Ultrasound-enhanced stenosis therapy

• US 20110237982A1
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CardioProlific Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CardioProlific Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wallace, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US13/134,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• 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 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 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22088 ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for vein and arterial-venous fistulas stenosis and occlusion therapies, including enhancing permeability of the vessel wall using ultrasound energy and delivering a therapeutic agent into the vessel wall. Ultrasound energy may be delivered at frequencies less than 10 MHz and power less than 20 watts using transcutaneous techniques and endovascular methods. Therapeutic agents may be delivered to the treatment area via intravenous and endovascular methods. In some embodiments, ultrasound energy and therapeutic agent application may be combined with angioplasty techniques and with blood flow protection devices. In some other embodiments, a therapeutic agent may be removed from the body after exposure to the vessel wall to minimize a systemic effect of the therapeutic drug.

Claims

1. A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis in a vein comprising of:

performing interventional procedure at the treatment area;

applying endovascular ultrasound energy at the treatment area to enhance the vessel permeability,

positioning a blood flow protection device around the treatment area, and

delivering a therapeutic agent to the treatment area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interventional procedure is selected from the group consisting of:

balloon venoplasty, stent placement, atherectomy, laser procedure, ultrasound, cryoplasty and combination procedures.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic agent is delivered to the treatment area within no more than 60 minutes from time when ultrasound energy is applied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is between 1 kHz to 10 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered using an ultrasound catheter having a proximal transducer that is located outside the body.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered using an ultrasound catheter having at least one distal transducer that is located on distal end of the catheter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein ultrasound energy is delivered transcutaneously.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a blood flow protection device using one of the following methods:

distally to the treatment area, proximally to the treatment area or combination of both.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood protection device is a balloon catheter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture of therapeutic agent remains in the treatment area of the vein for about one second to one hour.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the therapeutic agent outside the body.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic agent is Paclitaxel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein he therapeutic agent is in mixture with contrast, saline or a combination of both.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis involves treating a totally occluded vein.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment area includes an artery.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein he therapeutic agent is in mixture with contrast, saline, Carbamide, or any combination of all three.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein ultrasound energy is produced by longitudinal sound waves, transverse sound waves, radial sound waves or any combination of all the three sound waves.

18. A method for treating artery-vein fistula stenosis to inhibit restenosis, comprising of:

applying endovascular ultrasound energy to the treatment area to enhance the vessel permeability,

positioning a blood flow protection device within the treatment area, and

delivering a therapeutic agent in mixture with a contrast agent.

19. A method for treating an occluded vein comprising of:

performing an endovascular ultrasound venoplasty procedure at the treatment area, and then delivering a therapeutic agent to the treatment area.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the therapeutic agent is delivered using one of the following methods:

during ultrasound venoplasty, after ultrasound venoplasty or a combination of both.