Apparatus for intravascular cavitation or delivery of low frequency mechanical energy

• US 5,344,395 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Willard, Lloyd K., Whalen, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US07/826,959
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 606/169, 606/171, 606/159, 604/22, 128/24 AA
• US Class Current: 604/22
• 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 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22052 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22075 with motorized advancing or retracting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for recanalization of a blood vessel obstruction by application of low frequency mechanical energy to a vessel site or by creation of cavitation at the vessel site. The system includes a catheter assembly having a wire located within and extending through a wire support tube and adapted to move axially therewith. A driving apparatus positioned at a proximal portion of the catheter assembly imparts energy to the wire to oscillate it axially. A tip is connected to a distal end of the wire and imparts low frequency mechanical energy or causes cavitation at the vessel site to recanalize it. Further, a fluid particle removal system can be incorporated within the catheter assembly to convey pressurized fluid via the wire support tube to the tip where the fluid is redirected in a proximal direction into a second tube of the catheter assembly coaxially positioned around the wire support tube. Particulate from the vessel obstruction being recanalized becomes attached viscously in the redirected pressurized fluid and is withdrawn from the vessel site.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recanalization of an obstruction in a blood vessel characterized by the presence of undesired material at a site in the blood vessel comprising:

a wire support tube adapted to be positioned intra-vascularly in the patient, said wire support tube having a proximal portion locatable outside the patient'"'"'s vessel and a distal portion adapted to be positioned in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel at the site of the obstruction;

a wire located within and extending through said wire support tube, said wire adapted to move axially with respect to said wire support tube;

a tip connected to a distal end of said wire and extending distally from the distal portion of the wire support tube;

a driving apparatus positioned at said proximal portion of the wire support tube and adapted to impart energy to said wire located therein to move said wire in oscillation axially with respect to said support tube;

a second tube located around at least a distal portion of the wire support tube, said second tube adapted to damp transverse movement of the wire support tube or wire caused by wire oscillations;

a pressurized fluid supply connected to said proximal portion of said wire support tube and adapted to convey pressurized fluid distally in said support tube along said wire to a distal opening of said wire support tube directed at a channel in said tip adapted to redirect the pressurized fluid from said wire support tube distal opening toward a distal opening of said second tube formed by the annular region between said wire support tube and said second tube; and

an exhaust port connected to a proximal portion of said second tube and adapted to withdraw effluent from the second tube conveyed from the distal opening thereof.