POWER PARAMETERS FOR ULTRASONIC CATHETER

• US 20080171965A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Volz, Kim R., Soltani, Azita
• Granted Patent: US 10,188,410 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00181 Means for setting or varying the pulse energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00185 Means for setting or varying the pulse height
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0019 Means for setting or varying the pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient'"'"'s vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient'"'"'s vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T≦1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.

Claims

1. An ultrasound catheter system comprising:

a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element;

a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy;

wherein the control system is configured to vary non-linearly at least one of the power parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power parameters comprise at least one of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width or any combination of aforementioned parameters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one acoustic parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value.

4. A method of operating an ultrasonic catheter comprising:

advancing a catheter with at least one ultrasonic element to a treatment site in a patient'"'"'s vascular system;

driving the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy;

delivering a therapeutic compound to the treatment site through the catheter; and

non-linearly varying a power parameter of the ultrasonic element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the power parameter comprises at least one of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width and duty cycle.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the treatment site includes a vascular occlusion.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the therapeutic compound comprises a thrombolytic agent.

9. A control system for an ultrasound catheter comprising a control unit configured to non-linearly vary a power parameter of an ultrasonic element of an ultrasonic catheter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power parameter comprises at least one of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width and duty cycle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the power parameter is configured to be varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value.

12. An ultrasound therapeutic system comprising:

an ultrasonic delivery device having at least one ultrasonic element; and

a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy;

wherein the control system is configured to vary non-linearly at least one of the power parameters.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the power parameters comprise at least one of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width and duty cycle.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one power parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value.

15. A method of delivering ultrasound to a patient comprising:

advancing a catheter with at least one ultrasonic element to a treatment site in a patient'"'"'s vascular system;

driving the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy; and

non-linearly varying a power parameter of the ultrasonic element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power parameter comprises at least one of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width and duty cycle.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the power parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising delivering a therapeutic compound to the patient.