Steerable ultrasound catheter
First Claim
1. An ultrasound catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen;
an ultrasound transmission member, having a distal end, extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, radially offset from the center of the catheter body;
a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and disposed adjacent the distal portion of the catheter body;
a guidewire lumen extending through the distal head, the guidewire lumen having a smaller diameter portion at a distal end and a larger diameter portion at a proximal end, the larger diameter portion forming a cavity in the distal head; and
a guidewire tube extending through at least a portion of the catheter body radially offset from the center of the catheter body and extending through the distal head along an axis not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body, a distal end of the guidewire tube being disposed in the cavity in the distal head, wherein the distal end of the guide-wire lumen exits approximately at the center of the distal end of the distal head.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Ultrasound catheter devices generally include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include catheter bodies and ultrasound transmission members with increasing distal flexibility, guidewire tubes allowing contact between a guidewire and an ultrasound transmission member, distal heads with improved guidewire lumens, and torquable proximal housings for enhancing disruption of blood vessel occlusions.
309 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An ultrasound catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen; an ultrasound transmission member, having a distal end, extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, radially offset from the center of the catheter body; a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and disposed adjacent the distal portion of the catheter body; a guidewire lumen extending through the distal head, the guidewire lumen having a smaller diameter portion at a distal end and a larger diameter portion at a proximal end, the larger diameter portion forming a cavity in the distal head; and a guidewire tube extending through at least a portion of the catheter body radially offset from the center of the catheter body and extending through the distal head along an axis not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body, a distal end of the guidewire tube being disposed in the cavity in the distal head, wherein the distal end of the guide-wire lumen exits approximately at the center of the distal end of the distal head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An ultrasound catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen; an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body; a distal head having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal head being coupled with the ultrasound transmission member and disposed adjacent to the distal portion of the catheter body; a guidewire lumen extending through the distal head along an axis not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; and a guidewire tube comprising an exterior surface and a distal edge, the guidewire tube extending through the lumen of the catheter body, radially offset from the center of the catheter body and extending through the guidewire lumen so that the distal edge of the guidewire tube abuts the distal end of the distal head, wherein the distal end of the guidewire lumen exits approximately at the center of the distal end of the distal head. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An ultrasound catheter comprising:
-
a catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen; an ultrasound transmission member disposed in the catheter body, radially offset from the center of the catheter body; a head coupled to the ultrasound transmission member; a guidewire tube extending through at least a portion of the catheter body radially offset from the center of the catheter body and extending through the head along an axis not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; and a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen forming an abutment surface in the head so as to contact an end of the guidewire tube to prevent movement of the guidewire tube in at least one direction relative to the head. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification