Methods and apparatus for intracranial ultrasound delivery
First Claim
1. A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a patient'"'"'s intracranial space, the method comprising:
- forming at least one hole in the patient'"'"'s skull to access a target location;
advancing at least one ultrasound device having a distal portion through the hole, wherein the distal portion contains at least one transducer to allow transmission of ultrasound, and the distal portion can be moved to various locations within the intracranial space without causing damage;
transmitting ultrasound energy at frequencies between 20 Khz and 10 MHz from the ultrasound delivery device for therapeutic treatment;
wherein the ultrasound energy is transmitted and directed from outside a blood vessel to a blood clot in the patient'"'"'s brain at the target location that resides in an intracerebral space of the patient'"'"'s brain, inside of the blood vessel, to disrupt the blood clot;
further comprising placing an introducer device into the at least one hole, with the at least one ultrasound delivery device advanced through the introducer device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a patient'"'"'s intracranial space involves forming at least one hole in the patient'"'"'s skull, advancing at least one ultrasound delivery device at least partway through the hole(s), and transmitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound delivery device(s). According to various embodiments, ultrasound delivery devices may be advanced into the epidural space, one or both ventricles and/or an intracerebral space of the patient'"'"'s brain. In alternative embodiments, one or multiple holes may be formed in the skull, and any number of ultrasound delivery devices may be used. Intracranial ultrasound delivery may be used in diagnostic or therapeutic treatment of ischemic stroke, head trauma, atherosclerosis, perfusion disorders and other acute or chronic neurological conditions.
210 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a patient'"'"'s intracranial space, the method comprising:
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forming at least one hole in the patient'"'"'s skull to access a target location; advancing at least one ultrasound device having a distal portion through the hole, wherein the distal portion contains at least one transducer to allow transmission of ultrasound, and the distal portion can be moved to various locations within the intracranial space without causing damage; transmitting ultrasound energy at frequencies between 20 Khz and 10 MHz from the ultrasound delivery device for therapeutic treatment; wherein the ultrasound energy is transmitted and directed from outside a blood vessel to a blood clot in the patient'"'"'s brain at the target location that resides in an intracerebral space of the patient'"'"'s brain, inside of the blood vessel, to disrupt the blood clot; further comprising placing an introducer device into the at least one hole, with the at least one ultrasound delivery device advanced through the introducer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification