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.
Claims16
A method of making an ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the method comprising:
- forming a catheter body over a mandrel, wherein the mandrel includes at least one bend for forming a corresponding bend in the catheter body;
- separating the catheter body from the mandrel;
- inserting an ultrasound transmission member into a lumen of the catheter body, wherein inserting the ultrasound transmission member reduces an angle of the at least one bend in the catheter body;
- coupling a distal head with the ultrasound transmission member, such that at least a portion of the distal head extends distally beyond a distal end of the catheter body;
- and
- coupling an ultrasound transducer with the ultrasound transmission member, such that ultrasonic energy provided from the ultrasound transducer is transmitted to the ultrasound transmission member and the distal head.
A method of making an ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the method comprising:
- placing a catheter body over a mandrel, wherein the mandrel includes at least one bend for forming a corresponding bend in the catheter body;
- heating the catheter body;
- removing the catheter body from the mandrel;
- inserting an ultrasound transmission member into a lumen of the catheter body, wherein inserting the ultrasound transmission member reduces an angle of the at least one bend in the catheter body;
- coupling a distal head with the ultrasound transmission member, such that at least a portion of the distal head extends distally beyond a distal end of the catheter body;
- and
- coupling a sonic connector with the ultrasound transmission member, such that ultrasonic energy provided to the sonic connector is transmitted to the ultrasound transmission member and the distal head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.