Transvascular ultrasound hemodynamic and interventional catheter and method

• US 5,345,940 A
• Filed: 11/06/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Seward, James B., Tajik, Abdul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US07/972,626
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/661.09, 128/662.06
• US Class Current: 600/463
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array

Abstract

A self contained ultrasound device for the delivery of therapeutic and other types of tools to be visualized in an ultrasound-type environment within the blood before, during, and after an intervention includes a catheter having a catheter body with a proximal and distal ends. The catheter contains an ultrasonic transducer proximate its distal end. An access port is provided in the catheter for delivery of a therapeutic device or the like to proximate the distal end of the catheter body. A guide wire port is further provided for insertion therethrough of a guide wire.

Claims

1. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends and first and second sides, wherein the first side extends further in the direction of the distal end of the catheter body than the second side;

a port disposed in the catheter body proximate the second side of the catheter body, the port extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a therapeutic device whereby a therapeutic device can be delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter;

an ultrasonic transducer having a first side and a second side, the ultrasonic transducer being mounted proximate the distal end of the catheter body and being disposed between the port and the first side of the catheter body with the first side of the ultrasonic transducer being proximate the first side of the body and the second side of the transducer being proximate the second side of the body, so that the transducer is tilted toward the port to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes to provide a field of view within which flow rates can be measured and features imaged including the therapeutic device delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter through the port; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the catheter body for electrically connecting the transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter.

2. The catheter apparatus, in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a guide wire port disposed in the catheter body proximate the first side of the catheter body, the guide wire port extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a guide wire.

3. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends, and a first side;

a port having a distal end, the port being disposed in the catheter body and extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body, the distal end of the port exiting the catheter body proximate the first side and the distal end of the catheter body at an acute angle to the first side of the catheter body, whereby a therapeutic device can be delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter;

an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the first side of the catheter body between the distal end of the port and the distal end of the catheter body to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes so as to provide a field of view within which flow rates can be measured and features imaged including the therapeutic device delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter through the port; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the catheter body for electrically connecting the transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter.

4. The catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a guide wire port disposed in the catheter body and extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a guide wire.

5. The catheter in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a deflection wire guidance system.

6. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a first side and a second side, and proximal and distal ends;

a primary port disposed proximate the first side of the catheter body and extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a first therapeutic device whereby the first therapeutic device can be delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter;

secondary port disposed proximate the second side of the catheter body and extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a second therapeutic device whereby the second therapeutic device can be delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter;

an ultrasonic transducer mounted between the primary port and the secondary port and proximate the distal end of the catheter body to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes to provide a field of view within which flow rates can be measured and features imaged including the first and second therapeutic devices delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter through the port, an operational end of each of the first and second therapeutic devices projecting from proximate the distal end of the catheter body into the field of view so as to allow visualization of the first and second therapeutic devices during their operation; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the catheter body for electrically connecting the transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter.

7. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends and a first side and a second side, wherein the first side extends further in the direction of the distal end of the catheter body than the second side;

a plurality of ports disposed in the catheter body proximate the second side of the catheter body and extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving at least one therapeutic device whereby at least one therapeutic device can be delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter;

an ultrasonic transducer having a first side and a second side, the ultrasonic transducer being mounted proximate the distal end of the catheter body, the transducer being disposed between the plurality of ports and the first side of the catheter body with the first side of the transducer proximate the first side of the catheter body and the second side of the transducer being proximate the second side of the catheter body, so that the transducer is tilted toward the plurality of ports to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes so as to provide a field of view within which flow rates can be measured and features imaged including at least one therapeutic device delivered to proximate the distal end of the catheter through the plurality of ports, an operational end of at least one therapeutic device projecting from proximate the distal end of the catheter body into the field of view so as to allow visualization of at least one therapeutic device during its operation; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the catheter body for electrically connecting the transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter.

8. The catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a guide wire port disposed in the catheter body proximate the first side of the catheter body, the guide wire port extending from proximate the proximal end of the catheter body to proximate the distal end of the catheter body for receiving a guide wire.