| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080228111 | Therapeutic ultrasound system - An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The distal end of the catheter body is deflectable. The ultrasound system also includes a sonic connector that connects the ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also provides a method for reverse irrigation and removal of particles. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080287804 | Ultrasound catheter having improved distal end - 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 tip that is attached to the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and which is located at the distal end of the catheter body. The distal tip has at least one dimensional step. The ultrasound transmission member is directly attached to the catheter body and/or to a guidewire tube, either directly or via an attachment device. The catheter has an additional radiopaque marker positioned on the distal end the catheter. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090012469 | Methods and devices for obesity treatment - A method for inducing malabsorption in a small intestine of a patient may involve advancing a portion of a catheter into the patient's small intestine and expanding a portion of the catheter to apply force to the small intestine's inner wall to modify mucosal villi and/or crypts. The method for causing weight loss in a patient may also involve dilating at least a portion of the patient's small intestine to modify mucosal villi and/or crypts, destroying mucosal villi and/or crypts of the patient's small intestine using a combined coaxial and radial catheterization of the intestine, or isolating a length of the patient's small intestine and delivering a substance to the isolated length to destroy mucosal villi and/or crypts. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100222715 | Methods and apparatus for intracranial ultrasound delivery - A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a patient's intracranial space involves forming at least one hole in the patient's skull, advancing at least one ultrasound delivery device at least partway through the hole(s), and transmitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound delivery device(s). According to various embodiments, ultrasound delivery devices may be advanced into the epidural space, one or both ventricles and/or an intracerebral space of the patient's brain. In alternative embodiments, one or multiple holes may be formed in the skull, and any number of ultrasound delivery devices may be used. Intracranial ultrasound delivery may be used in diagnostic or therapeutic treatment of ischemic stroke, head trauma, atherosclerosis, perfusion disorders and other acute or chronic neurological conditions. | 09-02-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100317973 | Device and method for vascular re-entry - In a method for re-entry from extraluminal space into the central lumen of a vessel, a guidewire is advanced into the extraluminal space of the vessel, and then a directional catheter is advanced over the guidewire through the extraluminal space. Thereafter, the guidewire is removed from the directional catheter, an ultrasound device is placed through the directional catheter, and the ultrasound device is advanced through the extraluminal space into the central lumen and then activated. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110160621 | Methods and apparatus for dissolving intracranial blood clots - A method for dissolving blood clots in a patient's intracranial space using ultrasound energy involves forming at least one hole in the patient's skull, advancing at least one ultrasound delivery device through the hole, and transmitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound delivery device into blood clots. According to various embodiments, ultrasound delivery devices may be advanced into the epidural space, one or both ventricles and/or an intracerebral space of the patient's brain. Also, one or more pharmacologic agent maybe delivered to the patient intracranial space to further facilitate clot dissolving therapy. Intracranial ultrasound delivery may be used to dissolve intracranial blood clots in relation to ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, head trauma, atherosclerosis, perfusion disorders and other acute or chronic neurological conditions. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110313328 | Methods and apparatus for dissolving blockages in intracranial catheters - Methods for removing blockages from intracranial drainage catheters caused by cerebrospinal fluid or blood clots using ultrasound energy are provided. These blockages may be caused by cerebrospinal fluid or blood clots located inside or outside of the drainage catheter. One or more pharmacologic agents may be delivered to the treatment area to further facilitate the dissolving and removal of blockages. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110319927 | Methods and apparatus for removing blood clots from intracranial aneurysms - Methods and apparatus for removing blood clots from an aneurysm in the intracranial space of the patient's head using ultrasound energy are provided. Pharmacologic agents or microbubbles may be delivered to the treatment area to further facilitate the dissolving and removal of blood clots. | 12-29-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
