Apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device to treat deep vein thrombosis

• US 20040162571A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cybersonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: OmniSonics Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabiner, Robert A., Hare, Bradley A.
• Application Number:
  US10/779,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• 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 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take 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 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22018 segmented along its length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22081 Treatment of vulnerable plaque
• 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: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 : with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device to treat deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasonic medical device comprises an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The ultrasonic probe is inserted into a deep vein of a leg, navigated adjacent to a thrombus in the deep vein and placed in communication with the thrombus. An ultrasonic energy source is activated to generate a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe. The transverse ultrasonic vibration creates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, generating cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate the thrombus and treat deep vein thrombosis.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic medical device for treating deep vein thrombosis comprising:

a flexible, ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;

a transducer creating a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the flexible, ultrasonic probe;

a coupling engaging the proximal end of the flexible, ultrasonic probe to a distal end of the transducer;

an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the transducer that produces an ultrasonic energy,

wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration generates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the flexible, ultrasonic probe, creating cavitation in a medium surrounding the flexible, ultrasonic probe to ablate a thrombus and treat deep vein thrombosis.

2. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe comprises a material that allows the flexible, ultrasonic probe to be bent, deflected and flexed.

3. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe comprises a diameter that enables insertion into a vein.

4. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the flexible, ultrasonic probe has a uniform diameter from the proximal end to the distal end.

5. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the flexible, ultrasonic probe varies from the proximal end to the distal end.

6. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein a cross section of the flexible, ultrasonic probe is approximately circular.

7. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration generates acoustic energy in a medium surrounding the flexible, ultrasonic probe.

8. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic energy source delivers ultrasonic energy in a frequencey range from about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz.

9. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic energy source provides an electrical energy to the transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer by finding the resonant frequency of the transducer.

10. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 1 wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe is disposable.

11. An ultrasonic medical device for treating deep vein thrombosis comprising:

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

a transducer that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, creating a transverse ultrasonic vibration along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe; and

a coupling engaging the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe to a distal end of the transducer,

wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration produces a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.

12. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic probe supports the transverse ultrasonic vibration when flexed.

13. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic probe has a flexibility allowing the ultrasonic probe to be deflected and articulated.

14. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein a transverse wave from the transverse ultrasonic vibration is transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, creating an interaction of a surface of the ultrasonic probe with a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to create an acoustic wave in the medium.

15. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe produces cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate a thrombus to treat deep vein thrombosis.

16. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein an ultrasonic energy source is engaged to the transducer and provides the electrical energy to the transducer.

17. A method of resolving deep vein thrombosis comprising:

providing an ultrasonic medical device comprising an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;

navigating the ultrasonic probe adjacent to a thrombus;

placing the ultrasonic probe in communication with the thrombus;

activating an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the ultrasonic probe to generate a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe,

wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration creates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating acoustic energy in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe through the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising sweeping the ultrasonic probe along the thrombus.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising moving the ultrasonic probe back and forth along the thrombus.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating the ultrasonic probe along the thrombus.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing an electrical energy to a transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer by the ultrasonic energy source determining the resonant frequency of the transducer.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising delivering ultrasonic energy in a frequency range from about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz by the ultrasonic energy source.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing the ultrasonic probe having a flexibility allowing the ultrasonic probe to be deflected and articulated.

25. A method of ablating a thrombus in a deep vein of a body comprising:

providing an ultrasonic medical device comprising an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a probe tip, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;

inserting the ultrasonic probe in an insertion point of the deep vein;

moving the ultrasonic probe to place the ultrasonic probe in communication with the thrombus;

activating an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the ultrasonic probe to produce an electric signal that drives a transducer of the ultrasonic medical device to produce a transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe,

wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration produces cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate the thrombus.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising transmitting a transverse wave from the transverse ultrasonic vibration along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe to create an acoustic wave in the medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising producing a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe by the transverse ultrasonic vibration.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality transverse nodes are points of a minimum transverse ultrasonic vibration.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of transverse anti-nodes are points of a maximum transverse ultrasonic vibration.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the ultrasonic probe is for a single use on a single patient.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising delivering ultrasonic energy in a frequency range of about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz by the ultrasonic energy source.