ULTRASOUND CATHETER SYSTEM

• US 20150190660A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Sarge, Jeff, Summers, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00172 Pulse trains, bursts, intermittent continuous operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320056 Tunnelers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0043 intra-cavitary
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

An ultrasonic system operable at high drive frequencies and/or in pulsed operation is disclosed. The system may be used in a procedure to treat an occluded blood vessel. The system can be used to transmit ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic transducer to a distal end of an ultrasonic transmission device. The ultrasonic device may operate at a resonant frequency. The resonant frequency can be determined prior to using the device and/or during use. The ultrasonic device may operate in a range of frequencies at or near resonance. Operational parameters including, for example, reflected vibrations, temperature, and/or user input can be used by the system to adjust the driving waveform.

Claims

1. A therapeutic ultrasonic vibration delivery system comprising:

an elongate ultrasound transmission device having a distal end and a proximal end; and

an ultrasonic driver coupled to the proximal end of the transmission device and configured to drive the transmission device in a pulsed mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulsed mode comprises applying at least a first frequency for a first time period and a second frequency for a second time period.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first frequency is at least 18 kHz and the second frequency is about 0 kHz.

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12. A method of recanalizing a lumen of a vessel, comprising:

positioning an ultrasonic device having a distal end in a first position within the lumen of the vessel;

transmitting pulsed ultrasonic vibrations though the ultrasonic device to the distal end; and

advancing the distal end through the lumen to recanalize the vessel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the pulsed ultrasonic vibrations increase the displacement of the distal end of the ultrasonic device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein transmitting pulsed ultrasonic vibrations comprises transmitting a first frequency for a first time period and transmitting a second frequency for a second time period.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first frequency is at least 18 kHz and the second frequency is about 0 kHz.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the first and second time periods are between about 5 milliseconds and 30 milliseconds.

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19. A therapeutic ultrasonic vibration delivery system comprising:

an elongate ultrasound transmission device having a distal end and a proximal end; and

an ultrasonic driver coupled to the proximal end of the transmission device and configured to drive the transmission device through a range of ultrasonic frequencies.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the ultrasonic driver is configured to drive the transmission device by sweeping continuously through a range of ultrasonic frequencies.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the range of ultrasonic frequencies includes at least one resonant frequency of the transmission device.

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27. A method of recanalizing a lumen of a vessel, comprising:

positioning an ultrasonic device having a distal end in a first position within the lumen of the vessel;

transmitting a range of ultrasonic vibrations though the ultrasonic device to the distal end; and

advancing the distal end through the lumen to recanalize the vessel.

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33. A therapeutic ultrasonic vibration delivery system comprising:

an elongate ultrasound transmission device having a distal end and a proximal end;

a detector configured to determine a resonant frequency of the ultrasound transmission device; and

an ultrasonic driver coupled to the proximal end of the transmission device and configured to drive the ultrasound transmission device at the resonant frequency.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the detector is disposed within the ultrasonic driver.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the resonant frequency is determined by a measurement pulse transmitted through the transmission device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the ultrasonic driver is configured to stop driving the device while the measurement pulse is sent and received.

37. A therapeutic ultrasonic vibration delivery system comprising:

an elongate ultrasound transmission device having a distal end and a proximal end;

an ultrasonic driver coupled to the proximal end of the transmission device and configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations through the transmission device; and

a detector coupled to the transmission device and configured to determine the displacement of the distal end of the transmission device.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the detector is configured to determine the displacement at least in part by detecting a reflected vibration.

39. A method of modifying the frequency of vibration applied to an ultrasound device, comprising:

applying a vibration having an ultrasonic frequency to the ultrasound device;

detecting a reflected vibration; and

modifying the applied vibration based at least in part on the detected vibration.

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41. A method of recanalizing a lumen of a vessel, comprising:

positioning an ultrasonic transmission device having a distal end in a first position within the lumen of the vessel;

determining a resonant frequency of the ultrasound transmission device;

vibrating the ultrasound transmission device at the resonant frequency; and

advancing the distal end through the lumen to recanalize the vessel.

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