Pre-shaped therapeutic catheter

• US 20070260172A1
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter

Abstract

An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having a main lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the main lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to an ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter further includes a bent distal head or shaped a distal end of the catheter body to improve steerability.

Claims

1. An ultrasound catheter, comprising:

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

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and having a distal end; and

a distal head attached to the distal end of the transmission member, the distal head having a bend.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal head is angulated at an angle between 5-90 degrees.

3. The catheter of claim 1, further including a guidewire lumen extending longitudinally through a portion of the lumen and through the distal head.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the guidewire lumen terminates in a guidewire port that is adjacent the proximal end of the catheter body.

5. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the guidewire lumen terminates in a guidewire port that is closer to the distal end of the catheter body than to the proximal end of the catheter body.

6. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the guidewire lumen is defined by a separate guidewire tube.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the guidewire tube is positioned within the lumen of the catheter body.

8. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the catheter body has two lumens, with one lumen receiving the ultrasound transmission member and the other lumen receiving the guidewire.

9. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the guidewire lumen is defined by a guidewire tube that is affixed to the distal head.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the guidewire lumen terminates adjacent the proximal end of the catheter body and is affixed to the catheter body.

11. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the guidewire lumen terminates adjacent the proximal end of the catheter body and is affixed to the catheter body.

12. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

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

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a distal end which has a bend.

13. A method of shaping the distal end of an ultrasound catheter, comprising:

forming a bend at the distal end of an ultrasound transmission member, and;

fitting the ultrasound transmission member into a catheter body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein forming a bend at the distal end of the ultrasound transmission wire is performed by applying a heat source for a period of time followed by a cooling step at or below room temperature.

15. The method of claim 13, further providing the catheter body in a material that will conform to the pre-shaped ultrasound transmission member.

16. A method of shaping the distal end of an ultrasound catheter, comprising mechanically angulating the distal head of the ultrasound catheter.