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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultrasound system comprising:
 an ultrasound generating device supplying a first type of ultrasound energy and a second type of ultrasound energy different from the first type;   and   a catheter connected to the ultrasound generating device wherein the catheter comprises:
 a body with a longitudinally extending lumen; 
 an ultrasound transmission member disposed in the lumen; and 
 a distal head coupled with a distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and disposed adjacent to a distal end of the catheter body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasound system of  claim 1  wherein the connection is between the generating device and the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound system of  claim 2  wherein the generating device comprises an actuator for switching between supplying the first type of ultrasound energy and the second type of ultrasound energy to the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound system of  claim 3  wherein
 the first type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy; 
 or 
 the first type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy. 
 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound system of  claim 4  wherein the body comprises at least one bend near the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound system of  claim 3  wherein the body comprises at least one bend near the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound system of  claim 6  further comprising a guidewire lumen disposed in the body. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasound system of  claim 7  wherein the ultrasound transmission member further comprises a sonic connector disposed at the proximal end of the transmission member and wherein the connection is between the generating device and the sonic connector. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasound system of  claim 8  wherein the catheter further comprises an anchor member attached to the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound system of Clay  9  where the catheter further comprises a polymer sheath disposed along the ultrasound transmission member and the anchor member. 
     
     
         11 . The ultrasound system of  claim 10  wherein the ultrasound generating device supplies ultrasound energy at frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz such that the ultrasound transmission member delivers an ultrasound power of less than 20 Watts of ultrasound energy. 
     
     
         12 . An ultrasound system comprising:
 an ultrasound generating device supplying ultrasound energy;   and   a catheter connected to the ultrasound generating device, wherein the catheter comprises:
 a body comprising a lumen extended longitudinally through the body and at least one bend near the distal end of the body; 
 an ultrasound transmission member disposed in the lumen;
 and 
 
 a distal head coupled with a distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and 
 disposed adjacent to a distal end of the catheter body. 
   
     
     
         13 . The ultrasound system of  claim 12  wherein the connection is between the generating device and the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasound system of  claim 13  wherein the generating device comprises an actuator for switching between supplying a first type of ultrasound energy and a second type of ultrasound energy to the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasound system of  claim 14  wherein
 the first type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy; 
 or 
 the first type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy. 
 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasound system of  claim 15  wherein the ultrasound transmission member further comprises a sonic connector disposed at the proximal end of the transmission member and wherein the connection is between the generating device and the sonic connector. 
     
     
         17 . The ultrasound system of  claim 16  wherein the catheter further comprises an anchor member attached to the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member. 
     
     
         18 . The ultrasound system of  claim 17  where the catheter further comprises a polymer sheath disposed along the ultrasound transmission member and the anchor member. 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasound system of  claim 18  wherein the ultrasound generating device supplies ultrasound energy at frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz such that the ultrasound transmission member delivers an ultrasound power of less than 20 Watts of ultrasound energy. 
     
     
         20 . An ultrasound system comprising:
 an ultrasound generating device supplying a first type of ultrasound energy and a second type of ultrasound energy different from the first type where the generating device comprises an actuator for switching between supplying the first type of ultrasound energy and the second type of ultrasound energy;   and   a catheter comprising:
 a body with a longitudinally extending lumen and at least one bend near a distal end of the body; 
 a guidewire lumen disposed in the body; 
 an ultrasound transmission member disposed in the lumen; 
 a sonic connector disposed on a proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member; 
 an anchor member attached to the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member; 
 a polymer sheath disposed along the ultrasound transmission member and the anchor member
 and 
 
 a distal head coupled with a distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and 
 disposed adjacent to a distal end of the catheter body, 
   
       wherein
 the first type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy; 
 
       or
 the first type of ultrasound energy is pulsed energy and the second type of ultrasound energy is continuous energy; 
 the ultrasound generating device supplies ultrasound energy at frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz such that the ultrasound transmission member delivers an ultrasound power of less than 20 Watts of ultrasound energy; 
 
       and
 the connection is between the generating device and the sonic connector.