Blood flow reestablishment determination
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring clot dissolution in a patient'"'"'s vasculature, the method comprising:
- (a) positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient'"'"'s vasculature;
(b) performing a clot dissolution treatment procedure at the treatment site, wherein the clot dissolution treatment procedure comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site;
(c) delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment she during the clot dissolution treatment;
(d) receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter;
(e) comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site; and
(f) using the blood flow rate to adjust the clot dissolution treatment.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring a clot dissolution treatment in a patient'"'"'s vasculature comprises positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The method further comprises performing a clot dissolution treatment at the treatment site. The clot dissolution treatment comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site such that a clot located at the treatment site at least partially dissolves. The method further comprises delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment site during the clot dissolution treatment. The method further comprises receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter. The method further comprises comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site.
110 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring clot dissolution in a patient'"'"'s vasculature, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient'"'"'s vasculature; (b) performing a clot dissolution treatment procedure at the treatment site, wherein the clot dissolution treatment procedure comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site; (c) delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment she during the clot dissolution treatment; (d) receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter; (e) comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site; and (f) using the blood flow rate to adjust the clot dissolution treatment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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positioning a catheter at a treatment site in a patient'"'"'s vasculature, wherein a blockage is located at the treatment site; performing a medical treatment at the treatment site, the medical treatment configured to reduce the blockage; making a plurality of thermal energy measurements at the treatment site while the medical treatment is being performed; evaluating the reduction in the blockage based on the plurality of thermal energy measurements; and adjusting the medical treatment based on the evaluation of the reduction in the blockage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An ultrasound catheter for evaluating the efficacy of a clot dissolution treatment, the catheter comprising:
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an upstream region; a downstream region located opposite the upstream region; a treatment zone partially extending into both the upstream region and the downstream region; an ultrasonic assembly positioned within the treatment zone, the ultrasonic assembly comprising at least one ultrasound radiating member configured to perform a clot dissolution treatment; a thermal energy source positioned on the catheter, the thermal energy source configured to deliver a thermal measurement signal to the treatment zone during the clot dissolution treatment; a thermal energy detector positioned on the catheter, the thermal energy detector configured to receive the thermal measurement signal from the treatment zone; control circuitry configured to compare the thermal measurement signal delivered from the thermal energy source to the thermal measurement signal received at the thermal energy detector, the control circuitry further comprising an algorithm for calculating a change in blood flow rate based on the comparison; and a user interface to display the blood flow rate, whereby the clot dissolution treatment may be adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having an upstream region, a downstream region and a treatment zone partially extending into both the upstream region and the downstream region; an ultrasonic assembly positioned within the treatment zone, the ultrasonic assembly comprising at least one ultrasound radiating member configured to perform a clot dissolution treatment; a thermal energy detector positioned in the treatment zone, the thermal energy detector configured to make a plurality of thermal energy measurements during the clot dissolution treatment; electrical circuitry for measuring thermal dilution in the treatment zone during the clot dissolution treatment; and a user interface for displaying a signal corresponding to a blood flow rate, whereby the clot dissolution treatment may be adjusted.
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28. A method comprising:
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positioning a catheter having an ultrasound radiating member proximal to an obstruction in a patient'"'"'s vasculature; performing an obstruction dissolution treatment by applying a therapeutic compound and ultrasonic energy to the obstruction such that the obstruction is at least partially dissolved; sensing an at least partial reestablishment of blood flow past the partially dissolved obstruction; and adjusting the obstruction dissolution treatment in response to the at least partial reestablishment of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method comprising:
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positioning a catheter with an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site in a patient'"'"'s vasculature, wherein a blockage is located at the treatment site; applying ultrasonic energy at the treatment site; making a plurality of thermal energy measurements; and determining if the ultrasound radiating member is positioned within the blockage or blood based on an evaluation of the thermal energy measurements. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification