Therapeutic ultrasound system

• US 8,647,293 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Flowcardia Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nita, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US12/154,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/95.04, 604/523, 604/526, 604/528
• 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:

a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body;

a transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the transmission member having a distal end that is positioned relative to the distal end of the catheter body, and a proximal end that is connectable to a separate device;

a distal head coupled with the distal end of the transmission member; and

means for deflecting the distal end of the catheter body, the deflecting means being coupled to the distal head.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means comprises a deflection wire extending through the lumen of the catheter wherein the proximal end of the deflection wire extends outside the catheter body.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means is coupled to the distal end of the catheter body.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means is coupled to the catheter body via the distal head.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the distal head is coupled to the distal end of the catheter body.

6. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a coil, wherein the deflecting means is coupled to the catheter body via the coil.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the deflecting means is coupled to the coil via the distal head, and wherein the distal head is coupled to the catheter body via the coil.

8. An ultrasound catheter comprising:

a body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the lumen;

a transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the body, the transmission member having a distal end that is positioned with respect to the distal end of the body, and a proximal end that is connectable to a separate device;

a distal head coupled with the distal end of the transmission member; and

a deflection wire coupled to the distal head, at least a portion of the deflection wire being disposed in the body.

9. The catheter of claim 8 wherein the deflection wire comprises a proximal end that extends outside the body.

10. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the deflection wire exits the body through an exit port at the proximal end of the body.

11. The catheter of claim 8 further comprising a knob, whereby manipulation of the knob causes the distal end of the body to bend.

12. The catheter of claim 8 further comprising a coil having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the body and a distal end connected to the distal head.

13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the coil annularly surrounds the lumen of the body and is of substantially the same diameter as the body.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the distal head further comprises an annular shoulder.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the coil is connected to the annular shoulder of the distal head and at least a portion of the distal head overlaps at least a portion of the coil.

16. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the length of the coil is between 0.1 and 150 cm.

17. A catheter comprising:

a body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter;

a transmission member extending through the lumen of the body, the transmission member having a distal end that is positioned with respect to the distal end of the body, and a proximal end that is connectable to a separate device;

a distal head coupled with the distal end of the transmission member; and

a knob coupled to the distal head, whereby manipulation of the knob causes the distal end of the body to deflect.

18. The catheter of claim 17 further comprising a coil having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the body.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the coil annularly surrounds at least a portion of the lumen of the body.

20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the distal head is disposed in the coil.

21. The catheter of claim 17 further comprising a deflection wire engaged with the knob.

22. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the deflection wire is coupled to the body via the distal head.

23. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the knob is coupled to the distal end of the body.