Method and apparatus for intravascular two-dimensional ultrasonography

• US 6,221,015 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiovascular Imaging Systems Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Yock, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/300,168
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/462-471
• US Class Current: 600/439
• 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 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00924 for ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22045 fixed to the catheter; guiding tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22052 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22074 the instrument being only slidable in a channel, e.g. advancing optical fibre through a channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22078 for rotating the instrument within a channel, e.g. an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• 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 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe

Abstract

A catheter is provided for insertion in the blood vessel of a patient for ultrasonically imaging the vessel wall. The catheter includes a tubular element and an internally housed drive cable for effective circumferential scan about the catheter of an ultrasonic generating means. Both the tubular element and the drive cable are of a size and flexibility sufficient to permit their introduction into the vessel and subsequent advancement through the vessel to the location of the vessel wall where imaging is desired.

Claims

1. A method of imaging and treating a region of a blood vessel using a catheter, said method comprising:

advancing a catheter body having a distal region and an imaging device disposed at said distal region into the blood vessel until the imaging device is located in a region to be treated, the imaging device having a rotating reflector;

generating an image of said region to be treated by rotating the imaging device within said catheter body and reflecting an imaging signal off said rotating reflector of said imaging device; and

inflating a balloon disposed at said distal region of the catheter body such that the wall of the balloon contacts a partial or full occlusion in the blood vessel to apply a force to the occlusion to treat said region of the blood vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating an image includes providing said imaging device with an ultrasound transducer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer said signal having a frequency in the range from about 5 to 50 megahertz.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being directed generally axially relative to the blood vessel and being deflected transversely by said rotating reflector.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being reflected off said rotating reflector.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a backward image by reflecting said signal off said inclined rotating reflector.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a forward image by reflecting said signal off said inclined rotating reflector.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said rotating reflector includes a mirrored surface.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being directed generally transversely and said image being generated by rotating said rotating reflector of said imaging device thereby generating a signal which is directed at the wall of the blood vessel.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of re-canalizing the region of blood vessel using interventional means located in the distal region of said catheter body.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with a rotating blade.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with an abrasive surface.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with a perfusion port for the delivery of drugs.

14. A method of imaging and treating a region of a blood vessel using a catheter, said method comprising:

advancing a catheter body having an imaging device into the blood vessel until the imaging device is located in a region to be treated the imaging device having a rotating reflector;

generating an image of said region to be treated by rotating the imaging device within said catheter body and reflecting an imaging signal off said rotating reflector of said imaging device; and

inflating a balloon disposed at the distal region of the catheter body such that the wall of the balloon contacts a partial or full occlusion in the blood vessel to apply a force to the occlusion to assist in performing angioplasty.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of generating an image includes providing said imaging device with an ultrasound transducer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal having a frequency in the range from about 5 to 50 megahertz.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being directed generally axially relative to the blood vessel and being deflected transversely by said rotating reflector.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being reflected off said rotating reflector.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a backward image by reflecting said signal off said inclined rotating reflector.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said rotating reflector includes a mirrored surface.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a forward image by reflecting said signal off said inclined rotating reflector.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of generating an image includes generating a signal with said ultrasound transducer, said signal being directed generally transversely and said image being generated by rotating said rotating reflector of said imaging device thereby generating a signal which is directed at the wall of the blood vessel.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of re-canalizing the region of blood vessel using interventional means located in the distal region of said catheter body.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with a rotating blade.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with an abrasive surface.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of re-canalizing includes providing said interventional means with a perfusion port for the delivery of drugs.