ULTRASOUND CATHETER DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20110125164A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry, Spano, Richard, Sarge, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• 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 17/2251 characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter device includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. A proximal housing of the catheter device may include one or more features for dissipating heat from the ultrasound transmission wire, such as a fluid inlet aperture for passage of fluid, use of heat conductive materials in the proximal housing, surface features to increase the housing'"'"'s surface area, heat conductive members disposed adjacent the transmission member and the like. Various irrigation fluids may be used, such as cooled, oxygen supersaturated or lubricious fluids.

Claims

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

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

a housing coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body and having a fluid inlet;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and having a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal portion of the ultrasound transmission member being disposed within the housing;

a sonic connector coupled with the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the sonic connector being disposed within the housing; and

a plurality of O-ring members disposed around at least a portion of the ultrasound transmission member and on a distal side of the fluid inlet.

2. The ultrasound catheter of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an inner cavity, the inner cavity being in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter body and the fluid inlet.

3. The ultrasound catheter of claim 1 further comprising a refrigeration device for cooling a fluid to be introduced through the fluid inlet.

4. The ultrasound catheter of claim 1 further comprising a guidewire tube extending through at least a portion of the catheter body.

5. The ultrasound catheter of claim 1, wherein the housing comprise a heat conductive material.

6. The ultrasound catheter of claim 1 further comprising a metalized elastomer disposed around at least a portion of the ultrasound transmission member.

7. The ultrasound catheter of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of one of the plurality of O-ring members is disposed between the ultrasound transmission member and the metalized elastomer.

8. The ultrasound catheter of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the metalized elastomer is disposed between at least two of the plurality of O-ring members.

9. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

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

a housing coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a portion of the ultrasound transmission member being disposed within the housing; and

a metalized elastomer disposed within the housing.

10. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9 further comprising an O-ring member disposed around the ultrasound transmission member and distal to the metalized elastomer.

11. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9 further comprising an O-ring member disposed at least partially between the metalized elastomer and the ultrasound transmission member.

12. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9, wherein the housing comprise a heat conductive material.

13. The ultrasound catheter of claim 12, wherein the heat conductive material is selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer, glass, rubber and combinations thereof.

14. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises multiple surface features to increase a surface area of the proximal housing.

15. The ultrasound catheter of claim 14, wherein the surface features are selected from the group consisting of grooves, notches, waves and dips.

16. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9, wherein the metalized elastomer is disposed around at least a portion of the ultrasound transmission member.

17. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises a material adapted to change color when the temperature of the housing changes.

18. The ultrasound catheter of claim 9 further comprising a thermochromic pigment.

19. The ultrasound catheter of claim 18, wherein the thermochromic pigment changes from a first color to a second color when the temperature of the housing reaches approximately 45°

Celsius and changes from the second color to the first color when the temperature of the housing drops below approximately 45°

Celsius.

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

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

a housing coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and having a proximal portion, the proximal portion being disposed in the housing; and

a heat dissipation feature disposed at least partially between the housing and the ultrasound transmission member.

21. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature encircles at least a portion of the ultrasound transmission member.

22. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature is cylindrical in shape.

23. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature comprises a metal.

24. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature comprises a rubber.

25. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature comprises a metal.

26. The ultrasound catheter of claim 20, wherein the heat dissipation feature contacts the ultrasound transmission member.