Intravascular catheter including untrasonic transducer for use in detection and aspiration of air emboli
First Claim
1. An intravascular catheter particularly adapted for use in the detection and aspiration of air emboli in intracorporeal blood vessels, said catheter comprising:
- (a) an elongated cylindrical tube of flexible material, said tube having a tip and having formed therein an axial aspiration lumen extending to and being open at said tip;
(b) an ultrasonic transducer comprising a single annular, cylindrical ring of piezoelectric material carried by said tube adjacent said tip, said ultrasonic transducer when so carried providing omnidirectional transmission and reception of ultrasonic energy in a substantially planar region that extends radially outward from said ultrasonic transducer and that is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tube; and
,(c) electrically-conductive means located in and extending along said tube, said electrically-conductive means being electrically connected with said ultrasonic transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting and quantifying air emboli in blood vessels which uses either an intravascular catheter 22 or an esophageal catheter 50. In a preferred embodiment, the intravascular catheter includes an elongated cylindrical tube of flexible material, the tube having a tip 22A and having formed therein an axial aspiration lumen 26 and a second axial lumen 28. An ultrasonic transducer 24, comprising an annular, cylindrical ring of piezoelectric material, is fitted over and secured to the tube adjacent its tip. A microcaxial cable passes through lumen 28 and is electrically interconnected with the ultrasonic transducer. In a preferred embodiment, the esophageal catheter includes a substantially cylindrical member 54 on which is fitted an ultrasonic transducer 52 comprising an annular, cylindrical ring of piezoelectric material. An elongated tube 58 is secured to the substantially cylindrical member, and a microcoaxial cable 62 passes through tube 58 and the substantially cylindrical member and is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer. In use, the intravascular catheter is positioned within a desired blood vessel after percutaneous insertion, and the esophageal catheter is positioned within the esophagus below the bifurcation of the trachea. A pulsed Doppler circuit (FIG. 9) energizes the transducer and provides a Doppler signal from return signals generated by the transducer as a result of returns of transmitted ultrasonic energy. A circuit (FIGS. 10 and 11) processes the Doppler signal to obtain various information useful in the diagnosis of air emboli.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An intravascular catheter particularly adapted for use in the detection and aspiration of air emboli in intracorporeal blood vessels, said catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongated cylindrical tube of flexible material, said tube having a tip and having formed therein an axial aspiration lumen extending to and being open at said tip; (b) an ultrasonic transducer comprising a single annular, cylindrical ring of piezoelectric material carried by said tube adjacent said tip, said ultrasonic transducer when so carried providing omnidirectional transmission and reception of ultrasonic energy in a substantially planar region that extends radially outward from said ultrasonic transducer and that is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tube; and
,(c) electrically-conductive means located in and extending along said tube, said electrically-conductive means being electrically connected with said ultrasonic transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification