System of implantable ultrasonic emitters for preventing restenosis following a stent procedure
First Claim
1. A system for preventing restenosis following placement of a stent in a vessel of a patient, said system comprising:
- two or more implantable devices configured for implantation via injection in sites proximate to the stent, wherein each said implantable device is electrically powered and comprises controller circuitry and an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic wave at a determined frequency, said ultrasonic emitter activated by said controller circuitry in response to an externally-provided command signal that is individually addressable to each of said implantable devices, said two or more implantable devices configured for wireless communication; and
an externally-placed control device in wireless communication with said two or more implantable devices for providing said addressable command signals to each of said implantable devices to control the relative phase of each of said emitted ultrasonic waves to enable said ultrasonic waves to constructively add to induce mechanical vibrations in the stent to minimize plaque buildup on the stent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that minimizes plaque accumulation on a stent and thereby restenosis that could require a subsequent invasive medical procedure following implantation of the stent in a patient. A plurality of electrically-powered, biocompatible devices, implantable via injection, are positioned within the patient proximate to the stent and under control of a externally-placed controller are commanded to emit ultrasonic waves corresponding to the mechanical resonance of the stent. By controlling the frequency and the relative phases of the ultrasonic waves, the accumulation of plaque on the stent can thus be minimized.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for preventing restenosis following placement of a stent in a vessel of a patient, said system comprising:
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two or more implantable devices configured for implantation via injection in sites proximate to the stent, wherein each said implantable device is electrically powered and comprises controller circuitry and an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic wave at a determined frequency, said ultrasonic emitter activated by said controller circuitry in response to an externally-provided command signal that is individually addressable to each of said implantable devices, said two or more implantable devices configured for wireless communication; and an externally-placed control device in wireless communication with said two or more implantable devices for providing said addressable command signals to each of said implantable devices to control the relative phase of each of said emitted ultrasonic waves to enable said ultrasonic waves to constructively add to induce mechanical vibrations in the stent to minimize plaque buildup on the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of preventing restenosis following placement of a stent in a vessel of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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implanting two or more implantable devices via injection in sites proximate to the stent, wherein each said implantable device is electrically powered and comprises controller circuitry and an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic wave at a determined frequency, said ultrasonic emitter activated by said controller circuitry in the implantable device in response to an externally-provided command signal that is individually wirelessly addressable to each of said implantable devices, said two or more implantable devices configured for wireless communication; positioning a transducer proximate to said one or more implanted devices, wherein said transducer is coupled to an external controller; and instructing said external controller to cause said transducer to emit a wireless command signal to said controller circuitry in the implanted devices to minimize accumulation of plaque on the implanted stent by controlling parameters of said ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic emitter of each of said implanted devices, wherein said parameters are selected from the set of amplitude, frequency, and phase of said emitted ultrasonic waves. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification