Apparatus and method incorporating an ultrasound transducer onto a delivery member
First Claim
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1. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
- an elongate catheter body having an outer surface;
an expandable member disposed along said catheter body;
an ultrasound transducer assembly having an inner surface, said ultrasound transducer assembly being positioned along said catheter body within an interior portion of said expandable member; and
a support structure coupling said ultrasound transducer assembly to said catheter body, said support structure engaging only proximal and distal end portions of said ultrasound transducer assembly and maintaining a region of radial separation between said inner surface of said ultrasound transducer assembly and said outer surface of said catheter body.
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Abstract
A medical device assembly and method provides an ultrasound transducer mounted onto a catheter shaft. The ultrasound transducer is mounted such that there is a radial separation between the transducer and the underlying catheter shaft. The transducer is mounted on support structures which do not bridge the gap between the transducer and delivery member. The location of the support structures provides for an “airbacked” transducer that is very efficient and prevents heat build-up in the materials in contact therewith.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an elongate catheter body having an outer surface;
an expandable member disposed along said catheter body;
an ultrasound transducer assembly having an inner surface, said ultrasound transducer assembly being positioned along said catheter body within an interior portion of said expandable member; and
a support structure coupling said ultrasound transducer assembly to said catheter body, said support structure engaging only proximal and distal end portions of said ultrasound transducer assembly and maintaining a region of radial separation between said inner surface of said ultrasound transducer assembly and said outer surface of said catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of manufacturing an ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
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providing an elongate catheter body and a substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer having an axial bore sized to receive said elongate catheter body;
positioning said ultrasound transducer over a portion of said catheter body;
to providing a plurality of mandrels between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for maintaining a region of radial separation therebetween;
applying support structure to couple said ultrasound transducer to said elongate catheter body while maintaining said region of radial separation therebetween; and
removing said plurality of mandrels.
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20. A method for treating arrhythmia using an ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
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providing an elongate catheter body having an expandable member disposed thereon and including an ultrasound transducer located within an interior of said expandable member, said ultrasound transducer being coupled to said catheter body by a support structure that engages only proximal and distal end portions of said ultrasound transducer and maintains a region of radial separation between said catheter body and said ultrasound transducer;
advancing said ultrasound transducer to a circumferential region of tissue;
expanding said expandable member to anchor said expandable member in said circumferential region of tissue; and
supplying energy to said ultrasound transducer for radially emitting ultrasound energy to ablate a portion of said circumferential region of tissue.
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Specification