Apparatus and method for ultrasonic medical device with improved visibility in imaging procedures
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic probe for ablating a biological material comprising:
- a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal length therebetween;
a material of low radiopacity extending from the proximal end toward the distal end; and
a material of high radiopacity engaged to the material of low radiopacity, wherein a transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe causes a biological material ablating effect along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe including the material of high radiopacity.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device with improved visibility in imaging procedures. A medical device comprises an elongated probe having a material of high radiopacity at an at least one predetermined location of the probe wherein the material of high radiopacity is capable of withstanding series of vibrations of the elongated probe. The material of high radiopacity allows the elongated probe to be visualized in imaging procedures when the probe is inserted into a body. The present invention provides a method of improving the visibility of an ultrasonic medical device during a medical procedure by engaging a material of high radiopacity to a small diameter elongated probe wherein the material of high radiopacity engages the probe at an at least one predetermined location.
336 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. An ultrasonic probe for ablating a biological material comprising:
-
a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal length therebetween;
a material of low radiopacity extending from the proximal end toward the distal end; and
a material of high radiopacity engaged to the material of low radiopacity, wherein a transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe causes a biological material ablating effect along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe including the material of high radiopacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An ultrasonic probe for destroying a biological material comprising:
-
a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween; and
a composite section having a material of low radiopacity surrounded by a material of high radiopacity, wherein a transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe produces cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to destroy the biological material along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe including the composite section. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of improving the visibility of an ultrasonic probe for ablating a biological material comprising:
-
providing an ultrasonic probe composed of a material of low radiopacity;
engaging a material of high radiopacity to the material of low radiopacity at an at least one predetermined location of the ultrasonic probe; and
adapting the ultrasonic probe such that the material of high radiopacity supports a transverse ultrasonic vibration to ablate the biological material along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe including the material of high radiopacity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method for increasing the visibility of an ultrasonic probe inserted into a body comprising:
-
providing a material of low radiopacity;
welding a material of high radiopacity to the material of low radiopacity to form an ultrasonic probe;
inserting the ultrasonic probe into the body; and
vibrating the material of low radiopacity and the material of high radiopacity to treat a biological material along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification