Ultrasound apparatus and methods for mixing liquids and coating stents

• US 20070051307A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eilaz Babaev
• Original Assignee: Eilaz Babaev
• Inventors: Babaev, Eilaz
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/620
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0623 coupled with a vibrating horn
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/063 having an internal channel for supplying the liquid or other fluent material

Abstract

Ultrasound methods and apparatus for mixing two or more different liquids are disclosed. The ultrasound methods and apparatus may mix varied components including drugs, polymers, and coatings for application to a variety of medical apparatus surfaces. The apparatus and technique can generate a proper mixture which is uninterruptedly/continuously delivered to the surface of the medical apparatus. The apparatus may include specific ultrasound transducer/tip configurations which may allow for the mixing of different liquids in a mixing camera located inside of the vibrating tip. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may mix different drugs, applying them to stent surface using different effects like ultrasound cavitation and radiation forces. Furthermore, the disclosed methods and apparatus may generate a mixture and may deliver a targeted, gentle, highly controllable dispensation of continuous liquid spray which can reduce the loss of expensive pharmaceuticals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mixing at least two different liquids and coating at least portion of at least one stent comprising:

a) an ultrasound transducer having a tip;

b) an ultrasound transducer tip having mixing chamber inside of the vibrating tip;

c) an ultrasound transducer tip'"'"'s mixing chamber having tubes to deliver liquid into chamber; and

d) an ultrasound transducer tip'"'"'s mixing chamber having central orifice to provide mixture of liquid to the distal end of tip to be sprayed;

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein ultrasonic tip'"'"'s mixing chamber has a thread or groove

3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein ultrasonic tip'"'"'s mixing chamber has front end part, attached to tip on node point via thread;

4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein ultrasonic tip'"'"'s mixing chamber has liquid delivery tubes, attached to tip on node point.

5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein ultrasonic tip'"'"'s front end part has a different geometrical form/shape;

6. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein ultrasonic tip'"'"'s mixing chamber has a thread or groove

7. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein liquid mixing chamber'"'"'s at least one of rear and/or front walls are flat;

8. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein liquid mixing chamber'"'"'s at least one of rear and/or front walls are round or oval;

9. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein liquid mixing chamber'"'"'s diameter is greater than front end part'"'"'s central orifice diameter;

10. A method for mixing at least two different liquids, comprising:

a) having ultrasound transducer tip with mixing chamber, provided inside of vibrating tip

b) delivering at least two different liquids into mixing camera

c) delivering at list two different liquids and at least one gas stream via one of the liquid delivery tube

c) creating mixture at least from two different liquids using ultrasound cavitation and radiation forces

d) delivering the mixture to distal end of tip via central orifice to create the spray

e) directing and applying a mixture coating spray onto the stent

11. The method of claim 10, comprising use of different ultrasound wave frequencies for mixing of different liquids inside of vibrating tip.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising use of different ultrasound wave amplitudes for mixing of different liquids inside of vibrating tip.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the liquids is a therapeutic agent/drug.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the liquids is a polymer

15. The method of claim 10, wherein one of the liquids is a mixture