ULTRASONIC MONITORING OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
1. An implantable medical lead, comprising:
- a lead body having a proximal section and a distal section; and
at least one ultrasonic reflecting unit configured for increasing the echogenicity of the lead body when subjected to ultrasonic energy, the ultrasonic reflecting unit including an echogenic fluid medium adapted to reflect a portion of the ultrasonic energy.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for ultrasonically monitoring implantable medical devices are disclosed. An ultrasonic monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits an ultrasonic wave into the body, an implantable medical device including at least one ultrasonic reflecting unit configured for reflecting a portion of the ultrasonic wave, and an ultrasonic imaging monitor configured to receive a reflected portion of the ultrasonic wave and produce an ultrasonic image of the implantable medical device within the body. The ultrasonic reflecting unit can include an echogenic fluid medium that reflects a portion of the ultrasonic wave received from the ultrasonic transmitter. The ultrasonic reflecting units can be positioned at various locations on the device to produce localized areas of increased echogenicity, which can be used by the implanting physician to gauge the location of the device within the body.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical lead, comprising:
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a lead body having a proximal section and a distal section; and at least one ultrasonic reflecting unit configured for increasing the echogenicity of the lead body when subjected to ultrasonic energy, the ultrasonic reflecting unit including an echogenic fluid medium adapted to reflect a portion of the ultrasonic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for ultrasonically monitoring an implantable medical device within a body, the system comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter configured for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the body; an implantable medical device including at least one ultrasonic reflecting unit configured for enhancing a reflected portion of the ultrasonic wave, the reflecting unit including an echogenic fluid medium; and an ultrasonic imaging monitor configured to receive the reflected portion of the ultrasonic wave and generate an ultrasonic image of the implantable medical device within the body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for ultrasonically monitoring an implantable medical lead within a body, the method comprising:
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inserting an implantable medical lead into a body, the lead including a lead body having a proximal section, a distal section, and a fluid conduit extending between the proximal and distal sections; coupling a solution of gas-filled microbubbles to the fluid conduit and injecting the solution into one or more cavities located within the distal section of the lead body, the microbubbles configured to oscillate when subjected to ultrasonic energy; transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the body; and generating an image of the implantable medical lead within the body based on a reflected portion of the transmitted ultrasonic wave.
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Specification