Therapeutic ultrasound system

• US 20070239027A1
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowerdia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flowerdia, Inc.
• Inventors: Nita, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 9,282,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/466
• 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22001 Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters

Abstract

An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. An ultrasound transmission wire extends longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, and has a proximal region, a distal region, and an intermediate region between the proximal region and the distal region. A sonic connector is connected to the proximal region of the ultrasound transmission wire, and a distal head is positioned at the distal end of the catheter body and coupled to the distal region of the ultrasound transmission wire. The proximal region of the ultrasound transmission wire has a larger diameter than the intermediate region, the intermediate region is continuously tapered with a progressively decreasing diameter from its proximal end to its distal end, and the distal region has a greater diameter than the distal end of the intermediate region.

Claims

1. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;

an ultrasound transmission wire extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission wire having a first proximal region, a second region, a distal region, and an intermediate region between the second region and the distal region;

a sonic connector connected to and surrounding the first proximal region of the ultrasound transmission wire;

a distal head positioned at the distal end of the catheter body and coupled to the distal region of the ultrasound transmission wire; and

wherein the first proximal region of the ultrasound transmission wire has a larger diameter than the second region, the second region has a larger diameter than the intermediate region, the intermediate region is continuously tapered with a progressively decreasing diameter from its proximal end to its distal end, and the distal region has a greater diameter than the distal end of the intermediate region.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the intermediate region of the ultrasound transmission wire has a plurality of progressively tapered sections, each tapered section having a distal end and a proximal end, and with each tapered section having a diameter that progressively decreases from its proximal end to its distal end.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal-most end of the ultrasound transmission wire extends beyond the distal-most end of the catheter body.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transmission wire is made of a super-elastic metal alloy.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transmission wire has a circular configuration over its entire length.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first proximal region of the ultrasound transmission wire has the greatest diameter.

7. A method for disrupting an occlusion in a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

positioning an ultrasound catheter in a blood vessel such that a distal end of the catheter is adjacent an occlusion;

introducing refrigerated irrigation fluid through the catheter; and

transmitting ultrasound energy through the ultrasound catheter to disrupt the occlusion into multiple occlusion fragments.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein positioning the ultrasound catheter comprises using a guiding catheter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein positioning the ultrasound catheter comprises using a guidewire.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein positioning the ultrasound catheter comprises using both a guiding catheter and a guidewire.

11. The method of claim 7, further including removing the occlusion fragments through the ultrasound catheter.

12. The method of claim 7, further including:

providing an irrigation inlet aperture at a proximal end of the catheter; and

introducing irrigation fluid through the aperture.

13. The method of claim 7, further including:

providing an irrigation outlet aperture at a distal end of the catheter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the irrigation outlet aperture includes a side hole on the distal end of the catheter.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the irrigation outlet aperture includes a side hole aperture at the distal end of the catheter and an outlet through the tip of the ultrasound catheter.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the refrigerated irrigation fluid temperature is below 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the refrigerated irrigation fluid temperature is between 40 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the refrigerated irrigation fluid is delivered during the delivery of ultrasound energy.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the refrigerated irrigation fluid is delivered during an interventional procedure.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the irrigation fluid contains a pharmacological agent.

21. A method for disrupting an occlusion in a blood vessel, the method comprising:

positioning an ultrasound catheter in a blood vessel such that a distal end of the catheter is adjacent the occlusion;

transmitting ultrasound energy through the ultrasound catheter to disrupt the occlusion into multiple occlusion fragments; and

during the transmission of ultrasound energy, introducing microbubbles around the distal end of the catheter.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the irrigation fluid is refrigerated.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the microbubbles are made from agitated saline solution.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the microbubbles are made of gas encapsulated in shells.

25. The method of claim 21, further including:

causing the microbubbles to contact the oclusion.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the microbubbles are delivered through the ultrasound catheter.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the microbubbles are delivered through a guiding catheter that surrounds the ultrasound catheter.