Delivery of ultrasound to percutaneous and intrabody devices
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method for reducing morbidity associated with an elongate medical device inserted into the body of a patient, comprising:
- coupling an ultrasonic transducer to a portion of the elongate device that is outside the body, said portion having a longitudinal axis so that the transducer is approximately parallel to said longitudinal axis of the device; and
applying ultrasonic energy to the device by actuating the transducer so as to impart vibration to the device with sufficient intensity to inhibit accretion of biological matter associated with the device while the device is in the body.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing morbidity associated with a medical device inserted into the body of a patient. Ultrasonic energy is applied to the device with sufficient intensity to inhibit accretion of biological matter associated with the device while the device is in the body. Typically, the energy is applied to the device in the absence of clinically-observable accretion of biological matter on the device so as to prevent such accretion.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for reducing morbidity associated with an elongate medical device inserted into the body of a patient, comprising:
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coupling an ultrasonic transducer to a portion of the elongate device that is outside the body, said portion having a longitudinal axis so that the transducer is approximately parallel to said longitudinal axis of the device; and
applying ultrasonic energy to the device by actuating the transducer so as to impart vibration to the device with sufficient intensity to inhibit accretion of biological matter associated with the device while the device is in the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. Apparatus for reducing morbidity associated with an elongate device inserted into the body of a patient, comprising an ultrasonic transducer, which is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the elongate device that is outside the body said portion having a longitudinal axis so that the transducer is approximately parallel to said longitudinal axis of the device, so as to apply ultrasonic vibration to the device with sufficient intensity to inhibit accretion of biological matter associated with the device while the device is in the body.
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23. An ultrasonic energy generator for use with an elongate invasive medical device, comprising:
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a ultrasonic energy generator, adapted to be mechanically coupled to a proximal portion of the invasive device that is outside the body said portion having a longitudinal axis; and
a transducer, held approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device by the generator body so as to apply ultrasonic vibration to the invasive device while a distal portion of the device is in the body. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate intrabody member having a longitudinal axis, for insertion into the body of a patient; and
an ultrasonic transducer, which is coupled to the intrabody member so that the transducer is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, so as to apply ultrasonic vibration to the intrabody member with sufficient intensity to inhibit accretion of biological matter associated with the device while the device is in the body. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification