# US 2014/0155814 A1 · Ultrasound catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155814 A1 - Document ID: US20140155814A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/170,419 - Filed: 2014-01-31 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 1997-05-01 - Assignees: Ekos Corporation - Applicants: Ekos Corporation - Inventors: FREDERICK J. BENNETT; JOHN ZHANG; GARY LICHTTENEGGER; JAMES E. RODRIGUEY; KATSURO TACHIBANA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155814A1 ## CPC - A61M 37/0092: {using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis} - 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)} - A61B 17/2202: {the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter} - A61K 41/0047: {Sonopheresis, i.e. ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal delivery, electroporation of a pharmacologically active agent} - A61M 25/0009: {Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes} - B06B 1/0674: {and a low impedance backing, e.g. air} - B06B 1/0677: {and a high impedance backing} - G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)} - G10K 11/02: Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators - G10K 11/162: Selection of materials - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2017/22021: {electric leads passing through the catheter} - A61B 2017/22042: {Details of the tip of the guide wire} - A61B 2017/22062: {to be filled with liquid} - A61B 2017/22082: {after introduction of a substance} - A61B 2017/22084: {stone- or thrombus-dissolving} - A61B 2017/22088: {ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound} - A61B 2017/320084: {Irrigation sleeves} - A61B 2018/00011: {with fluids} - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61M 2025/0057: {Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings} - A61M 2205/058: with ultrasound therapy - B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a catheter system. The system comprises a catheter body having a chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium. The catheter body includes an elongated body with an external surface and an ultrasound transducer having an external side between a first end and a second end. The ultrasound transducer is positioned over the external surface of the elongated body such that the first end is adjacent to the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body, comprising: an elongated body having a lumen coupled with a drug delivery port through which a drug within the lumen can exit the lumen; and a plurality of ultrasound elements where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element and at least two of the ultrasound elements are positioned on opposite sides of the drug delivery port and close enough to the drug delivery port that a drug delivered from the drug delivery port is exposed to ultrasound energy delivered from at least one of the ultrasound elements, the delivered drug and ultrasound energy providing the therapeutic effect to the vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element by approximately 1 cm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, further comprising: a temperature sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned to detect the temperature of a surface of an ultrasound element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, further comprising: a feedback control system configured to adjust a level of ultrasound delivered from the plurality of ultrasound elements in response to a signal from the temperature sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of temperature sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, further comprising: a feedback control system for adjusting a level of ultrasound delivered from a particular ultrasound elements in response to a signal from a particular temperature sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one second drug delivery port coupled with the lumen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The catheter of claim 8, wherein the at least one second drug delivery port is positioned between adjacent ultrasound elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The catheter of claim 8, further comprising: a second lumen extending through the catheter; and at least one second drug delivery port coupled with the second lumen to deliver a drug from the second lumen to the vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, further comprising: a flexibility providing structure positioned between a two of the plurality of ultrasound elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter of claim 11, wherein the flexibility providing structure is at least one rib. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The catheter of claim 11, wherein the flexibility providing structure is a braided material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The catheter of claim 11, wherein the flexibility providing structure is a mesh material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein a first portion of each ultrasound element is coupled with a common wire and a second portion of each ultrasound element is coupled with a different wire. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ultrasound elements are connected in series. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ultrasound elements are connected in parallel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of temperature sensors are connected through a common wire. ### Claim 19 A catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body, comprising: an elongated body having a lumen coupled with a drug delivery port through which a drug within the lumen can exit the lumen; a plurality of ultrasound elements where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element and at least two of the ultrasound elements are positioned on opposite sides of the drug delivery port; and close enough to the drug delivery port that a drug delivered from the drug delivery port is exposed to ultrasound energy delivered from at least one of the ultrasound elements, the delivered drug and ultrasound energy providing the therapeutic effect to the vessel; and a flexibility providing structure positioned between two ultrasound elements among the plurality of ultrasound elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19, where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element by approximately 1 cm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19, wherein the flexibility providing structure is at least one rib. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19, wherein the flexibility providing structure is a braided material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The catheter of claim 19, wherein the flexibility providing structure is a mesh material. ### Claim 24 A catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body, comprising: an elongated body having a lumen coupled with a plurality of drug delivery ports through which a drug within the lumen can exit the lumen; a plurality of ultrasound elements where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element and is close enough to one of plurality of drug delivery ports that a drug delivered from the drug delivery port is exposed to ultrasound energy delivered from the ultrasound element, the delivered drug and ultrasound energy providing the therapeutic effect to the vessel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The catheter of claim 24, where each of the plurality of ultrasound elements is separated from an adjacent ultrasound element by approximately 1 cm.