Method of using a catheter for delivery of ultrasonic energy and medicament

• US 6,689,086 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry, Siegel, Robert, Mills, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/363,778
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19-22, 604/500, 604/507, 604/508, 600/439, 606/128, 606/169, 601/2
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22014 the ultrasound transducer being outside patient's body; with an ultrasound transmission member; with a wave guide; with a vibrated guide wire not applied in A61B17/22012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving

Abstract

An ultrasound delivery catheter equipped and configured for concurrent delivery of drugs or therapeutic agents. The catheter comprises an elongate pliable catheter body having an ultrasound delivery member or wire extending longitudinally therethrough. A drug/therapeutic agent infusion lumen also extends longitudinally through the body of the catheter and opens distally through one or more outflow apertures at or near the distal end of the catheter body. The drug/therapeutic agent outflow apertures are preferably positioned and configured to cause the drug or therapeutic agent to flow in direction(s) non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The delivery of ultrasound through the catheter, concurrent with infusion of drug or therapeutic agent therethrough, will cause the drug or therapeutic agent to be disseminated or dispersed by the ultrasonic vibration or movement at the distal end of the catheter.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasonic ablation of matter from an anatomical passageway of a mammalian body and for concomitant delivery of a liquid medicament, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting into the mammalian body distal end first an ultrasound delivery/medicament infusion catheter comprising an elongate flexible catheter body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, a distal tip member attached to the distal end of the catheter body, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through said catheter body and attached at the distal end thereof to the distal tip member for transmitting ultrasound energy to the distal tip member, a medicament infusion lumen extending longitudinally through said catheter body and opening through at least one medicament outlet aperture formed in the distal tip member and oriented radially outward in relation to the longitudinal axis of said catheter body;

advancing the distal end of said catheter to a desired operative position relative to the obstruction to be ablated;

generating ultrasonic energy at a location outside the catheter body;

coupling said generated ultrasonic energy to the ultrasound transmission member at the proximal end of the catheter body;

passing ultrasonic energy through said ultrasound transmission member to the distal tip member at the distal end of said catheter such that the distal end of said catheter will undergo ultrasonic vibration at a frequency which will result in ablation of said obstruction; and

passing a flow of medicament through said medicament infusion lumen and out of said radially-oriented medicament outlet aperture formed in the distal tip member concurrently with the delivery of said ultrasonic energy through said catheter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of passing a flow of medicament further comprises:

delivering a thrombolytic agent through said catheter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said thrombolytic agent is selected from the group consisting of:

streptokinase;

urokinase;

tissue plasminogen activator; and

possible combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of passing a flow of medicament comprises:

delivering an anticoagulant agent through said catheter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said anticoagulant agent is heparin.

6. A method for ultrasonic ablation of matter from an anatomical passageway of a mammalian body and for concomitant delivery of a liquid medicament, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting into the mammalian body distal end first an ultrasound delivery/medicament infusion catheter comprising an elongate flexible catheter body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, a distal tip member attached to the distal end of the catheter body, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through said catheter body and attached at the distal end thereof to the distal tip member for transmitting ultrasound energy to the distal tip member, a medicament infusion lumen extending longitudinally through said catheter body and opening through at least one medicament outlet aperture formed in the distal tip member and oriented radially outward in relation to the longitudinal axis of said catheter body;

advancing the distal end of said catheter to a desired operative position relative to the obstruction be ablated;

generating ultrasonic energy at a location outside the catheter body;

coupling said generated ultrasonic energy to the ultrasound transmission member at the proximal end of the catheter body;

passing a flow of medicament through said medicament infusion lumen and out of said radially-oriented medicament outlet aperture formed in the distal tip member; and

passing sufficient ultrasonic energy through said ultrasound transmission member to the distal tip member at the distal end of said catheter concurrently with the delivery of said medicament through said catheter such that the distal end of said catheter will undergo ultrasonic vibration at a frequency that will result in ablation of said obstruction and that will result in the thorough dissemination of said medicament.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of passing ultrasonic energy through said ultrasound transmission member comprises passing sufficient ultrasonic energy to the distal tip member at the distal end of said catheter such that the medicament effectiveness upon adjacent tissue acted upon by the ultrasonic energy is improved.