Ultrasound catheter and methods for making and using same

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, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.

1 . A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis in an artery by delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery and enhancing absorption of the therapeutic agent into a wall of the artery using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
 emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter; and   delivering a stenosis inhibiting therapeutic agent into the artery from the ultrasound catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is delivered to the vessel wall after the vessel wall is exposed to ultrasound energy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of providing an ultrasound transmission member in the ultrasound catheter, the ultrasound transmission member propagating ultrasound energy from an ultrasound transducer located on the proximal end of the catheter outside the body to the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         4 . A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis in an artery by delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery and enhancing absorption of the therapeutic agent into a wall of the artery using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
 emitting the ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter and delivering a stenosis inhibiting therapeutic agent into the artery from a separate drug delivery catheter.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is delivered to the vessel wall according to one method from the group consisting of: before ultrasound energy delivery, during ultrasound energy delivery, and after ultrasound energy delivery. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis at a treatment location in an artery, comprising the steps of:
 enhancing permeability of the vessel wall via the delivery of ultrasound energy to the treatment location; and   delivering a therapeutic agent into the artery to the treatment location.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein ultrasound energy is delivered to the treatment area using transcutaneous methods. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein ultrasound energy is delivered to the treatment area using endovascular methods. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the therapeutic agent is delivered to the vessel wall according to one method selected from the group consisting of: before ultrasound energy delivery, during ultrasound energy delivery, and after ultrasound energy delivery. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein treating stenosis and inhibiting restenosis includes treating vulnerable plaque in an artery. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein treating stenosis or inhibit re-stenosis in the artery involves ablating or removing plaque or thrombotic material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein treating stenosis or inhibiting restenosis involves treating a totally occluded artery. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating occlusions in a vessel by delivering a medicament into the vessel and enhancing absorption of the medicament into the vessel using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
 emitting ultrasound energy from an ultrasound catheter; and   delivering a medicament into the vessel from the ultrasound catheter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is at least about 20 kHz. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the medicament is delivered to the vessel after the vessel is exposed to ultrasound energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the medicament is selected from the group consisting of: liquid, powder, particle, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising positioning a device within the artery to prevent the medicament from flowing downstream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of providing an ultrasound transmission member in the ultrasound catheter, the ultrasound transmission member propagating ultrasound energy from an ultrasound transducer located on the proximal end of the catheter outside the body to the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating occlusions in a vessel by delivering a medicament into the vessel and enhancing absorption of the medicament into the vessel using ultrasound energy, the method comprising:
 emitting the ultrasound energy from the ultrasound catheter and delivering a medicament into the vessel from a separate drug delivery lumen of the ultrasound catheter.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the medicament is delivered to the vessel according to one method from the group consisting of: before ultrasound energy delivery, during ultrasound energy delivery, and after ultrasound energy delivery. 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating an occluded artery, comprising the steps of:
 enhancing permeability of the artery wall via the delivery of ultrasound energy to a treatment location; and   delivering a medicament into the artery at the treatment location.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein ultrasound energy is delivered to the treatment area using transcutaneous methods. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein ultrasound energy is delivered to the treatment area using endovascular methods. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the medicament is delivered to the artery according to one method selected from the group consisting of: before ultrasound energy delivery, during ultrasound energy delivery, and after ultrasound energy delivery. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein treating an occlusion includes treating vulnerable plaque in an artery. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein treating an occlusion involves ablating or removing plaque or thrombotic material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein treating an occlusion involves treating a totally occluded artery. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising positioning a device within the artery to prevent the medicament from a quick washout by the blood.