Ultrasound radiating members for catheter

• US 7,818,854 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tugbang; A. Dexter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Angwin; David P
• Application Number:
  US12/371,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 29/253.5, 295/94, 298/47, 298/52, 600/466, 601/2, 604/22, 310/320, 310/348, 310/368
• US Class Current: 29/25.35
• 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 2017/22002 preventing restenosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49156 with selective destruction of conductive paths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49798 Dividing sequentially from leading end, e.g., by cutting or breaking

Abstract

A method comprises providing a substantially planar slab of piezoelectric material having a top surface. The method further comprises drilling a plurality of holes through the top surface and into the slab. The method further comprises making a plurality of cuts through the top surface and into the slab. The cuts form a plurality of polygons that are generally centered about one of the holes. The method further comprises plating the slab with an electrically conductive material. The method further comprises removing the electrically conductive material from the top surface of the slab. The method further comprises cutting the slab substantially parallel to the top surface.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic catheter comprising:

providing a sheet of piezoelectric material;

drilling a plurality of holes into the piezoelectric material, each hole having an inner surface;

making a plurality of cuts into the sheet, each cut having a depth less than the depth of the holes, the cuts forming an elongate polygon that is generally centered about one of the holes, the polygon having an outer surface;

plating at least a portion of the inner and outer surfaces with a conductive material;

cutting a backside from the sheet so as to separate a plurality of individual elongate piezoelectric polygons; and

disposing at least one of the individual elongate piezoelectric polygons within a tubular catheter body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the backside is cut substantially parallel to a top surface of the sheet of piezoelectric material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the holes are cut through the piezoelectric material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the holes are blind holes that do not pass through the piezoelectric material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of elongate piezoelectric polygons are mounted on a central core configured to be disposed within the tubular catheter body.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising electrically connecting the piezoelectric polygons in series.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of elongate piezoelectric polygons are mounted on an electrically conductive central core configured to be disposed within the tubular catheter body.