Opto-acoustic transducer for medical applications
First Claim
1. A method for removing a vascular occlusin, comprising:
- inserting a catheter into a blood vessel, wherein said catheter comprises;
a fiber optic having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an opto-acoustic transducer fixedly and operatively connected to said distal end of said fiber optic, wherein said opto-acoustic transducer comprises a working fluid, wherein said opto-acoustic transducer vibrates when stimulated by light propagated through said fiber optic; and
said method further comprising coupling a high repetition rate laser beam into said fiber, wherein said beam is absorbed by said working fluid, wherein said transducer generates acoustic waves to remove a vascular occlusion within said blood vessel.
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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
10 Claims
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1. A method for removing a vascular occlusin, comprising:
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inserting a catheter into a blood vessel, wherein said catheter comprises;
a fiber optic having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an opto-acoustic transducer fixedly and operatively connected to said distal end of said fiber optic, wherein said opto-acoustic transducer comprises a working fluid, wherein said opto-acoustic transducer vibrates when stimulated by light propagated through said fiber optic; and
said method further comprising coupling a high repetition rate laser beam into said fiber, wherein said beam is absorbed by said working fluid, wherein said transducer generates acoustic waves to remove a vascular occlusion within said blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification