ULTRASOUND CATHETER AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20100023037A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: SARGE, JEFF, NGUYEN, SIMON, NITA, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US12/538,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• 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 2017/00141 continuous, e.g. wave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22011 Combined types of vibration, e.g. ultrasonic and electrohydraulic
• 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 2017/320072 Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/001 Forming the tip of a catheter, e.g. bevelling process, join or taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04

Abstract

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, ultrasound catheters include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.

Claims

1. A method of making an ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the method comprising:

forming a bend in a catheter body;

subsequent to forming the bend, inserting an ultrasound transmission member into a lumen of the catheter body, such that the ultrasound transmission member is disposed at least partially within the formed bend of the catheter body; and

coupling a distal head with a distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member, such that the distal head is disposed completely outside of the catheter body.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body reduces an angle of the formed bend of the catheter body.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body causes the ultrasound transmission member to bend in the catheter body.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the process of forming the bend in the catheter body comprises heating the catheter body.

5. A method of making an ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the method comprising:

forming a bend in a catheter body;

subsequent to forming the bend, inserting an ultrasound transmission member into a lumen of the catheter body, such that the ultrasound transmission member is disposed at least partially within the formed bend of the catheter body;

coupling the ultrasound transmission member with a sonic connector; and

coupling a distal head with a distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member, such that at least a portion of the distal head extends distally beyond a distal end of the catheter body.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body reduces an angle of the formed bend of the catheter body.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body causes the ultrasound transmission member to bend in the catheter body.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein the process of forming the bend in the catheter body comprises heating the catheter body.

9. A method of making an ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the method comprising:

forming a bend in a catheter body;

subsequent to forming the bend, inserting an ultrasound transmission member into a lumen of the catheter body, such that the ultrasound transmission member is disposed at least partially within the formed bend of the catheter body; and

coupling a distal head with a distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member, such that at least a portion of the distal head extends distally beyond a distal end of the catheter body.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body reduces an angle of the formed bend of the catheter body.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the process of inserting the ultrasound transmission member into the lumen of the catheter body causes the ultrasound transmission member to bend in the catheter body.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the process of forming the bend in the catheter body comprises heating the catheter body.