Brush-tipped catheter for ultrasound imaging
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic catheter assembly comprising a catheter sheath and an ultrasound transducer disposed within the catheter sheath, wherein a non-inflatable tool is affixed to and extends radially beyond an exterior surface of the catheter sheath near a distal end of the catheter sheath at a point proximal of the distal end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Miniature catheter-based ultrasound transducers are used to image peritracheal or bronchial structures including masses, lymph nodes, and vessels. Most preferably, a 6.2 French catheter containing either a 12.5 or 20 MHz ultrasound transducer coupled with an ultrasound unit is passed through the working channel of a flexible bronchoscope and directed to the region of interest. Patients with pulmonary masses detected by X-ray or computed tomography were studied and it was found that characteristic ultrasound patterns of masses, lymph nodes and blood vessels could be distinguished. Thus, catheter-based ultrasound transducers are useful to evaluate a variety of bronchopulmonary abnormalities. This approach was found to be valuable in the selection of the appropriate site for biopsy. In accordance with the present invention, an improved ultrasound catheter that incorporates a biopsy brush is therefore disclosed.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An ultrasonic catheter assembly comprising a catheter sheath and an ultrasound transducer disposed within the catheter sheath, wherein a non-inflatable tool is affixed to and extends radially beyond an exterior surface of the catheter sheath near a distal end of the catheter sheath at a point proximal of the distal end.
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8. A method of determining the location of a lesion in a subject'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree and obtaining sample tissue from the lesion in a single procedure comprising the steps of:
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introducing a catheter sheath containing an ultrasound transducer into the tracheobronchial tree; activating the ultrasound transducer to produce an ultrasound image; reviewing the ultrasound image to determine if a lesion exists; determining the position of the lesion; extending a biopsy tool for obtaining a tissue sample from within the sheath; and performing a biopsy while simultaneously imaging the lesion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification