Ultrasonic endovascular catheter

Abstract

An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic catheter supporting a first inflatable balloon. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave guide associated with the ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic wave guide includes a fluid lumen. The ultrasonic wave guide has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer horn. The proximal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is crimped directly onto the transducer horn. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate the ultrasonic wave guide at an ultrasonic frequency, and the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit the ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic transducer to the distal portion.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure, comprising:
 an ultrasonic catheter supporting a first inflatable balloon;   an ultrasonic wave guide associated with the ultrasonic catheter, the ultrasonic wave guide including a fluid lumen, the ultrasonic wave guide having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and   an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer horn, wherein the proximal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is crimped directly onto the transducer horn, the ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate the ultrasonic wave guide at an ultrasonic frequency, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit the ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic transducer to the distal portion.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first inflatable balloon is connected to the ultrasonic wave guide, and the ultrasonic wave guide includes a first port for supplying an inflation fluid to the first inflatable balloon via the fluid lumen. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , comprising a second inflatable balloon supported by the ultrasonic wave guide, wherein the fluid lumen is dual or coaxial, the ultrasonic wave guide includes a second port for supplying the inflation fluid through the fluid lumen to the second inflatable balloon, the second inflatable balloon is proximal of the first inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a tip sealing a distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the tip includes a guidewire lumen. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a second lumen in the ultrasonic wave guide, and   at least one aspiration port extending through the ultrasonic wave guide to the second lumen, the second lumen and the at least one aspiration port are configured for aspirating debris in a proximal direction, the at least one aspiration port is located between the first inflatable balloon and the second inflatable balloon.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , comprising:
 a second lumen in the ultrasonic wave guide, and   at least one aspiration port extending through the ultrasonic wave guide to the second lumen, the second lumen and the at least one aspiration port are configured for aspirating debris in a proximal direction.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , comprising:
 an ultrasonic generator coupled to the ultrasonic transducer; and   a switch coupled to the ultrasonic generator, wherein the ultrasonic generator is configured to provide electricity to the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply the ultrasonic frequency to the ultrasonic wave guide.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the ultrasonic wave guide has a crimped connection where the proximal portion is crimped directly onto the transducer horn, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to vibrate from the proximal portion at the crimped connection to the distal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure, comprising:
 a first balloon;   an ultrasonic wave guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the ultrasonic wave guide is a wire having an exposed portion, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy from the proximal end to the distal end, and   an ultrasonic catheter supporting the first balloon and having a first lumen and a second lumen, the first lumen being configured for transmitting an inflation fluid to or from the first balloon, the second lumen being configured for receiving the ultrasonic wave guide, the second lumen having an exit point and a re-entry point,   wherein the ultrasonic wave guide exits the second lumen at the exit point and re-enters the second lumen at the re-entry point, wherein the exposed portion of the ultrasonic wave guide lies between the exit point and the re-entry point of the second lumen.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the ultrasonic catheter has an intermediate portion and the first balloon is distal to the exposed portion of the ultrasonic wave guide and the intermediate portion of the ultrasonic catheter, the intermediate portion includes a straight portion. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the ultrasonic catheter supports a second balloon, wherein the first lumen is dual or coaxial, the first lumen is configured for transmission of the inflation fluid to or from the first balloon and the second balloon. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a second balloon, wherein the ultrasonic catheter supports the second balloon, wherein the exposed portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is between the first and second balloons. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second balloons are configured to anchor the ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site, wherein the ultrasonic catheter includes an intermediate portion being spaced from the ultrasonic wave guide, wherein the ultrasonic catheter further comprises a third lumen having openings in the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the ultrasonic catheter includes an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being spaced from the ultrasonic wave guide. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the ultrasonic catheter further comprises a third lumen having openings in the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         42 . An ultrasonic catheter for performing an endovascular procedure, comprising:
 a catheter body having a first lumen, the catheter body having a catheter body distal end;   an ultrasonic wave guide having a fluid lumen extending through the ultrasonic wave guide, the ultrasonic wave guide having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a proximal end, the distal portion having a distal end; and   a first inflatable balloon coupled to the distal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide, the first inflatable balloon being in fluid communication with the fluid lumen via a port,   wherein the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to extend through the first lumen of the ultrasonic catheter, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to extend distally beyond the catheter body distal end, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to receive ultrasonic energy at the proximal portion, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy from the proximal portion to the distal end to disrupt or displace an occlusion in a vascular region, the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to inflate and to deflate the first inflatable balloon via the fluid lumen and port.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer horn, wherein the proximal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is crimped directly onto the transducer horn, the ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate the ultrasonic wave guide at an ultrasonic frequency. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the ultrasonic wave guide comprises an exposed portion, the first inflatable balloon is coupled to the exposed portion of the ultrasonic wave guide, the first inflatable balloon is configured to anchor the ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a second lumen in the catheter body; and   a tip sealing the fluid lumen at the distal end of the ultrasonic wave guide,   wherein the tip includes a guide wire lumen, the guide wire lumen and the second lumen of the catheter body are configured to receive a guide wire.