Infusion catheter having an integrated doppler transducer
First Claim
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1. An infusion system comprising:
- a hollow catheter body having infusion ports therein;
a transducer wire of sufficient length to allow placement of the transducer wire proximate to a desired location within a patient, the transducer wire being partially located inside the hollow catheter body, the remainder of the transducer wire being located outside of the catheter hollow body, a transducer wire distal tip portion removably adjoining the hollow catheter body so as to allow the selective insertion of the transducer wire through the hollow catheter body;
an ultrasound transducer joined to the transducer wire distal tip portion, the transducer being configured, when inserted into blood surrounding the infusion catheter body, to protrude sufficiently to allow the detection of the presence of a Doppler signal based on an ultrasound signal generated by the transducer, the transducer being further configured to produce an output signal based on the degree of blood movement when surrounding by blood; and
an output device being configured to allow a health care practitioner to interpret the transducer based signal in order to gain information about the degree of blood movement proximate to the ultrasound transducer; and
a signal transfer wire, a portion of the wire being located inside the transducer wire, the signal transfer wire being configured to transfer the output signal from the ultrasound transducer to the output device.
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Abstract
Preferred embodiments disclosing an infusion catheter having an integrated Doppler transducer are provided which advance the field by providing improved structures for the real time monitoring of blood flow for use in such fields as thrombolytic therapy. Method of practicing therapy using preferred embodiments of the present invention are also provided.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An infusion system comprising:
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a hollow catheter body having infusion ports therein;
a transducer wire of sufficient length to allow placement of the transducer wire proximate to a desired location within a patient, the transducer wire being partially located inside the hollow catheter body, the remainder of the transducer wire being located outside of the catheter hollow body, a transducer wire distal tip portion removably adjoining the hollow catheter body so as to allow the selective insertion of the transducer wire through the hollow catheter body;
an ultrasound transducer joined to the transducer wire distal tip portion, the transducer being configured, when inserted into blood surrounding the infusion catheter body, to protrude sufficiently to allow the detection of the presence of a Doppler signal based on an ultrasound signal generated by the transducer, the transducer being further configured to produce an output signal based on the degree of blood movement when surrounding by blood; and
an output device being configured to allow a health care practitioner to interpret the transducer based signal in order to gain information about the degree of blood movement proximate to the ultrasound transducer; and
a signal transfer wire, a portion of the wire being located inside the transducer wire, the signal transfer wire being configured to transfer the output signal from the ultrasound transducer to the output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of infusion therapy comprising:
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locating an infusion catheter and a transducer wire proximate to a treatment site within a blood transferring vessel of a patient, the transducer wire being partially located inside of the infusion catheter, the transducer wire having an integrated ultrasound transducer tip configured to protrude from the infusion catheter into blood surrounding the infusion catheter, when inserted into a blood vessel having blood therein;
infusing a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent into an area proximate the infusion catheter;
emitting ultrasound energy from the transducer;
detecting the intensity of a Doppler signal produced by the degree of blood flow surrounding the transducer;
determine the degree of blood flow surrounding the transducer through interpreting the intensity of the Doppler signal; and
taking appropriate medical action based on the degree of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification