Therapeutic ultrasound system

• US 6,855,123 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flow Cardia Incorporated
• Inventors: Nita, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/211,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 600/439, 600/459, 600/462, 600466-471, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171
• 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 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• 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 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22039 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath

Abstract

An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The distal end of the catheter body is deflectable. The ultrasound system also includes a sonic connector that connects the ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also provides a method for reverse irrigation and removal of particles.

Claims

1. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;

a proximal housing that is coupled to the proximal end of the catheter body, the proximal housing having a distal bore;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and through the proximal housing, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end positioned at the distal end of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member transmitting ultrasound energy having node points;

an absorber retained inside the distal bore of the proximal housing and which surrounds the ultrasound transmission member; and

a sonic connector positioned on the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for connecting the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound generating device, the sonic connector comprising a proximal section for connection to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a front portion having a bore which receives the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission members

wherein the absorber is positioned between the sonic connector and a first node point.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the sonic connector and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together at a first location, and the absorber and the ultrasound transmission member are crimped together at a second location.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the absorber includes a plurality of O-rings.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the absorber includes at least two different absorbers positioned adjacent to each other.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the absorber includes a first absorber and a second absorber, with the first absorber spaced apart from the second absorber.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the absorber further includes a third absorber that is positioned adjacent to the second absorber.

7. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;

an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end that is positioned at the distal end of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member transmitting ultrasound energy having node points;

a sonic connector positioned on the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member for connecting the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound generating device at a connection location, the sonic connector comprising a proximal section for connection to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a front portion having a bore which receives the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member; and

means substantially surrounding the ultrasound transmission member and positioned between the sonic connector and a first node point for absorbing transverse motions of the ultrasound transmission member.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the absorbing means is a single component and is positioned within an area between the sonic connector and a one-quarter wavelength from the sonic connector.

9. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the absorbing means has two or more components and is positioned within an area between the sonic connector and a one-quarter wavelength from the sonic connector.