Ultrasonic guidewire
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic guidewire device comprising:
- a) an elongate guidewire body comprising;
i) an elongate proximal wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end;
ii) at least one distal wire segment extending longitudinally from the distal end of said proximal wire segment, said at least one distal wire segment having a cross-sectional dimension which is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of said elongate proximal wire segment, and wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the distal wire segments are no greater than 0.3 mm; and
iii) an outer wire coil helically wound around said at least one distal wire segment; and
b) a proximal connector apparatus mountable on the proximal end of said guidewire body to couple said guidewire body to an ultrasound source.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic guidewire insertable into a mammalian body for purposes of guiding a medical catheter, scope or other medical device into the body and, additionally, connectable to an external ultrasound generating source to transmit ultrasonic energy into the body. The invention includes methods of using the ultrasonic guidewire for purposes of ablating obstructive matter in a blood vessel or other body cavity and/or for delivering ultrasonic energy to treat vasospasm or muscular spasms within the body.
383 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic guidewire device comprising:
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a) an elongate guidewire body comprising; i) an elongate proximal wire segment having a proximal end and a distal end; ii) at least one distal wire segment extending longitudinally from the distal end of said proximal wire segment, said at least one distal wire segment having a cross-sectional dimension which is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of said elongate proximal wire segment, and wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the distal wire segments are no greater than 0.3 mm; and iii) an outer wire coil helically wound around said at least one distal wire segment; and b) a proximal connector apparatus mountable on the proximal end of said guidewire body to couple said guidewire body to an ultrasound source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for percutaneous transluminal treatment of an obstruction in an anatomical passageway to improve the patency of said anatomical passageway, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a treatment apparatus which is transluminally advanceable through said passageway and which is operable to effect patency improving treatment of said obstruction; b) providing an ultrasonic guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, said guidewire being coupleable to an ultrasound generating device such that ultrasonic energy from said ultrasound generating device will pass through said ultrasonic guidewire to the distal end thereof, said guidewire further comprising; (i) at least one distal wire segment extending longitudinally from the distal end of said proximal wire segment, said at least one distal wire segment having a cross-sectional diameter which is smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of said proximal wire segment, and wherein the cross-sectional diameters of the distal wire segments are no greater than 0.3 mm; and (ii) an outer wire coil helically wound around said at least one distal wire segment; c) providing an ultrasound generating device coupleable to said ultrasonic guidewire; d) inserting said ultrasonic guidewire, distal end first, into said anatomical passageway; e) advancing said ultrasonic guidewire to a point where the distal end of said ultrasonic guidewire is near said obstruction; f) utilizing said ultrasound generating device to pass ultrasonic energy through said ultrasonic guidewire while concommitantly advancing the distal end of said guidewire through said obstruction so as to create a passageway through said obstruction; g) subsequently advancing said treatment apparatus over said guidewire and into the passageway created through said obstruction; and h) utilizing said treatment apparatus to effect patency improving treatment of said obstruction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification