Opto-acoustic transducer for medical applications
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a body comprising:
- a fiber optic having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an opto-acoustic transducer, a first portion of said transducer fixedly and operatively connected to said distal end of said fiber optic,wherein at least a second portion of said opto-acoustic transducer vibrates when stimulated by light propagated through said fiber optic, wherein said first and second portions of said transducer are connected wherein the apparatus can be used to disrupt total or partial occlusions within a body lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is an optically activated transducer for generating acoustic vibrations in a biological medium. The transducer is located at the end of a fiber optic which may be located within a catheter. Energy for operating the transducer is provided optically by laser light transmitted through the fiber optic to the transducer. Pulsed laser light is absorbed in the working fluid of the transducer to generate a thermal pressure and consequent adiabatic expansion of the transducer head such that it does work against the ambient medium. The transducer returns to its original state by a process of thermal cooling. The motion of the transducer within the ambient medium couples acoustic energy into the medium. By pulsing the laser at a high repetition rate (which may vary from CW to 100 kHz) an ultrasonic radiation field can be established locally in the medium. This method of producing ultrasonic vibrations can be used in vivo for the treatment of stroke-related conditions in humans, particularly for dissolving thrombus. The catheter may also incorporate anti-thrombolytic drug treatments as an adjunct therapy and it may be operated in conjunction with ultrasonic detection equipment for imaging and feedback control.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a body comprising:
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a fiber optic having a proximal end and a distal end; and an opto-acoustic transducer, a first portion of said transducer fixedly and operatively connected to said distal end of said fiber optic, wherein at least a second portion of said opto-acoustic transducer vibrates when stimulated by light propagated through said fiber optic, wherein said first and second portions of said transducer are connected wherein the apparatus can be used to disrupt total or partial occlusions within a body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification