Apparatus and methods for vibratory intraluminal therapy employing magnetostrictive transducers
First Claim
1. An energy-transmitting catheter, said catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a magnetostrictive driver disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and
an interface surface mechanically coupled to the driver so that said surface can be oscillated relative to the catheter body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy transmitting catheter comprises a catheter body (16) having a vibrating assembly at its distal end. The vibrating assembly comprises a magnetostriction driver (40) which is mechanically coupled to an interface member (46) on the catheter for radiating energy into an environment surrounding the distal end of the catheter. Usually, the vibrating assembly further includes a tail mass (44), an interface member (46), and a spring element (48) which together and in combination with the magnetostriction driver define a resonant assembly for amplification of the displacement of the interface surface provided by the magnetostriction driver. The catheter is useful for treating luminal conditions, such as vascular clot and plaque. Optionally, a therapeutic agent may be delivered through the catheter before, after, or simultaneously with the application of vibratory energy.
244 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An energy-transmitting catheter, said catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a magnetostrictive driver disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and
an interface surface mechanically coupled to the driver so that said surface can be oscillated relative to the catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
an interface member having the interface surface thereon; a tail mass at the distal end of the catheter body; and
a spring element attached to the tail mass;
wherein the tail mass has a mass which is much greater than that of the interface member and wherein the spring element provides a spring force in combination with the elastic modulus of the magnetostrictive driver which permits resonant driving by the magnetostrictive driver.
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8. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 7, wherein the tail mass has a mass which is at least four times the mass of the interface member.
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9. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 8, wherein the tail mass has a mass in the range from 0.1 gm to 10 gm and the interface member has a mass in the range from 0.005 gm to 1 gm.
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10. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 7, wherein the spring element comprises at least one rod secured at a proximal end to the tail mass and at a distal end to the interface member.
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11. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 10, wherein the spring element consists of a single rod disposed coaxially within the catheter.
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12. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 10, wherein the spring element comprises at least two parallel rod members disposed symmetrically about the axis of the catheter body.
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13. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 1, wherein the interface surface includes at least a portion which extends laterally over a distal end of the catheter and which forwardly transmits longitudinal oscillations into the environment surrounding the distal end of the catheter.
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14. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 13, wherein the interface surface has a generally convex shape.
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15. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 1, wherein the interface surface includes at least a portion which extends axially over a lateral surface of the catheter body.
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16. An energy-transmitting catheter as in claim 1, wherein the catheter body has at least one lumen for delivering a therapeutic agent therethrough.
- 17. An improved ultrasonic catheter of the type comprising a catheter body and an ultrasonic driver near a distal end thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a magnetostrictive driver mechanically coupled to an interface surface on the catheter body.
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33. A method for treating an intraluminal target site, said method comprising:
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providing a catheter having a magnetostrictive driver mechanically coupled to an interface surface near a distal end of the catheter;
advancing the distal end of the catheter to an intraluminal region near the target site; and
energizing the magnetostrictive driver to oscillate the interface surface and impart vibratory energy into a fluid environment surrounding the distal end of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification