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US 8,956,375 B2Granted
Ultrasound catheter devices and methods
AssigneeFlowcardia, Inc.
InventorsHenry Nita, Jeff Sarge, Simon Nguyen, Richard Spano
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 a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include prevention of independent rotation of the ultrasound transmission member, a safety anchor for the distal head, a one-piece transmission member/distal head and the like.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- providing a catheter with
- a body comprising one or more distal apertures, an outer diameter, and a distal portion;
- one or more lumens situated substantially longitudinally through the body;
- a member partially disposed within one of the lumens that continuously tapers through a region from a wider end to a distal head at a narrower end, wherein the distal head has a proximal end disposed within the distal portion, wherein the proximal end has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the distal portion, wherein the distal head has a distal end disposed distally to the distal portion, and wherein the distal end has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the body;
- and
- a guide catheter disposed over the body, the guide catheter having a lumen;
- a sheath disposed over the body and within the guide catheter lumen, the sheath having a lumen;
- a balloon disposed on the guide catheter;
- positioning the distal head adjacent a blood vessel occlusion;
- transmitting ultrasound energy through the member to fragment the occlusion;
- introducing fluid into the blood vessel through the one or more distal apertures and the guide catheter lumen;
- expanding the balloon;
- and
- removing fragments through the sheath lumen.
11 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a catheter with
- a body comprising one or more distal apertures, and a distal portion;
- one or more lumens situated substantially longitudinally through the body;
- a member partially disposed within one of the lumens that continuously tapers through a region from a wider end to a distal head at a narrower end, wherein the distal head has a proximal end disposed within the distal portion, wherein the proximal end has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the distal portion, wherein the distal head has a distal end disposed distally to the distal portion, and wherein the distal end has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the body;
- and
- a guide catheter disposed over the body, the guide catheter having a lumen;
- a sheath disposed over the body and within the guide catheter lumen, the sheath having a lumen;
- a balloon disposed on the guide catheter;
- positioning the distal head adjacent a blood vessel occlusion;
- transmitting ultrasound energy through the member to fragment the occlusion;
- expanding the balloon;
- introducing a fluid into a region distal to the balloon;
- introducing a second fluid into the blood vessel through the one or more distal apertures and the guide catheter lumen;
- and
- removing fragments through the sheath lumen.
12 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a catheter with
- a body comprising one or more distal apertures, and a distal portion;
- one or more lumens situated substantially longitudinally through the body;
- a member partially disposed within one of the lumens that continuously tapers through a region from a wider end to a distal head at a narrower end, wherein the distal head has a proximal end disposed within the distal portion, wherein the proximal end has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the distal portion, wherein the distal head has a distal end disposed distally to the distal portion, and wherein the distal end has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the body;
- and
- a guide catheter disposed over the body, the guide catheter having a lumen;
- a sheath disposed over the body and within the guide catheter lumen, the sheath having a lumen;
- a balloon disposed on the guide catheter;
- positioning the distal head adjacent a blood vessel occlusion;
- transmitting ultrasound energy through the member to fragment the occlusion;
- introducing at least one radiopaque fluid into the blood vessel through at least one distal aperture to improve visualization of the distal end;
- introducing a second fluid into the blood vessel through the one or more distal apertures and the guide catheter lumen;
- and
- removing fragments through the sheath lumen.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.