Apparatus and method for an ultrasonic probe device with rapid attachment and detachment means

• US 20040158151A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cybersonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: OmniSonics Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Robertson, Roy, Rabiner, Robert A., Ranucci, Kevin, Hare, Bradley A., Marciante, Rebecca I., Varady, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US10/771,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• 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 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22007 Cavitation or pseudocavitation, i.e. creation of gas bubbles generating a secondary shock wave when collapsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22018 segmented along its length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

An ultrasonic tissue ablation device comprising a transversely vibrating elongated probe, and a coupling assembly for probe attachment and detachment that enables the probe assembly and separation from the device body that includes the ultrasound energy source and a sound conductor, and a method of use for removal of vascular occlusions in blood vessels. The coupling assembly enables incorporation of elongated probes with small cross sectional lumens such as a catheter guidewires. The probe detachability allows insertion manipulation and withdrawal independently of the device body. The probe can be used with acoustic and/or aspirations sheaths to enhance destruction and removal of an occlusion. The horn assembly of the device that contains a sound conducting horn functions as an energy regulator and reservoir for the probe, and precludes loss of probe cavitation energy by its bending or damping within the blood vessel.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic medical device comprising:

an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end; and

a horn assembly having a distal end engaged to the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe through a coupling assembly,

wherein the coupling assembly transmits an ultrasound energy from the horn assembly to the ultrasonic probe.

2. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the horn assembly amplifies the ultrasound energy.

3. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the coupling assembly reflects a substantial portion of the ultrasound energy back into the horn assembly.

4. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound energy is transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, causing the ultrasonic probe to vibrate in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, producing a plurality of nodes and anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.

5. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 further comprising an ultrasound energy source engaged to the horn assembly.

6. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the coupling assembly presents an impedance mismatch between the horn assembly and the ultrasonic probe.

7. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the coupling assembly allows rapid attachment and detachment of the ultrasonic probe and an ultrasound energy source engaged to the horn assembly.

8. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the horn assembly stores ultrasound energy.

9. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the coupling assembly comprises a quick attachment-detachment collet.

10. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 8 wherein the quick attachment-detachment collet is housed within an externally mounted compressive clamp capable of exerting a compressive force on the quick attachment-detachment collet after insertion of the ultrasonic probe into the quick attachment-detachment collet.

11. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 8 wherein the quick attachment-detachment collet applies a restraining inwardly compressive force on the ultrasonic probe.

12. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a head segment at the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe is inserted into a cylindrical slot of the horn assembly.

13. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a locking nut engages the horn assembly to the ultrasonic probe by engaging screw threads of the locking nut and complimentary threads on the horn assembly.

14. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a flexibility of the ultrasonic probe allows movement of the ultrasonic probe through a narrow, tortuous vessel.

15. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 further comprising a sheath surrounding at least a portion of the ultrasonic probe.

16. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic probe is an elongated wire.

17. An ultrasonic medical device for removing endovascular material comprising:

an elongated probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;

a horn assembly engaging the proximal end of the elongated probe;

a coupling assembly engaging the proximal end of the elongated probe to a distal end of the horn assembly,

wherein the horn assembly amplifies an ultrasound energy and transmits the ultrasound energy to the elongated probe, producing a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the elongated probe and generating a plurality of transverse vibration anti-nodes along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the elongated probe.

18. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 further comprising an ultrasound energy source engaging the horn assembly.

19. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein the coupling assembly presents an impedance mismatch between the horn assembly and the elongated probe.

20. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein the coupling assembly reflects a substantial portion of the ultrasound energy back into the horn assembly.

21. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein the horn assembly stores the ultrasound energy.

22. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein a head segment at the proximal end of the elongated probe is inserted into a cylindrical slot of the horn assembly.

23. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein a locking nut engages the horn assembly to the elongated probe by engaging screw threads of the locking nut and complimentary threads on the horn assembly.

24. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 17 wherein the coupling assembly comprises a quick attachment-detachment collet.

25. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 24 wherein the quick attachment-detachment collet is housed within an externally mounted compressive clamp capable of exerting a compressive force on the quick attachment-detachment collet after insertion of the elongated probe into the quick attachment-detachment collet.

26. A method of ablation of an endovascular material in a vessel comprising:

inserting an ultrasonic probe into the vessel;

moving the ultrasonic probe within the vessel to a site of the endovascular material;

engaging a horn assembly to the ultrasonic probe with a coupling assembly;

activating an ultrasound energy source engaged to the horn assembly to transmit ultrasound energy to the horn assembly;

amplifying the ultrasound energy with the horn assembly; and

transmitting the ultrasound energy to the ultrasonic probe to produce a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, producing a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising disengaging the horn assembly from the ultrasonic probe after the ablation of the endovascular material.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising surrounding at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe with a sheath.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising inserting a head segment at a proximal end of the ultrasonic probe into a cylindrical slot of the horn assembly and engaging the horn assembly to the ultrasonic probe by engaging screw threads of a locking nut surrounding the head segment onto complimentary threads on the horn assembly.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising inserting the ultrasonic probe into the vessel with a flexibility that does not damage the vessel.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the coupling assembly has a quick attachment-detachment collet.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising housing the quick attachment-detachment collet within an externally mounted compressive clamp capable of exerting a compressive force on the quick attachment-detachment collet after insertion of the ultrasonic probe into the quick attachment-detachment collet.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising providing the ultrasonic probe is a wire.