US 5,971,949 AGranted

Ultrasound transmission apparatus and method of using same

AssigneeAngiosonics Inc.

InventorsPhilip S. Levin, Jon Saltonstall, Loi Nguyen, Uri Rosenschein

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Abstract

An ultrasonic treatment system and method for utilizing ultrasound to treat intravascular conditions, such as stenotic and occluded regions of blood vessels, are provided. The ultrasonic treatment system includes an ultrasonic probe, having a proximal and distal end. A guide catheter and guidewire may also be provided and the probe can be slidably disposed within the guide catheter's inner lumen. The probe can include a horn at the proximal end, a transmission member with a proximal and a distal end connected to the horn at the transmission member proximal end, and a distal tip connected at the transmission member's distal end. The transmission member may include one or more transmission wires, having proximal and distal ends, connected serially or in parallel.

Claims87

Dependent claims

An ultrasound transmission device constructed to be coupled to an ultrasound energy source emitting ultrasound energy at a frequency f, the device dimensioned and constructed for insertion within a blood vessel for use in applying the ultrasound energy within a blood vessel or a cavity, and for generating a standing wave having displacement maxima and displacement minima at locations along the ultrasound transmission device, comprising:

a first transmission member connectable to the ultrasound energy source, the first transmission member formed as a unitary body of a first material and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the first transmission member terminating approximately at a displacement minimum;
a second transmission member formed of a second material, which may be the same as the first material, having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end of the second transmission member coupled to the distal end of the first transmission member, wherein the cross-sectional area of the distal end of the first transmission member is greater than the cross-sectional area of the proximal end of the second transmission member, and the distal end of the second transmission member terminates approximately at a displacement maximum;
and
a tip connected to the distal end of the second transmission member, the first transmission member, the second transmission member and the tip constructed such that when the proximal end of the first transmission member is attached to the ultrasonic energy source and the ultrasonic energy source is activated within a blood vessel, a standing wave is generated in the first transmission member, second transmission member and tip, the tip being constructed and dimensioned to apply ultrasound energy when the ultrasound energy source applied to the first transmission member and transmitted to the tip via the first transmission member and the second transmission member.

1 more element

An ultrasound application apparatus for transmitting ultrasound to a location within a human body, comprising:

an ultrasound transmission device having a first, second and third member;
an ultrasound generating device constructed and arranged with the transmission device to generate a standing wave having displacement maxima and minima along the length of the transmission device;
the first member of the transmission device extending distally from the proximal end of the ultrasonic generating device, the first member having a cross-sectional dimension selected from the group consisting of a substantially exponential, catenary, straight, quadratic, or hyperbolic taper, or a uniform cross-sectional dimension, or combinations thereof, and the distal end of the first member terminating approximately at a displacement minimum;
the second member of the transmission device extending distally from the distal end of the first member and formed of a second material, which may be the same as the first member material, coupled to the distal end of the first member, the second member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion of the first member;
and
the third member of the transmission device extending distally from the distal end of the second member, formed of a third material which may be the same as the second material, coupled to the distal end of the second member, the third member including one or more transmission wires, each transmission wire having a substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension which is smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the second member, and the distal end of the third member terminating approximately at a displacement maximum.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/858,247Filed 19 May 1997 · continuation in part
Priority: 19 Aug 1996
Granted: 26 Oct 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 17/320068
Surgical cutting instruments: using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
A61B 17/22012
Using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves: in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement
G10K 11/24
Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound: for conducting sound through solid bodies, e.g. wires
A61B 90/39
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…