Acousting imaging catheters and the like

• US 5,372,138 A
• Filed: 12/09/1992
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Couvillon, Lucien A. Jr., Crowley, Robert J., Abele, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US07/988,322
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/662.03
• US Class Current: 600/463
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0291 for uterus A61B10/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22078 for rotating the instrument within a channel, e.g. an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• 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 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Acoustic imaging balloon catheters formed by a disposable liquid-confining sheath supporting a high fidelity, flexible drive shaft which carries on its end an ultrasound transducer and includes an inflatable dilatation balloon. The shaft and transducer rotate with sufficient speed and fidelity to produce real time images on a T.V. screen. In preferred embodiments, special features that contribute to the high fidelity of the drive shaft include the particular multi-filar construction of concentric, oppositely wound, interfering coils, a pre-loaded torque condition on the coils enhancing their interfering contact, and dynamic loading of the distal end of the probe, preferably with viscous drag. The coil rotating in the presence of liquid in the sheath is used to produce a desirable pressure in the region of the transducer. Numerous selectable catheter sheaths are shown including a sheath with an integral acoustically-transparent window, sheaths with end extensions that aid in positioning, a liquid injection-producing sheath, a sheath having its window section under tension employing an axially loaded bearing, a sheath carrying a dilatation or positioning balloon over the transducer, a sheath carrying a distal rotating surgical tool and a sheath used in conjunction with a side-viewing trocar.

Claims

1. A catheter for use within the body of a living being, comprising

an elongated tubular catheter member, and

an ultrasound probe carried by said elongated tubular catheter member,

said probe comprising a flexible, axially elongated drive shaft and an ultrasound device mounted on the distal end of said drive shaft arranged to direct ultrasonic signals toward an internal body structure,

said elongated ultrasonic probe being constructed to rotate relative to said tubular catheter member to generate acoustic images,

said ultrasound device being constructed and arranged to form ultrasound images of a portion of said body of said living being,

said elongated tubular catheter member forming a closed passage surrounding said elongated ultrasonic probe and said ultrasound device,

said elongated tubular catheter member having a small hole located entirely distal of said ultrasound device, said small hole having a diameter less than the outer diameter of said catheter member and being constructed to permit passage of fluid under pressure through said closed passage surrounding said ultrasonic probe and said ultrasound device and out of said catheter through said small hole, into said body of said living being.

2. The ultrasound-guided fluid passage catheter of claim 1, wherein said fluid is saline.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said small hole is located at the distal extremity of said catheter member.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein said small hole is concentric with the longitudinal axis of said catheter member.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ultrasound device is an ultrasound transducer.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said ultrasound device has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of said drive shaft.