Ultrasound transmission member having improved longitudinal transmission properties
First Claim
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1. An ultrasound transmission member coupleable to an ultrasound generating device for transmitting ultrasound from said ultrasound generating device to a location within a mammalian body, said ultrasound transmitting member comprising:
- an elongate member having a proximal end, distal end, and at least four regions of differing cross-sectional dimension, said four regions of said elongate member comprising;
i) a first region extending distally from the proximal end of the member and having a substantially continuous first cross-sectional dimension;
ii) a second region extending distally from the distal end of said first region, said second region being tapered to a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than said first cross-sectional dimension;
iii) a third region extending distally from the distal end of said second region, said third region being of a substantially continuous third cross-sectional dimension, said third cross-sectional dimension being substantially the same as said second cross-sectional dimension; and
iv) a fourth region extending distally from, the distal end of said third region, said fourth region being tapered to a fourth cross-sectional dimension larger than said third cross-sectional dimension.
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Abstract
An elongate ultrasound transmission member having regions of differing cross-sectional dimension or diameter. A sleeve, sheath or other damping member may be positioned around a portion of the ultrasound transmission member to dampen or limit transverse side-to-side movement of such portion of the member. The ultrasound transmission member may be incorporated into a flexible catheter body to form an ultrasound delivering medical catheter.
311 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transmission member coupleable to an ultrasound generating device for transmitting ultrasound from said ultrasound generating device to a location within a mammalian body, said ultrasound transmitting member comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end, distal end, and at least four regions of differing cross-sectional dimension, said four regions of said elongate member comprising; i) a first region extending distally from the proximal end of the member and having a substantially continuous first cross-sectional dimension; ii) a second region extending distally from the distal end of said first region, said second region being tapered to a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than said first cross-sectional dimension; iii) a third region extending distally from the distal end of said second region, said third region being of a substantially continuous third cross-sectional dimension, said third cross-sectional dimension being substantially the same as said second cross-sectional dimension; and iv) a fourth region extending distally from, the distal end of said third region, said fourth region being tapered to a fourth cross-sectional dimension larger than said third cross-sectional dimension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ultrasound transmission member coupleable to an ultrasound generating device for transmitting ultrasound from said ultrasound generating device to a location within a mammalian body, said ultrasound transmitting member comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least four regions of differing cross-sectional dimensions, said four regions of said elongate member comprising; i) a first region extending distally from the proximal end of the member and having a substantially continuous first cross-sectional dimension; ii) a second region extending distally from the distal end of said first region, said second region being tapered to a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than said first cross-sectional dimension; iii) a third region extending distally from the distal end of said second region, said third region being of a substantially continuous third cross-sectional dimension said third cross-sectional dimension being substantially the same as said second cross-sectional dimension; iv) a fourth region extending distally from, the distal end of said third region, said fourth region being tapered to a fourth cross-sectional dimension larger than said third cross-sectional dimension; and v) a dampening member disposed about said third region to dampen transverse side-to-side vibrational movement in said third region, said dampening member comprising a sheath. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An ultrasound catheter comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; and an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said catheter sheath, said ultrasound transmission member comprising; an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least four regions of differing cross-sectional dimension, said four regions of said elongate member comprising; i) a first region extending distally from the proximal end of the member and having a substantially continuous first cross-sectional dimension; ii) a second region extending distally from the distal end of said first region, said second region being tapered to a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than said first cross-sectional dimension; iii) a third region extending, distally from the distal end of said second region, said third region being of a substantially continuous third cross-sectional dimension, said third cross-sectional dimension being substantially the same as said second cross-sectional dimension; and iv) a fourth region extending distally from, the distal end of said third region, said fourth region being tapered to a fourth cross-sectional dimension larger than said third cross-sectional dimension. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification