ULTRASOUND CATHETER APPARATUS

• US 20100049209A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry, Nguyen, Simon, Sarge, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/128
• 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member

Abstract

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods of the present invention generally provide for ablation and/or disruption of vascular occlusions. An ultrasound transmission member, such as a wire, transmits vibrational energy from an ultrasound transducer to a distal head of the catheter to disrupt vascular occlusions. An absorber member is disposed on or around the ultrasound transmission wire at a location adjacent the sonic connector of the catheter. The absorber member absorbs heat, vibrations, and/or the like from the ultrasound transmission wire at or near the area where the transmission wire is coupled with the sonic connector. The absorptive function typically slows the process of wear and tear on the transmission wire, thus extending the useful life of the ultrasound catheter.

Claims

1. An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

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

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body;

a sonic connector coupled with a proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for coupling the ultrasound transmission member with a separate ultrasound generating device; and

an absorber member coupled with the ultrasound transmission member adjacent the sonic connector and positioned distally of the sonic connector.

2. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein the absorber member surrounds a portion of the ultrasound transmission member adjacent a distal end of the sonic connector.

3. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 2, wherein the absorber member includes a bore for receiving the ultrasound transmission member.

4. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 3, wherein the absorber member is tubular.

5. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the absorber member contacts a distal end of the sonic connector.

6. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein the absorber member is separated from a distal end of the sonic connector by a distance of approximately ¼

wavelength of an ultrasound wave transmitted to the ultrasound catheter.

7. The ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein the absorber member does not contact the catheter body.

8. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein the absorber member comprises at least one vibration absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a rubber, a polymer, and a rubber/polymer combination.

9. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 8, wherein the absorber member further comprises at least one metal having heat conductivity properties.

10. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 1, wherein the absorber member comprises:

a vibrational absorber in contact with the transmission member for absorbing vibrations; and

a constraining member coupled with the vibrational absorber for holding the vibrational absorber in place on the transmission member.

11. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 10, wherein both the vibrational absorber and the constraining member are tubular, the constraining member substantially surrounding the vibrational absorber.

12. The ultrasound catheter of claim 10, wherein the constraining member is positioned entirely distally of the sonic connector.

13. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 10, wherein the constraining member contacts the transmission member and comprises an absorptive material for absorbing heat.

14. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 10, wherein the a proximal portion of the constraining member surrounds a proximal portion of the absorber member, and the proximal portion of the constraining member contacts a distal portion of the sonic connector.

15. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 10, wherein the constraining member has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the constraining member comprises a bore for receiving the ultrasound transmission wire, wherein the bore includes a widened portion at the proximal end for receiving the vibrational absorber.

16. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 10, wherein both the vibrational absorber and the constraining member are tubular and of substantially equal length, the constraining member substantially surrounding the vibrational absorber, a proximal end of the vibrational absorber substantially coinciding with a proximal end of the constraining member, and a distal end of the vibrational absorber substantially coinciding with a distal end of the constraining member.

17. An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

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

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body;

a sonic connector coupled with a proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for coupling the ultrasound transmission member with a separate ultrasound generating device; and

an absorber member coupled with and supported by the ultrasound transmission member adjacent the sonic connector.

18. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 17, wherein the absorber member comprises:

a vibrational absorber in contact with the transmission member for absorbing vibrations; and

a constraining member coupled with the vibrational absorber for holding the vibrational absorber in place on the transmission member.

19. An ultrasound catheter as in claim 17, wherein the absorbing member is positioned entirely distally of the sonic connector.

20. An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

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

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body;

a sonic connector coupled with a proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for coupling the ultrasound transmission member with a separate ultrasound generating device, the sonic connector having a proximal end and a distal end; and

an absorber member coupled with the ultrasound transmission member adjacent the distal end of the sonic connector and positioned distally of the sonic connector, wherein the absorber member comprises a vibrational absorber in contact with the transmission member for absorbing vibrations, and comprises a constraining member coupled with and at least partially surrounding the vibrational absorber for holding the vibrational absorber in place on the transmission member;

and wherein a proximal end of the vibrational absorber substantially coincides with a proximal end of the constraining member.