Ultrasonic catheter apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for removing blockage, comprising:
- a catheter with a distal end for inserting into the cardiovascular system and a proximate end opposite from the distal end; and
an ultrasound controller electronically connected to the proximate end of the catheter, comprising;
means for sending diagnostic ultrasonic burst signals to the catheter;
means for receiving echo signals of the diagnostic ultrasonic burst signals from the catheter;
means for measuring the blockage from the echo signals; and
means for generating treatment ultrasonic burst signals, wherein the treatment ultrasonic burst signals are able to generate an ultrasonic burst which is able to break up the blockage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ultrasonic cardiac catheter apparatus comprises a catheter member, an ultrasound generator source and means containing liquid chemicals that will aid in carrying the high frequency sound waves, or will aid in identifying or dissolving the blockage. The catheter member is adapted having a suitable length and having, at one end, a central port or coupling to the ultrasonic sound generator, and for coupling to selected liquid chemical sources, such as sterile normal saline, dyes or clot busting chemicals that act, respectively, as sound carriers means, catheter inflating means, or that are used to help identify the location of a blockage, or help dissolve blockages. The catheter member is used in conjunction with an introducer and sheath means. The catheter member may be made of flexible tubular material that facilitates balloon action, or may be made of ceramic fibers whose structure facilitates transmission of sound impulses to the location to be cleared. The ultrasound generator is a commercially available medical equipment unit adapted to couple to the catheter'"'"'s central port to deliver the sound impulses. A first ultrasonic signal is used to measure the density of blockage. A second ultrasonic signal is generated at a frequency resonant with the measured density of the blockage to emulsify the blockage.
117 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for removing blockage, comprising:
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a catheter with a distal end for inserting into the cardiovascular system and a proximate end opposite from the distal end; and an ultrasound controller electronically connected to the proximate end of the catheter, comprising; means for sending diagnostic ultrasonic burst signals to the catheter; means for receiving echo signals of the diagnostic ultrasonic burst signals from the catheter; means for measuring the blockage from the echo signals; and means for generating treatment ultrasonic burst signals, wherein the treatment ultrasonic burst signals are able to generate an ultrasonic burst which is able to break up the blockage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for removing blockage, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a catheter into a cardiovascular system and adjacent to a blockage; transmitting a diagnostic ultrasonic burst from the catheter into the cardiovascular system; receiving echoes from the diagnostic ultrasonic burst into the catheter; analyzing the echoes to measure the blockage; and transmitting a treatment ultrasonic burst from the catheter to dissolve the blockage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for removing blockage, comprising:
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a catheter with a distal end for inserting into the cardiovascular system and a proximate end opposite from the distal end, comprising; a balloon located at the distal end of the catheter; an ultrasonic transducer located at the distal end of the catheter; a saline port extending from the balloon through the catheter to the proximate end of the catheter; and a ultrasound port extending from the ultrasonic transducer through the catheter to the proximate end of the catheter; a saline source connected to the proximate end of the saline port; and an ultrasound controller connected to the proximate end of the ultrasound port, wherein the ultrasound controller comprises; a display; a data entry system; and a processor connected between the display, data entry system, and ultrasound port, wherein the processor comprises; means for determining the density of the blockage; and means for determining the resonant frequency of the blockage; and means for generating a signal, which causes the ultrasonic transducer to generate an ultrasonic burst at the resonant frequency of the blockage.
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Specification