IMAGE GUIDED CATHETERS AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20080091104A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perceptive Navigation LLC
• Original Assignee: Innoscion, LLC
• Inventors: Abraham, Theodore P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/582 Remote testing of the device

Abstract

An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound imaging system integrated into a single device. The medical device can be in the form of sheaths, catheters, and interventional devices, particularly those suitable for minimally invasive procedures in the human or other mammalian body. The imaging system comprises one or more small ultrasound transducers that can be permanently integrated into the device or integrated into an interchangeable ultrasound transducer that can be inserted into and removed from the device to customize the device for a particular use. An ultrasound system can be provided in the device either alone or in combination with fiber optic imaging to provide a range of imaging and therapeutic capabilities of the device.

Claims

1. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:

an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having a single longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof;

a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one lumen, said first imaging element having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end thereof;

said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first imaging element comprises a plurality of small ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a substantially cylindrical housing disposed in said one of said plurality of lumen.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical housing has a circular face at a distal end thereof and said plurality of small ultrasound transducer elements are arranged in a parallel row along a diameter of said circular face.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical housing has an elliptical face at a distal end thereof and said plurality of small ultrasound transducer elements are arranged in a parallel row along one of a major and a minor axis of said elliptical face.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical housing has a flat face at a distal end thereof.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical housing has a rounded face at a distal end thereof.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first ultrasound transducer is configured to operate at a frequency between 20 KHz and 300 MHz.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said first ultrasound transducer is configured to operate at a frequency less than 1 MHz to provide therapeutic treatment to the body.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said first ultrasound transducer is configured to operate at a frequency above 1 MHz to provide imaging within the body.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elongate body includes at least one transverse lumen extending in a transverse direction across a width of said elongate body, a second imaging element being disposed in said at least one transverse lumen.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elongate body includes at least one transverse lumen extending in a transverse direction across a width of said elongate body, a fiber optic imaging element being disposed in one of said at least one longitudinal lumen and said at least one transverse lumen, said fiber optic imaging element being configured to provide imaging in one of a forward direction or a transverse direction with respect to the elongate body.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device operably attached to said first imaging element, said MEMS device being configured to permit an operator to manipulate a position of said first imaging element to control a direction of imaging provided by said first imaging element.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a luer lock at the proximal end of the elongate body.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a retrieval instrument disposed within a second one of said plurality of lumen, wherein said first imaging element is configured to provide imaging guidance for operation of said retrieval instrument.

15. The device according to claim 14, said retrieval instrument including a biopsy needle.

16. The device according to claim 14, said retrieval instrument including a bioptome.

17. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:

an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body, said elongate body having at least one longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof and further having a plurality of detents along an outer surface thereof;

a first imaging element disposed in one of said at least one longitudinal lumen, said first imaging element having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end thereof, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body; and

an anchoring portion, said anchoring portion being slidably movable along a length of said elongate body and being further configured to lock into place at one of said plurality of detents to secure the device at a desired position within the body.

18. The device according to claim 17, said anchoring portion having at least one suture hole.

19. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:

an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having at least one longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, at least one of said at least one lumen having a groove extending along a length thereof; and

a first imaging element, said first imaging element being disposed in a housing having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end of said housing, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body;

said housing having a ridge extending along a length thereof, said housing being configured to slidably insert into said lumen having said groove, wherein said ridge on said housing joins with said groove in said lumen to provide a secure fit of said housing into said lumen.

20. The device of claim 19, further wherein a needle is disposed in a second one of said at least one lumen, said needle being configured to facilitate access by the elongate body to a portion of the living body.

21. A device adapted for use in minimally invasive medical procedures, comprising:

an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, said elongate body being configured to be inserted into a living body and having a single longitudinal lumen extending along a longitudinal axis thereof;

a needle, said needle being situated within said single lumen in said elongate body, an end of said needle being configured to extend from said distal end of said elongate body; and

an imaging element, said first imaging element being disposed in a housing having a proximal and a distal end, said first imaging element including a first ultrasound transducer at the distal end of said housing, said first imaging element being configured to provide forward-directed imaging in a direction of the distal end of the elongate body, said imaging element being situated within said single lumen in said elongate body and said distal end of said housing of said imaging element being separated from a proximal end of said needle by at least one buffer element.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said elongate body further includes at least one channel extending from the proximal end of the elongate body to a point beyond the at least one buffer element separating the imaging element and the needle.

23. The device of claim 22, further including a Luer lock at a proximal end of the elongate body, the Luer lock being configured to attach to a syringe, said syringe being operably joined with said at least one channel and being configured to permit one of a delivery of fluid to a target site within the living body or a withdrawal of fluid from the target site.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said fluid being delivered to the target site within the living body includes one of a drug, a saline solution, or a contrast medium.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein said channel is configured to guide a guide wire from the proximal end of the elongate body to the distal end, said guide wire being configured to guide one of a second imaging element, a therapeutic device, an interventional device, or a diagnostic device to a target site within the living body.