Catheter for effecting removal of obstructions from a biological duct
First Claim
1. A catheter for effecting removal of obstructions from a biological duct, comprising a flexible aspiration tube for insertion into said duct such that a first end thereof is disposed in the vicinity of said obstruction and an opposite end thereof is connectable to a source of vacuum for providing suction within said duct at said first end in the vicinity of said obstruction, an injection tube disposed within said aspiration tube for injecting medication into said duct in the vicinity of said obstruction, and an ultrasonic energy source for transmitting ultrasound through said aspiration tube to the vicinity of said obstruction,whereby said ultrasonic energy and medication cooperate to emulsify and fragment said obstruction and the emulsified and fragmented obstruction is removed from said duct through the aspiration tube in response to suction being provided by said source of vacuum, andfurther including a flexible delivery sleeve enveloping said aspiration tube and screw threaded thereto at said first end, said aspiration tube being movable between extended and retracted positions relative to said sleeve by rotation therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter for insertion into a biological duct such as an artery, comprised of a flexible aspiration tube disposed within a delivery sleeve and connected at one end to a source of vacuum for providing suction within the duct in the vicinity of a biological obstruction, such as a blood clot. An injection tube extends through the aspiration tube for injecting medication into the duct, and an ultrasonic energy source also extends through the aspiration tube for transmitting ultrasound in the vicinity of the obstruction. The transmitted ultrasound and injected medication cooperate to emulsify and fragment the obstruction, and the fragmented obstruction is removed through the aspiration tube in response to suction being applied thereto. The catheter is compact and easily manipulable, providing substantial surgical accuracy.
307 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A catheter for effecting removal of obstructions from a biological duct, comprising a flexible aspiration tube for insertion into said duct such that a first end thereof is disposed in the vicinity of said obstruction and an opposite end thereof is connectable to a source of vacuum for providing suction within said duct at said first end in the vicinity of said obstruction, an injection tube disposed within said aspiration tube for injecting medication into said duct in the vicinity of said obstruction, and an ultrasonic energy source for transmitting ultrasound through said aspiration tube to the vicinity of said obstruction,
whereby said ultrasonic energy and medication cooperate to emulsify and fragment said obstruction and the emulsified and fragmented obstruction is removed from said duct through the aspiration tube in response to suction being provided by said source of vacuum, and further including a flexible delivery sleeve enveloping said aspiration tube and screw threaded thereto at said first end, said aspiration tube being movable between extended and retracted positions relative to said sleeve by rotation therein.
Specification