Ultrasound catheter and method for imaging and hemodynamic monitoring

• US 5,713,363 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• 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: Tajik, Abdul Jamil, Seward, James Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/636,916
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/660.09, 128/660.1, 128/661.01, 128/662.05, 128/662.06
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• 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 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres

Abstract

A catheter apparatus for monitoring cardiovascular function is provided. The catheter apparatus contains an elongated body having proximal and distal ends; a phased-array ultrasonic transducer; and an electrical conductor. The phased-array ultrasonic transducer is mounted proximate 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. The electrical conductor is disposed in the catheter body for electrically connecting the transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer mounted proximate 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; 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 according to claim 1, 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.

3. The catheter apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deflection wire guidance system.

4. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has a frequency of 5 to 20 MHz.

5. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has a frequency of 7 to 10 MHz.

6. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 4 to 24 French.

7. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 6 to 12 French.

8. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 7 to 8 French.

9. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear phased-array transducer is a multiplane phased-array ultrasound transducer.

10. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is mounted on one side of the elongated body proximate the distal end of the elongated body.

11. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is applicable when the distal end and a portion of the catheter body adjacent thereto are surrounded by blood.

12. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated, flexible 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 than the second side;

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer, the transducer being mounted on proximate the distal end of the catheter body and proximate the first side 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; and

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

13. A medical system, comprising:

a catheter comprising;

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer mounted proximate 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;

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;

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

control circuitry means for controlling operation of the ultrasonic transducer; and

display means for displaying the flow rates and the features imaged by the ultrasonic transducer.

14. A method system according to claim 13, wherein the transducer is mounted on one side of the elongated body proximate the distal end.

15. A method of monitoring cardiovascular function using a catheter, the method comprising:

disposing a catheter in one of a blood vessel and a heart, the catheter comprising;

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer mounted proximate 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;

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;

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

transmitting ultrasound from the transducer;

receiving resultant echoes of the ultrasound using the transducer;

analyzing the echoes to image features.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising analyzing the echoes with Doppler circuitry to provide hemodynamic information.

17. A method system according to claim 15, wherein the transducer is mounted on one side of the elongated body proximate the distal end.