| Flowcardia, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120130233 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER HAVING PROTECTIVE FEATURE AGAINST BREAKAGE - An ultrasound catheter has an elongate flexible catheter body having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body. The ultrasound transmission member has a proximal end that is coupled to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a distal end that terminates at the distal end of the catheter body, with at least a portion of the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member extending outside the lumen of the catheter body and beyond the distal end of the catheter body, and with the ultrasound transmission member directly attached to the catheter body via an attachment device. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120016272 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER DEVICES AND METHODS - 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 a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include prevention of independent rotation of the ultrasound transmission member, a safety anchor for the distal head, a one-piece transmission member/distal head and the like. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110237983 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER FOR DISRUPTING BLOOD VESSEL OBSTRUCTIONS - Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110125164 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER DEVICES AND METHODS - Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter device includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. A proximal housing of the catheter device may include one or more features for dissipating heat from the ultrasound transmission wire, such as a fluid inlet aperture for passage of fluid, use of heat conductive materials in the proximal housing, surface features to increase the housing's surface area, heat conductive members disposed adjacent the transmission member and the like. Various irrigation fluids may be used, such as cooled, oxygen supersaturated or lubricious fluids. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20100280389 | CONNECTOR FOR SECURING ULTRASOUND CATHETER TO TRANSDUCER - An ultrasound system has an ultrasound transducer having a transducer housing and a horn provided at the distal end of the transducer housing, an ultrasound transmission member, a sonic connector that is connected to the horn and the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member, and a catheter knob having a proximal end that is coupled to the distal end of the transducer housing. The catheter knob has a proximal bore that houses the sonic connector. The system also includes a nesting piece that is retained inside the proximal bore of the catheter knob. The nesting piece can be moved from a first position where the sonic connector is received inside the nesting piece to a second position where the sonic connector is separated from the nesting piece when ultrasound energy is being propagated through the ultrasound transmission member. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100049209 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER APPARATUS - Ultrasound catheter devices and methods of the present invention generally provide for ablation and/or disruption of vascular occlusions. An ultrasound transmission member, such as a wire, transmits vibrational energy from an ultrasound transducer to a distal head of the catheter to disrupt vascular occlusions. An absorber member is disposed on or around the ultrasound transmission wire at a location adjacent the sonic connector of the catheter. The absorber member absorbs heat, vibrations, and/or the like from the ultrasound transmission wire at or near the area where the transmission wire is coupled with the sonic connector. The absorptive function typically slows the process of wear and tear on the transmission wire, thus extending the useful life of the ultrasound catheter. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100023037 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME - 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. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023036 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME - 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. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100022920 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME - 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. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090216246 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER DEVICES AND METHODS - Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter device includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. A proximal housing of the catheter device may include one or more features for dissipating heat from the ultrasound transmission wire, such as a fluid inlet aperture for passage of fluid, use of heat conductive materials in the proximal housing, surface features to increase the housing's surface area, heat conductive members disposed adjacent the transmission member and the like. Various irrigation fluids may be used, such as cooled, oxygen supersaturated or lubricious fluids. | 08-27-2009 |
