The catheter of claim 28 wherein said tubular member extends partially over said acoustically-transmitting material such that a distal edge of said tubular member mates with a proximal edge of said ring-shaped electrode.

30. The catheter of claim 28 wherein said tubular member is polyimide.

31. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said ultrasonic transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

32. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is an electrical insulator.

33. The catheter of claim 24 further comprising an electrode-conducting wire connected to said electrode and wherein said electrode-conducting wire is electrically insulated from said ultrasonic transducer.

34. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material has an axial length is less than 0.9 mm.

35. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is ceramic.

36. The catheter of claim 25 wherein said electrode is stainless steel.

37. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said distal section has a constant outer diameter.

38. The catheter of claim 26 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is fused to the distal surface of said ultrasonic transducer.

39. The catheter of claim 31 wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a conductive coating disposed over at least a portion of a distal surface of an ultrasonic transducer element.

43. The catheter of claim 39 comprising a second conductive wire in electrical contact with said conductive coating disposed over at least a portion of a distal surface of the ultrasonic transducer element.

45. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said electrical energy is radio frequency energy.

46. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said acoustically-transmitting material is also adapted to insulate thermal energy.

47. The catheter of claim 24 wherein said acoustically transmitting material has a length L=N×

λ

/4 where λ

is the wavelength of a wave propagating through said acoustically transmitting material corresponding to an ultrasonic excitation frequency in the range of 6 to 10 MHz and N is an odd integer.

48. The catheter of claim 47 wherein said acoustically transmitting material is aluminum oxide.

49. The catheter of claim 48 wherein said λ

is the wavelength of a wave propagating through said acoustically transmitting material corresponding to an ultrasonic excitation frequency of 8 MHz.

50. The catheter of claim 49 wherein said N is an odd integer between 3 and 7.

40. The catheter of clam 39 wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a metal conductive member in electrical contact with a proximal surface of said ultrasonic transducer element.

41. The catheter of claim 40 comprising a first conductive wire in electrical contact with said metal conductive member.

42. The catheter of claim 41 wherein said metal conductive member is a metal tube.

44. The catheter of claim 42 further comprising a backing layer within said metal tube, said backing layer made of material which does not acoustically transmit ultrasonic waves.

51. An acoustic transducer assembly comprising:

a piezoelectric material comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface;

a first metallic member in contact with said first surface of said piezoelectric material;

a second metallic film at least partially coating said second surface of said piezoelectric material; and

an acoustically transmitting material having a proximal surface and a distal surface wherein said proximal surface of said acoustically transmitting material is fused to said second metallic film with heat.

52. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 51 wherein said acoustically transmitting material is ceramic.

53. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 51 comprising an electrically conducting material disposed on at least a portion of said distal surface of said acoustically transmitting material.

54. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 53 wherein the electrically conducting material forms a ring shaped electrode.

55. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 53 wherein said electrically conducting material completely covers said distal surface of said acoustically transmitting material.

56. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 51 wherein said assembly has a cylindrical shape.

57. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 56 wherein said assembly is at least partially coaxially surrounded by a polymeric sleeve member.

58. The acoustic transducer assembly of claim 57 wherein said acoustic transducer assembly has a constant outer diameter in the range of 1.5 to 3 mm.

59. A medical catheter having a proximal section, a distal section and a distal end, said catheter comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said distal section of said catheter, said ultrasonic transducer having a proximal face, a distal face and a body extending from the proximal face to the distal face, said ultrasonic transducer further comprising a bore axially extending from the first face to the second face and said ultrasonic transducer adapted to emit and receive ultrasonic signals through the distal face; and

an electrode member extending through said bore such that a distal surface of said electrode is flush with or extends beyond said distal face of said ultrasonic transducer.

60. The medical catheter of claim 59 wherein said electrode member comprises a curved tip protruding from the distal face of said ultrasonic transducer.

61. The medical catheter of claim 60 wherein said tip is hemispherical.

62. The medical catheter of claim 60 wherein said tip is integral with the electrode member extending through the transducer.

63. The medical catheter of claim 60 wherein said tip is separately attached to the distal face of said ultrasonic transducer such that said curved tip is placed in electrical connection with said electrode member.

64. The medical catheter of claim 59 wherein the distal face of the transducer forms the distal end of the medical catheter.

65. The medical catheter of claim 59 wherein the electrode member is electrically isolated from the transducer with an insulating material.

66. The medical catheter of claim 60 wherein said tip is convex.