Ultrasound catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body

• US 20030167023A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frederick J. Bennett, Gary Lichttenegger, James E. Rodriguey, John Zhang, Katsuro Tachibana
• Original Assignee: Frederick J. Bennett, Gary Lichttenegger, James E. Rodriguey, John Zhang, Katsuro Tachibana
• Inventors: Rodriguey, James E., Bennett, Frederick J., Lichttenegger, Gary, Zhang, John, Tachibana, Katsuro
• Application Number:
  US10/383,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22042 Details of the tip of the guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22088 ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0047 Sonopheresis, i.e. ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal delivery, electroporation of a pharmacologically active agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0674 and a low impedance backing, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0677 and a high impedance backing
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 : Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/02 : Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/162 : Selection of materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a catheter system. The system comprises a catheter body having a chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium. The catheter body includes an elongated body with an external surface and an ultrasound transducer having an external side between a first end and a second end. The ultrasound transducer is positioned over the external surface of the elongated body such that the first end is adjacent to the chamber.

Claims

1. An catheter system, comprising:

a catheter body having a chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium, the catheter body including

an elongated body with an external surface and

an ultrasound transducer having an external side between a first end and a second end, the ultrasound transducer positioned over the external surface of the elongated body such that the first end is adjacent to the chamber.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound transducer surrounds the elongated body.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the chamber surrounds the elongated body.

4. The system of claim 1 the catheter body includes a collar positioned over the elongated body so as to at least partially define the chamber.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the catheter body includes a transducer sheath positioned over the ultrasound transducer and the collar so as to at least partially define the chamber.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the catheter body at least partially defines a second chamber adjacent to the second end of the ultrasound transducer, the second chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second chamber surrounds the elongated body.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the catheter body includes a collar positioned over the elongated body so as to at least partially define the second chamber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the catheter body includes a transducer sheath positioned over the ultrasound transducer and the collar so as to at least partially define the second chamber.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the catheter body includes an assembly sheath positioned over the transducer sheath.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein a binding medium occupies a volume between the assembly sheath and the transducer sheath.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the catheter body at least partially defines a third chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the external surface of the elongated body, the third chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the third chamber surrounds the elongated body.

14. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the catheter body includes a member positioned between the ultrasound transducer and the external surface of the elongated body such that the third chamber is positioned between the member and the external surface of the elongated body.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the catheter body includes spacers positioned between the member and the external surface of the elongated body.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the catheter body includes an extension body which gives the catheter length coupled with the elongated body.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the catheter body includes a sheath over at least a portion of the extension body and over at least a portion of the elongated body.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein the chamber and the third chamber are open to one another.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sheath having a utility lumen sized to receive the catheter body.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the utility lumen is sized such that the catheter body can slide within the utility lumen.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheath includes a drug delivery lumen.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the drug delivery lumen spirals around the utility lumen.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the drug delivery lumen includes a plurality of ports which permit a drug to flow through the ports when a target pressure is achieved within the drug delivery lumen.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the drug delivery lumen includes a plurality of ports which increase in size toward a distal end of the sheath.

25. The system of claim 1, a lumen sized to receive a guidewire extends longitudinally through the catheter body.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the catheter body includes a second ultrasound transducer having a side between a first end and a second end.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the catheter body includes a second chamber adjacent an end of the second ultrasound transducer.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the catheter body includes a third chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the external surface of the elongated body and between the second ultrasound transducer and the external surface of the elongated body.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the low acoustic impedance medium has an acoustic impedance of about 0-1.7 Megarayls.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the low acoustic impedance medium has an acoustic impedance of about 0-0.7 Megarayls.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein a binding medium having an acoustic impedance of about 1.3-10 Megarayls is positioned adjacent to the external surface of the ultrasound transducer.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein a binding medium having an acoustic impedance of about 4-8 Megarayls is positioned adjacent to the external surface of the ultrasound transducer.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein a binding medium is positioned adjacent to the external surface of the ultrasound transducer and a ratio of acoustic impedances for the binding medium adjacent to the external side relative to the low acoustic impedance medium is about 1.5 o 10,000:

1.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein a binding medium is positioned adjacent to the external surface of the ultrasound transducer and a ratio of acoustic impedances for the binding medium adjacent to the external side relative to the low acoustic impedance medium is about 1.5 to 4:

1.

35. A method for forming a catheter, comprising:

positioning an ultrasound transducer over an external surface of an elongated body;

positioning a collar over the exterior surface of the elongated body such that at least a portion of the collar is spaced apart from the ultrasound transducer; and

positioning a transducer sheath over at least a portion of the ultrasound transducer and over at least a portion of the collar to form a chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the collar.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

positioning a spacer over the elongated body before positioning the ultrasound transducer over the external surface of the elongated body.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

positioning a member over at least a portion of the spacer before positioning the ultrasound transducer over the external surface of the elongated body.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the ultrasound transducer is positioned over the member.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

positioning spacers over the external surface of the elongated body;

positioning a member over at least a portion of the spacers such that a chamber is defined between the member and the external surface of the elongated body; and

positioning the ultrasound transducer over the member.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the collar is integral with a spacer such that the collar has a spacer region and a collar region.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

positioning a member over the spacer region of the collar after positioning the collar over the external surface of the elongated body;

positioning the ultrasound transducer over the member; and

positioning the transducer sheath over the collar region of the collar.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

positioning a second collar over the external surface of the elongated body such that a portion of the second collar is spaced apart from the ultrasound transducer.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein positioning the transducer sheath includes positioning the sheath over at least a portion of the second collar to form a second chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the second collar.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

positioning an assembly sheath over the transducer sheath.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

delivering a binding medium into a volume between the assembly sheath and the transducer sheath.

46. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

positioning a catheter sheath over the elongated body and at least a portion of an extension body.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

delivering a binding medium into a volume between the ultrasound transducer and the catheter sheath.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

delivering a binding medium into a volume between the ultrasound transducer and the extension body.

49. A method for forming a catheter, comprising:

positioning a first spacer over an external surface of an elongated body;

positioning a member over at least a portion of the first spacer; and

positioning an ultrasound transducer over the member.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

positioning a second spacer over the external surface of the elongated body before positioning the member over at least a portion of the first spacer.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein positioning the member over at least a portion of the first spacer includes positioning the member over at least a portion of the second spacer to form a chamber between the member and the external surface of the elongated body.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

positioning a second spacer such at least a portion of the second spacer is between the member and the external surface of the elongated body.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

positioning a collar over the exterior surface of the elongated body such that at least a portion of the collar is spaced apart from the ultrasound transducer.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

positioning a transducer sheath over at least a portion of the ultrasound transducer and over at least a portion of the collar to form a chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the collar.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the first spacer is integral with a collar such that the spacer has a spacer region and a collar region.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein positioning the member over at least a portion of the first spacer includes positioning the member over at least a portion of the spacer region of the first spacer.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising positioning a transducer sheath over at least a portion of the ultrasound transducer and over at least a portion of the collar region of the first spacer to form a chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the collar.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

positioning a second collar over the external surface of the elongated body such that a portion of the second collar is spaced apart from the ultrasound transducer.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein positioning the transducer sheath includes positioning the sheath over at least a portion of the second collar to form a second chamber between the ultrasound transducer and the second collar.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

positioning an assembly sheath over the transducer sheath.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

delivering a binding medium into a volume between the assembly sheath and the transducer sheath.

62. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

positioning a catheter sheath over the elongated body and at least a portion of an extension body.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

delivering a binding medium into a volume between the ultrasound transducer and the catheter sheath.