Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors

Abstract

An ultrasound catheter comprises an elongate tubular body. The elongate tubular body has a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region. The tubular body defines a central lumen having a central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen. The elongate, hollow inner core has an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core. The ultrasound catheter further comprises at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region. The at least two electrical conductors are positioned between the tubular body and the inner core. The at least two electrical conductors are electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member. The at least two electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core a plurality of times in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An ultrasound catheter comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body having a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region, the tubular body defining a central lumen having a central lumen diameter;    an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen and having an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter;    an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core;    at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region, the at least two electrical conductors positioned between the tubular body and the inner core, and electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core a plurality of times in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.    
     
     
         2 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the distal region of the elongate tubular body; and    at least one temperature sensor wire extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region, wherein at least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor wire is positioned between the tubular body and the inner core, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor wire is electrically connected to the temperature sensor.    
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors are substantially parallel in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.  
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors are integrated into a unitary cable.  
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors do not cross paths in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.  
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors are integrated into a unitary cable.  
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core in opposite directions.  
     
     
         8 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors comprise electrically conductive fibers.  
     
     
         9 . An ultrasound catheter comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body having a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region, the tubular body defining a central lumen having a central lumen diameter;    an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen and having an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter;    an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core;    at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region, the at least two electrical conductors positioned between the tubular body and the inner core, and electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are disposed substantially parallel to a catheter axis in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.    
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the distal region of the elongate tubular body; and    at least one temperature sensor wire extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region, wherein at least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor wire is positioned between the tubular body and the inner core, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor wire is electrically connected to the temperature sensor.    
     
     
         11 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the ultrasound catheter comprises two electrical conductors which are disposed at substantially radially opposite points around the inner core.  
     
     
         12 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two electrical conductors comprise electrically conductive fibers.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an elongate, hollow body having a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a body thickness, and an inner lumen;    an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the body thickness of the elongate, hollow body; and    a plurality of elongate electrical conductors extending between the elongate, hollow body proximal region and the ultrasound radiating member, and positioned within the body thickness of the elongate, hollow body.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the elongate, hollow body distal region; and    at least one temperature sensor wire extending between the elongate, hollow body proximal region and the temperature sensor, and positioned within the body thickness of the elongate, hollow body.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are substantially parallel in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the elongate, hollow body proximal region.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are integrated into a unitary cable.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors do not cross paths in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the elongate, hollow body proximal region.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are integrated into a unitary cable.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core in opposite directions.  
     
     
         20 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprise electrically conductive fibers.  
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: 
 maneuvering a guidewire through a patient's vasculature, such that a guidewire distal region is adjacent to a treatment site;    passing an elongate tubular body over the guidewire, the elongate tubular body having a distal region, a proximal region opposite the distal region and a tubular ultrasound radiating member mounted to the elongate tubular body distal region, such that the ultrasound radiating member is adjacent the treatment site;    withdrawing the guidewire from the elongate tubular body;    passing an electronic driving signal to the ultrasound radiating member to cause the ultrasound radiating member to deliver ultrasonic energy to the treatment site;    passing a therapeutic compound through the elongate tubular body to the treatment site, such that a quantity of therapeutic compound delivered to the treatment site is exposed to ultrasonic energy.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ultrasound radiating member is positioned within the elongate tubular body.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising sensing a temperature at the treatment site.  
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic catheter comprising: 
 providing an inner tube having an inner diameter sufficient to accommodate a guidewire;    mounting a tubular ultrasound radiating member around a distal region of the inner tube;    positioning a first and a second electrical conductor along the inner tube, such that the first electrical conductor contacts an inner side of the ultrasound radiating member, and the second electrical conductor contacts an outer side of the ultrasound radiating member;    concentrically translating an outer tube over the inner tube and the ultrasound radiating member; and    radially shrinking the outer tube onto the inner tube.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 mounting a temperature sensor adjacent to the distal region of the inner tube; and    positioning at least one temperature sensor wire along the inner tube, such that the temperature sensor wire is electrically connect to the temperature sensor.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second electrical conductors are positioned along the inner tube in a substantially parallel configuration.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second electrical conductors are positioned along the inner tube at substantially radially opposite points.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising integrating the first and second electrical conductors into a unitary cable.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core in opposite directions.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising connecting the first and second electrical conductors to opposite poles of a power supply at a proximal end of the ultrasonic catheter.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body having a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region, the tubular body defining a central lumen having a central lumen surface that is electrically conductive;    an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen and having an inner core outer surface that is electrically conductive;    an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core, such that the tubular body conductive surface and the inner core conductive surface are both in electrical contact with the ultrasound radiating member; and    an insulating sleeve positioned between the tubular body and the inner core in a region proximal to the ultrasound radiating member.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the elongate tubular body distal region.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the tubular body conductive surface and the inner core conductive surface are electrically connected to opposite poles of a power supply.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of ultrasound radiating members positioned between the tubular body and the inner core.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned between the tubular boy and the inner core in regions between the plurality of ultrasound radiating members.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the conductive surfaces comprise metallic fibers disposed on the central lumen surface or the inner core outer surface.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the metallic fibers comprise copper.  
     
     
         38 . An ultrasound catheter comprising: 
 an elongate tubular body having a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region, the tubular body defining a central lumen having a central lumen diameter;    an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen and having an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter;    an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core;    a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the distal region of the elongate tubular body; and    at least one temperature sensor wire extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region, wherein at least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor wire is positioned between the tubular body and the inner core, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor wire is electrically connected to the temperature sensor.