Apparatus and method incorporating an ultrasound transducer onto a delivery member
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultrasound ablation apparatus comprising:
- an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal end portions, an outer wall and an outer diameter;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer coaxially disposed over said catheter body, said ultrasound transducer having proximal and distal end portions, an inner wall and an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said catheter body, such that an air gap is provided in a radial separation between the inner wall of said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body; and
a support structure for suspending said ultrasound transducer in a substantially fixed coaxial position relative to said catheter body, wherein said support structure contacts the outer wall of said catheter body at locations proximal and distal to the proximal and distal end portions of said ultrasound transducer, respectively, and wherein said support structure holds said ultrasound transducer without contacting the inner wall of said ultrasound transducer, thereby maintaining said radial separation while reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device assembly and method provides an ultrasound transducer mounted onto a catheter shaft. The ultrasound transducer is mounted such that there is a radial separation between the transducer and the underlying catheter shaft. The transducer is mounted on support structures which do not bridge the gap between the transducer and delivery member. The location of the support structures provides for an “airbacked” transducer that is very efficient and prevents heat build-up in the materials in contact therewith.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An ultrasound ablation apparatus comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal end portions, an outer wall and an outer diameter;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer coaxially disposed over said catheter body, said ultrasound transducer having proximal and distal end portions, an inner wall and an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said catheter body, such that an air gap is provided in a radial separation between the inner wall of said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body; and
a support structure for suspending said ultrasound transducer in a substantially fixed coaxial position relative to said catheter body, wherein said support structure contacts the outer wall of said catheter body at locations proximal and distal to the proximal and distal end portions of said ultrasound transducer, respectively, and wherein said support structure holds said ultrasound transducer without contacting the inner wall of said ultrasound transducer, thereby maintaining said radial separation while reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially on said catheter body such that a radial separation is provided between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for mechanically isolating said ultrasound transducer from said catheter body; and
a support structure coupled to said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body to maintain at least a region of said radial separation for reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure, wherein said support structure further comprises a substantially tubular member disposed over said catheter body, said tubular member having proximal and distal end regions and an intermediate region, said proximal and distal end regions being formed with a larger diameter than said intermediate region, said ultrasound transducer being disposed over said intermediate region such that it is axially contained by said proximal arid distal end regions.
-
-
23. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially on said catheter body such that a radial separation is provided between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for mechanically isolating said ultrasound transducer from said catheter body; and
a support structure coupled to said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body to maintain at least a region of said radial separation for reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure, wherein said support structure further comprises a braided metal tubular member disposed around said catheter body such that said radial separation is maintained therebetween, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially over said braided tubular member.
-
-
24. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially on said catheter body such that a radial separation is provided between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for mechanically isolating said ultrasound transducer from said catheter body; and
a support structure coupled to said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body to maintain at least a region of said radial separation for reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure, wherein said support structure further comprises two braided metal tubular members disposed around said catheter body with an axial gap between said braided metal tubular members, said first and second ends of said ultrasound transducer being mounted to said braided tubular members thereby bridging said axial gap.
-
-
25. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially on said catheter body such that a radial separation is provided between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for mechanically isolating said ultrasound transducer from said catheter body; and
a support structure coupled to said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body to maintain at least a region of said radial separation for reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure, wherein said support structure further comprises two truncated conical members each having a first end with a large diameter and a second end with a small diameter, said conical members being disposed over said catheter body such that said first ends face inward and said second ends face outward, said inner surface of said ultrasound transducer being engaged by said first ends of said conical member.
-
-
26. An ultrasound ablation apparatus, comprising:
-
an elongate catheter body;
a cylindrical ultrasound transducer having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces, said ultrasound transducer being mounted coaxially on said catheter body such that a radial separation is provided between said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body for mechanically isolating said ultrasound transducer from said catheter body; and
a support structure coupled to said ultrasound transducer and said catheter body to maintain at least a region of said radial separation for reducing acoustic damping caused by said support structure, wherein said support structure comprises an expandable member disposed over said catheter body and having an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of said ultrasound transducer is coaxially engaged by the outer surface of said expandable member.
-
Specification