Blood flow reestablishment determination

Abstract

A method for monitoring a clot dissolution treatment in a patient's vasculature comprises positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient's vasculature. The method further comprises performing a clot dissolution treatment at the treatment site. The clot dissolution treatment comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site such that a clot located at the treatment site at least partially dissolves. The method further comprises delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment site during the clot dissolution treatment. The method further comprises receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter. The method further comprises comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method for monitoring reduction of a vascular occlusion, the method comprising: 
 (a) positioning a catheter at a treatment site in a patient's vasculature, wherein the vascular occlusion is located at the treatment site;    (b) treating the vascular occlusion, wherein treating the vascular occlusion comprises delivering ultrasonic energy from the catheter to the vascular occlusion;    (c) performing a plurality of temperature measurements at the treatment site while treating the vascular occlusion; and    (d) using the plurality of temperature measurements to evaluate an extent to which the vascular occlusion is reduced.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising adjusting the delivery of ultrasonic energy to the vascular occlusion based on the extent to which the vascular occlusion is reduced.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein treating the vascular occlusion further comprises delivering a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising adjusting the delivery of therapeutic compound to the treatment site based on the extent to which the vascular occlusion is reduced.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein treating the vascular occlusion further comprises delivering a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site simultaneous with the delivery of ultrasonic energy.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein delivering ultrasonic energy from the catheter to the vascular occlusion comprises delivering ultrasonic energy during a first time period and pausing delivery of ultrasonic energy during a second time period.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising comparing the plurality of temperature measurements with a reference profile to further evaluate the extent to which the vascular occlusion is reduced.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising using the plurality of temperature measurements to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of temperature measurements are obtained using an ultrasound radiating member coupled to the catheter.  
   
   
       43 . An ultrasound catheter for evaluating a reduction of a vascular occlusion located at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature, the ultrasound catheter comprising: 
 an ultrasonic assembly comprising at least one ultrasound radiating member configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to the vascular occlusion;    a thermal energy detector configured to obtain a temperature measurement at the treatment site;    control circuitry configured to evaluate a plurality of temperature measurements obtained at the treatment site using the thermal energy detector, and evaluate an extent to which the vascular occlusion is reduced.    
   
   
       44 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the thermal energy detector comprises an ultrasound radiating member that is part of the ultrasonic assembly.  
   
   
       45 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the thermal energy detect is also configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to the vascular occlusion.  
   
   
       46 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the thermal energy detector is configured to obtain temperature measurements after ultrasonic energy has been delivered to the vascular occlusion.  
   
   
       47 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , further comprising a fluid delivery lumen configured to deliver a therapeutic compound to the vascular occlusion.  
   
   
       48 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the thermal energy detector is a thermocouple.  
   
   
       49 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the thermal energy detector is positioned distal to the at least one ultrasound radiating member.  
   
   
       50 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the ultrasonic assembly comprises a hollow tubular ultrasound radiating member.  
   
   
       51 . The ultrasound catheter of  claim 43 , wherein the ultrasonic assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasound radiating members that are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       52 . A method comprising: 
 (a) positioning an ultrasound catheter at a treatment site in a patient's vasculature, wherein a vascular occlusion is located at the treatment site;    (b) applying ultrasonic energy to the vascular occlusion from an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the ultrasound catheter;    (c) making a plurality of temperature measurements at the treatment site;    (d) determining the position of the ultrasound radiating member relative to the vascular occlusion based on an evaluation of the plurality of thermal energy measurements; and    (e) repositioning the ultrasound radiating member based on the relative position determined in step (d).    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising delivering a therapeutic compound to the treatment site.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ultrasound radiating member is coupled to an inner core that is movable within the catheter.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ultrasound radiating member has a hollow tubular configuration.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising repeating steps (c) through (e) a plurality of times.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising displaying information relating to the relative position of the ultrasound radiating member and the vascular occlusion on a user interface display.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising displaying the plurality of thermal energy measurements on a user interface display.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the plurality of temperature measurements are made using a device selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound radiating member and a thermocouple.