Apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device to treat deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device to treat deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasonic medical device comprises an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The ultrasonic probe is inserted into a deep vein of a leg, navigated adjacent to a thrombus in the deep vein and placed in communication with the thrombus. An ultrasonic energy source is activated to generate a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe. The transverse ultrasonic vibration creates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, generating cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate the thrombus and treat deep vein thrombosis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An ultrasonic medical device for treating deep vein thrombosis comprising: 
 a flexible, ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;    a transducer creating a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the flexible, ultrasonic probe;    a coupling engaging the proximal end of the flexible, ultrasonic probe to a distal end of the transducer;    an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the transducer that produces an ultrasonic energy,    wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration generates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the flexible, ultrasonic probe, creating cavitation in a medium surrounding the flexible, ultrasonic probe to ablate a thrombus and treat deep vein thrombosis.    
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe comprises a material that allows the flexible, ultrasonic probe to be bent, deflected and flexed.  
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe comprises a diameter that enables insertion into a vein.  
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the flexible, ultrasonic probe has a uniform diameter from the proximal end to the distal end.  
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the flexible, ultrasonic probe varies from the proximal end to the distal end.  
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein a cross section of the flexible, ultrasonic probe is approximately circular.  
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration generates acoustic energy in a medium surrounding the flexible, ultrasonic probe.  
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasonic energy source delivers ultrasonic energy in a frequencey range from about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz.  
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasonic energy source provides an electrical energy to the transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer by finding the resonant frequency of the transducer.  
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible, ultrasonic probe is disposable.  
     
     
         11 . An ultrasonic medical device for treating deep vein thrombosis comprising: 
 an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a probe tip and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;    a transducer that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, creating a transverse ultrasonic vibration along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe; and    a coupling engaging the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe to a distal end of the transducer,    wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration produces a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.    
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 11  wherein the ultrasonic probe supports the transverse ultrasonic vibration when flexed.  
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 11  wherein the ultrasonic probe has a flexibility allowing the ultrasonic probe to be deflected and articulated.  
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 11  wherein a transverse wave from the transverse ultrasonic vibration is transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, creating an interaction of a surface of the ultrasonic probe with a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to create an acoustic wave in the medium.  
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 11  wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe produces cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate a thrombus to treat deep vein thrombosis.  
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic medical device of  claim 11  wherein an ultrasonic energy source is engaged to the transducer and provides the electrical energy to the transducer.  
     
     
         17 . A method of resolving deep vein thrombosis comprising: 
 providing an ultrasonic medical device comprising an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;    navigating the ultrasonic probe adjacent to a thrombus;    placing the ultrasonic probe in communication with the thrombus;    activating an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the ultrasonic probe to generate a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe,    wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration creates a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising generating acoustic energy in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe through the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising sweeping the ultrasonic probe along the thrombus.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising moving the ultrasonic probe back and forth along the thrombus.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising rotating the ultrasonic probe along the thrombus.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing an electrical energy to a transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer by the ultrasonic energy source determining the resonant frequency of the transducer.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising delivering ultrasonic energy in a frequency range from about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz by the ultrasonic energy source.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing the ultrasonic probe having a flexibility allowing the ultrasonic probe to be deflected and articulated.  
     
     
         25 . A method of ablating a thrombus in a deep vein of a body comprising: 
 providing an ultrasonic medical device comprising an ultrasonic probe having a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a probe tip, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;    inserting the ultrasonic probe in an insertion point of the deep vein;    moving the ultrasonic probe to place the ultrasonic probe in communication with the thrombus;    activating an ultrasonic energy source engaged to the ultrasonic probe to produce an electric signal that drives a transducer of the ultrasonic medical device to produce a transverse ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic probe,    wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration produces cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate the thrombus.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising transmitting a transverse wave from the transverse ultrasonic vibration along the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe to create an acoustic wave in the medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising producing a plurality of transverse nodes and a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe by the transverse ultrasonic vibration.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the plurality transverse nodes are points of a minimum transverse ultrasonic vibration.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the plurality of transverse anti-nodes are points of a maximum transverse ultrasonic vibration.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the ultrasonic probe is for a single use on a single patient.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising delivering ultrasonic energy in a frequency range of about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz by the ultrasonic energy source.