Ultrasound catheter for disrupting blood vessel obstructions

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body;
• a guide wire tube affixed to the distal head;
• and a polymer sleeve disposed around a portion of the distal head, the polymer sleeve coupled with the guide wire tube through a side opening in the distal head, not directly affixed, to the catheter body, and disposed between the elongate flexible catheter body and the distal head.

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal end coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body;
• and
• an anchor member disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the anchor member comprising a wire, the wire having a distal end coupled with the distal head at a first adhesive point and a proximal end coupled with the catheter body at a second adhesive point.

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the distal end of the catheter body overlaps at least a portion of the distal heat;
• and a distal sleeve coupled with the catheter body and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body near the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the sleeve comprises a hollow cylindrical member surrounding a portion of the ultrasound transmission member without adhering to the ultrasound transmission member.

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal sleeve adhesively coupled with the catheter body and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body near the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the sleeve comprises a hollow cylindrical member surrounding a portion of the ultrasound transmission member;
• and a proximal end connector assembly coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body, the proximal end connector assembly comprising:
• an elongate rigid body coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body and having a hollow bore, the hollow bore being communicative with the at least one lumen of the catheter body, wherein the ultrasound transmission member extends proximally from the catheter body through at least a portion of the hollow bore;
• one or more absorber members disposed within the hollow bore encircling the ultrasound transmission member, for absorbing vibration;
• and a sonic connector apparatus on the proximal end of the proximal end connector assembly for connection of the ultrasound transmission member to a separate ultrasound emitting device such that ultrasonic energy may be transmitted through the ultrasound transmission member to the distal head.

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body;
• a guide wire tube extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the lumen of the catheter body and extending longitudinally through the distal head, wherein the guide wire tube is affixed to the distal head;
• and
• a polymer sleeve disposed around a portion of the distal head, the polymer sleeve coupled with the guide wire tube through a side opening in the distal head, not directly affixed to the catheter body, and disposed between the elongate flexible catheter body and the distal head.

An ultrasound catheter for disrupting occlusions in blood vessels, the ultrasonic catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;
• an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end terminating adjacent the distal end of the catheter body;
• a distal head coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head positioned adjacent, but not directly affixed to, the distal end of the catheter body;
• and
• an anchor member disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the anchor member having a distal end coupled with the distal head at a first point and a proximal end coupled with the catheter body at a second point.