Power parameters for ultrasonic catheter

• US 9,849,273 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltani, Azita, Volz, Kim R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayman, Imani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ponton, James D
• Application Number:
  US13/454,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 604 22, 604500, 604507, 604508, 606 1, 606 2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00088 using thermistors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0041 Removal of thrombosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0039 using microbubbles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient'"'"'s vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The ultrasound catheter system comprises a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element and a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy. The control system is configured to vary at least one of the power parameters and at least one physiological parameter by repeatedly cycling the power parameter and the physiological parameter through two set of values.

Claims

1. A method of operating an ultrasonic catheter which comprises at least one ultrasonic element, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing the ultrasonic catheter to a treatment site in a patient'"'"'s vascular system or tissue;

driving the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy;

delivering a therapeutic compound to the treatment site through the ultrasonic catheter; and

varying a peak power and a physiological parameter of the ultrasonic element, and wherein varying the peak power and the physiological parameter comprises;

repeatedly cycling the peak power through a first set of preset values between a preset minimum value and a preset maximum value; and

repeatedly cycling the physiological parameter through a second set of preset values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peak power and the physiological parameter are cycled in a linear manner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the peak power and the physiological parameter are cycled in a non-linear or pseudo-linear manner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein cycling the peak power comprises repeatedly moving through discrete peak power values, and cycling the physiological parameter comprises repeatedly moving through discrete physiological parameter values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein cycling the peak power is independent of any temperature measurement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of values include the minimum value, the maximum value, and 1 to 5 discrete values between the minimum value and the maximum value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of values include the minimum value, the maximum value, and 2 discrete values between the minimum value and the maximum value.