Method and device for connecting ultrasound transmission member (S) to an ultrasound generating device
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic catheter for removing obstructions from tubular anatomical structures such as blood vessels, said ultrasonic catheter comprising:
- an elongated flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said catheter, said ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end member terminating adjacent the distal end member of said catheter body;
a sonic connector assembly being positioned on the proximal end of said ultrasound transmission member to facilitate connection of said ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound transducer having first threads formed thereon, said sonic connector assembly comprising;
(i) a proximal end member having second threads complimentary to said first threads formed thereon for attaching said sonic connector to said ultrasound transducer;
(ii) a distal end member having a bore formed therein into which said ultrasound transmission member is received; and
(iii) an absorber member disposed within said bore and distal of the proximal end of said ultrasound transmission member, said absorber member substantially surrounding a portion of said ultrasound transmission member for mitigating transverse vibration thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound catheter (10) for removing obstructions from tubular anatomic structures such as blood vessels, said catheter comprising an elongate flexible catheter body (20) having an ultrasound transmission member or wire (24) extending longitudinally therethrough. A distal head (26) is formed on the distal end member of the ultrasound transmission member or wire (24) and is affixed to the catheter body (20). The ultrasound transmission member or wire may be formed of any material capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy including various superelastic metal alloys such as nickel titanium metal alloys. The distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member or wire (24) may be of reduced diameter to provide enhanced flexibility and/or amplification of the ultrasonic energy through the distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member or wire. A proximal end member connector (12) may be provided with a sonic connector to effectively couple the catheter (10) to the ultrasound transducer (14).
311 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An ultrasonic catheter for removing obstructions from tubular anatomical structures such as blood vessels, said ultrasonic catheter comprising:
-
an elongated flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said catheter, said ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end member terminating adjacent the distal end member of said catheter body; a sonic connector assembly being positioned on the proximal end of said ultrasound transmission member to facilitate connection of said ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound transducer having first threads formed thereon, said sonic connector assembly comprising; (i) a proximal end member having second threads complimentary to said first threads formed thereon for attaching said sonic connector to said ultrasound transducer; (ii) a distal end member having a bore formed therein into which said ultrasound transmission member is received; and (iii) an absorber member disposed within said bore and distal of the proximal end of said ultrasound transmission member, said absorber member substantially surrounding a portion of said ultrasound transmission member for mitigating transverse vibration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
-
-
9. A sonic connector assembly for connecting an ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer having first threads formed thereon, said ultrasound transmission member having a proximal ends. said connector assembly comprising:
-
a proximal end member having second threads complimentary to said first threads formed thereon for attaching said sonic connector to said ultrasound transducer; a distal end member having a bore formed therein into which said ultrasound transmission member is received; and an absorber member disposed within said bore and distal of the proximal end of said ultrasound transmission member, said absorber member substantially surrounding a portion of said ultrasound transmission member for mitigating transverse vibration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
-
-
17. A method for connecting an ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end member to an ultrasound transducer, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) attaching a sonic connector to the ultrasound transducer via first threads formed upon said ultrasound transducer and second threads formed upon said sonic connector; b) inserting the proximal end member of the ultrasound transmission member into a bore formed in said sonic connector; and c) providing an absorber member within said bore and distal of the proximal-most extremity of the proximal end member of the ultrasound transmission member, said absorber member substantially surrounding a portion of the ultrasound transmission member for mitigating transverse vibration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification