Extracorporeal ultrasonic medical device

Abstract

Ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a PCI or cardiovascular surgery. Devices 27 and 77 are designed for implantation in the chest cavity and operate in combination with needle vents or other vent systems for removing diverted microbubbles. Systems 77 and 83 are designed for noninvasive employment. Devices 57 and 87 are particularly designed to prevent microbubbles from reaching the great origins of the carotid arteries and/or for diverting bubbles that might reach the vicinity and otherwise pass through. Improved devices 11 and 94 separate microbubbles from a flowing bloodstream and produce a cleansed stream.

1 . A separation device for removing microbubbles and/or microparticles from a flowing stream, which device comprises
 conduit means for carrying a liquid stream containing microbubbles and/or microparticles, which conduit means includes a main inlet, a main outlet and a side outlet,   transducer means upstream of said side outlet for deflecting microbubbles and/or microparticles in a flowing stream to said side outlet, and   receiving means having a valve outlet at its top and a lower liquid outlet near its bottom with a major portion of said receiving means being filled with inert fibrous material,   said side outlet conduit connecting to an upper location in said receiving means so that liquid diverted from said main stream through said side outlet enters said mass of fibrous material causing the separation of microbubbles and/or microparticles therefrom with cleansed liquid moving downward by gravity and exiting through the lower outlet while microbubbles gravitate upward into the top region of the receiving means from whence they can be removed through the valved outlet.   
   
   
       2 . The separation device according to claim I wherein means is provided for causing liquid to flow out through said side outlet and into said receiving means, and wherein additional transducer means is located below said receiving means for urging microbubbles in the liquid therein to flow upward toward said valved outlet. 
   
   
       3 . A medical treatment device for removing microbubbles and/or microparticles from a patient's bloodstream, which device comprises
 transducer means for association with the exterior surface of the posterior side of the aorta in the general region of the transverse sinus,   means for powering said transducer means to generate ultrasonic waves that are directed toward the anterior side of the aorta,   sidestream-removal means for insertion into the anterior side of the aorta downstream of the transverse sinus, and   means for removing blood and microbubbles and/or microparticles through said sidestream-removal means.   
   
   
       4 . The medical treatment device according to  claim 3  wherein means is provided for holding said transducer means in physical contact with the exterior surface of the aorta. 
   
   
       5 . The medical treatment device according to  claim 4  wherein said holder means includes a spring-like support that fits more than 180° about the aorta. 
   
   
       6 . The medical treatment device according to  claim 5  wherein expandable balloon means is located between said support and said transducer means to hold said transducer means firmly against the exterior surface of the aorta. 
   
   
       7 . The medical treatment device according to  claim 3  wherein said sidestream-removal means is formed integrally with an arterial-line cannula for returning blood from a heart-lung machine to the aorta downstream of the aortic valve so as to constitute a double-lumen cannula. 
   
   
       8 . The medical treatment device according to  claim 7  wherein said double-lumen cannula has a main passageway through which incoming blood exits downstream and a smaller lumen passageway having an opening which faces directly upstream.