Ultrasound catheter and methods for making and using same
AssigneeFlowcardia, Inc.
InventorsHenry Nita, Jeff Sarge, Simon Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, ultrasound catheters include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.
Claims28
A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis in an artery by delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery and enhancing absorption of the therapeutic agent into a wall of the artery using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
- emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter;
- and
- delivering a stenosis inhibiting therapeutic agent into the artery from the ultrasound catheter.
A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis in an artery by delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery and enhancing absorption of the therapeutic agent into a wall of the artery using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
- emitting the ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter and delivering a stenosis inhibiting therapeutic agent into the artery from a separate drug delivery catheter.
A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis at a treatment location in an artery, comprising the steps of:
- enhancing permeability of the vessel wall via the delivery of ultrasound energy to the treatment location;
- and
- delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery to the treatment location.
A method for treating occlusions in a vessel by delivering a medicament into the vessel and enhancing absorption of the medicament into the vessel using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
- emitting ultrasound energy from an ultrasound catheter;
- and
- delivering a medicament into the vessel from the ultrasound catheter.
A method for treating occlusions in a vessel by delivering a medicament into the vessel and enhancing absorption of the medicament into the vessel using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
- emitting the ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter and delivering a medicament into the vessel from a separate drug delivery lumen of the ultrasound catheter.
A method for treating an occluded artery, comprising the steps of:
- enhancing permeability of the artery wall via the delivery of ultrasound energy to a treatment location;
- and
- delivering a medicament into the artery at the treatment location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.