Apparatus and methods for ultrasonically enhanced intraluminal therapy
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tail mass attached to the catheter body;
a longitudinally oscillating driver engaging and extending distally from the tail mass;
an interface member engaging a distally forward surface of the oscillating driver, wherein the mass of the interface member is much less than that of the tail mass; and
a spring element connecting the tail mass to the interface member, wherein the spring element has a spring force which is selected to permit resonant driving by the longitudinally oscillating driver.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic catheter comprises a catheter body having a resonantly vibrating assembly at its distal end. The resonantly vibrating assembly comprises a tail mass, an interface member, and a spring element which connects the tail mass to the interface member. An interface surface is formed on the interface member and is forwardly disposed at the distal end of the catheter. A longitudinally oscillating driver is disposed between the tail mass and the interface member, and the catheter can be connected to a suitable power supply to induce oscillations in the driver. The driver is typically a piezoelectric device, such as a tubular piezoelectric transducer or a piezoelectric stack. The characteristics of the interface member, spring element, and longitudinally oscillating driver are selected so that the interface member may be resonantly vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency. The catheter is useful for treating luminal conditions, such as vascular clot and plaque. Optionally, a therapeutic agent may be delivered through the catheter simultaneously with the application of ultrasonic energy.
463 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a tail mass attached to the catheter body; a longitudinally oscillating driver engaging and extending distally from the tail mass; an interface member engaging a distally forward surface of the oscillating driver, wherein the mass of the interface member is much less than that of the tail mass; and a spring element connecting the tail mass to the interface member, wherein the spring element has a spring force which is selected to permit resonant driving by the longitudinally oscillating driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An improved ultrasonic catheter of the type comprising a catheter body having an ultrasonic driver at a distal end thereof, wherein the improvement comprises an ultrasonic driver comprising:
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a tail mass secured to the distal end of the catheter body; an interface member distally spaced-apart from the tail mass; a spring element connecting the interface member to the tail mass; an ultrasonic driver disposed between the interface member and the tail mass, wherein said driver oscillates at or near a resonant frequency characteristic of the interface member, the spring element, and the ultrasonic driver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for treating intraluminal lesions, said method comprising:
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providing a catheter having an assembly comprising an interface member connected to a tall mass by a spring element disposed at its distal end, wherein the assembly has a resonant frequency; advancing a forwardly disposed surface of the interface member to a region near the intraluminal lesion; driving the interface member relative to the tail mass at the resonant frequency, wherein ultrasonic energy is amplified and radiated into the region. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification