Ultrasonic angioplasty transmission member
First Claim
1. An ultrasound transmission member for use in an ultrasonic angioplasty device, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end configured to be connected to an ultrasound transducer and a distal end for applying ultrasonic energy to an area of vascular blockage, and the ultrasound transmission member having a distal portion with at least one amplification region of reduced cross-sectional diameter where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasound transmission member is amplified, the ultrasound transmission member comprising:
- a constraining member comprising an annular band tightly disposed around the amplification region such that it is firmly contacting the amplification region to reduce transverse vibration at the amplification region, to thereby lower stress and reduce fractures of the ultrasound transmission member while allowing longitudinal movement of the ultrasound transmission member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire has regions of reduced cross-sectional diameter to improve flexibility of the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire and to compensate for degradation of longitudinal displacement due to acoustic losses along the length of the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire. One or more constraining members are disposed on the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire at one or more of the regions of reduced cross-sectional diameter where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasound transmission wire is amplified, to constrain transverse vibration at these areas to reduce stress and reduce fracturing, while allowing longitudinal movement. The transmission wire has an elongated shaft including, in atomic percent, from about 28 to about 52 percent nickel, from about 48 to about 52 percent titanium, and up to about 20 percent of at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of palladium, chromium, and hafnium.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transmission member for use in an ultrasonic angioplasty device, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end configured to be connected to an ultrasound transducer and a distal end for applying ultrasonic energy to an area of vascular blockage, and the ultrasound transmission member having a distal portion with at least one amplification region of reduced cross-sectional diameter where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasound transmission member is amplified, the ultrasound transmission member comprising:
a constraining member comprising an annular band tightly disposed around the amplification region such that it is firmly contacting the amplification region to reduce transverse vibration at the amplification region, to thereby lower stress and reduce fractures of the ultrasound transmission member while allowing longitudinal movement of the ultrasound transmission member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ultrasound transmission wire for use in an ultrasonic angioplasty device, the ultrasound transmission wire having a proximal end configured to attach to an ultrasound transducer and a distal end for applying ultrasonic energy to an area of vascular blockage, the ultrasound transmission wire comprising:
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a first generally cylindrical section of the ultrasound transmission wire having a first cross-sectional diameter;
a second generally cylindrical section of the ultrasound transmission wire distal to the first section and having a second cross-sectional diameter that is smaller than the first cross-sectional diameter, the second generally cylindrical section having an amplification region where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted from the first generally cylindrical section is amplified; and
a constraining member comprising an annular band tightly disposed around the amplification region of the second generally cylindrical section such that it is firmly contacting the amplification region to reduce transverse vibration at the amplification region, to thereby lower stress and reduce ultrasonic wire fractures of the ultrasound transmission wire, while allowing longitudinal movement of the ultrasound transmission wire. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An ultrasonic angioplasty catheter device comprising an elongate flexible catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the device comprising:
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an ultrasound transmission member extending through said lumen and having a distal end with a head for applying ultrasonic energy to an occlusive lesion, and a proximal end configured to be connected to an ultrasound generating device, the ultrasound transmission member having a distal portion with at least one amplification region of reduced cross-sectional diameter where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasound transmission member is amplified;
wherein the ultrasound transmission member comprises a constraining member a constraining member comprising an annular band tightly disposed around the amplification region such that it is firmly contacting the amplification region to reduce transverse vibration at the amplification region to thereby lower stress and reduce fractures of the ultrasound transmission member while allowing longitudinal movement of the ultrasound transmission member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification