Therapeutic ultrasound system

• US 20080228111A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,647,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/3
• 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 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22014 the ultrasound transducer being outside patient's body; with an ultrasound transmission member; with a wave guide; with a vibrated guide wire not applied in A61B17/22012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22039 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath

Abstract

An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The distal end of the catheter body is deflectable. The ultrasound system also includes a sonic connector that connects the ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also provides a method for reverse irrigation and removal of particles.

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 member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end positioned at the distal end of the catheter body;

a sonic connector positioned on the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for connecting the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound generating device, the sonic connector comprising a proximal section for connection to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a front portion extending distally from the central portion, the front portion having a bore which receives the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member; and

a tubular member separate and spaced-apart from the front portion of the sonic connector, the tubular member having a bore that receives a portion of the ultrasound transmission member;

wherein the front portion and the ultrasound transmission member are coupled together, and the tubular member and the ultrasound transmission member are coupled together.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further including means positioned between the ultrasound transmission member and a portion of the bore of the tubular member for absorbing transverse motions of the ultrasound transmission member.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the sonic connector further includes a central portion extending proximally from the front portion, with the central portion coupling the sonic connector to a housing.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together, and the tubular member and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tubular member is spaced apart from the front portion by a distance of about one-quarter wavelength.

6. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

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

a proximal housing that is coupled to the proximal end of the catheter body, the proximal housing having a distal bore;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and through the proximal housing, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end positioned at the distal end of the catheter body;

an absorber retained inside the distal bore of the proximal housing and which surrounds the ultrasound transmission member; and

a sonic connector positioned on the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for connecting the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound generating device, the sonic connector comprising a proximal section for connection to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a front portion having a bore which receives the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the sonic connector and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together at a first location, and the absorber and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together at a second location.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the first and second locations are spaced apart by a distance of about one-quarter wavelength.

9. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the absorber includes a plurality of O-rings.

10. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the absorber includes at least two different absorbers positioned adjacent to each other.

11. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the absorber includes a first absorber and a second absorber, with the first absorber spaced apart from the second absorber.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the absorber further includes a third absorber that is positioned adjacent to the second absorber.

13. 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 member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a distal end that is positioned at the distal end of the catheter body, and a proximal end that is connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device; and

means for deflecting the distal end of the catheter body.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the deflecting means comprises a deflection wire extending through the lumen of the catheter, and having a distal end connected to the distal end of the catheter body and a proximal end that extends outside the catheter body.

15. A method of removing particles from a blood vessel, comprising:

percutaneously introducing a medical device into the blood vessel;

positioning the medical device at a desired treatment location in the blood vessel;

initiating a medical procedure at the desired treatment location which results in the generation of tissue particles;

introducing a flow of fluid along the outside of the medical device to the desired treatment location; and

carrying the tissue particles with the fluid through the interior of the medical device to be removed outside the blood vessel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the medical device is a catheter, and wherein the tissue particles and the fluid are delivered through a lumen of the catheter to be removed outside the blood vessel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the medical procedure is ultrasound ablation of a tissue material in the blood vessel.

18. 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 member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end that is positioned at the distal end of the catheter body;

a sonic connector positioned on the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for connecting the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound generating device at a connection location, the sonic connector comprising a proximal section for connection to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a front portion having a bore which receives the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member; and

means substantially surrounding the ultrasound transmission member at the connection location for absorbing transverse motions of the ultrasound transmission member.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the absorbing means is a single component and is positioned within an area of one-quarter wavelength from the sonic connector.

20. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the absorbing means has two or more components and is positioned within an area of one-quarter wavelength from the sonic connector.