Ultrasound catheter with utility lumen
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a catheter system. The system comprises a catheter body having a chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium. The catheter body includes an elongated body with an external surface and an ultrasound transducer having an external side between a first end and a second end. The ultrasound transducer is positioned over the external surface of the elongated body such that the first end is adjacent to the chamber.
1. A method of delivering ultrasound energy and a drug solution to a treatment site, the method comprising:
positioning a guidewire at the treatment site;
advancing a catheter over the guidewire, the catheter having an inner sheath and an outer sheath that is substantially coextensive with the inner sheath, wherein the inner sheath defines a utility lumen in which the guidewire is positioned, and wherein a cylindrical ultrasound transducer is positioned between the inner sheath and the outer sheath;
delivering a therapeutic media to the treatment site through the utility lumen; and
delivering ultrasound energy through the outer sheath to the treatment site.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the guidewire from the utility lumen.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the guidewire is removed from the utility lumen before the therapeutic media is delivered to the treatment site.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering a cooling fluid through the utility lumen.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing a temperature at the treatment site.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media and the ultrasound energy are delivered to the treatment site simultaneously.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment site includes a clot.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media is a dissolution compound.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media is an aqueous solution comprising heparin.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media is an aqueous solution comprising urokinase.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media is an aqueous solution comprising streptokinase.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic media is an aqueous solution comprising tissue plasminogen activator.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the treatment site includes a clot; and positioning the guidewire at the treatment site comprises directing the guidewire through the clot.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the treatment site includes a clot;
positioning the guidewire at the treatment site comprises directing the guidewire through the clot; and
the ultrasound transducer is positioned adjacent the clot.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of cylindrical ultrasound transducers are positioned between the inner sheath and the outer sheath.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer sheath comprises a proximal outer sheath portion that is coupled to a distal outer sheath portion; and
the ultrasound energy is delivered through the distal outer sheath portion to the treatment site.