Ultrasound catheter
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 through a clot at the treatment site;
advancing a sheath over the guidewire, such that at least a portion of the guidewire is positioned within a utility lumen defined by the sheath, wherein the sheath includes a drug delivery lumen having drug delivery ports;
removing the guidewire from the utility lumen;
passing a catheter through the utility lumen, the catheter including an ultrasound transducer;
delivering the drug solution to the treatment site through the drug delivery lumen and drug delivery ports;
delivering ultrasonic energy to the treatment site from the ultrasound transducer through the sheath; and
moving the ultrasound transducer within the sheath while the ultrasonic energy is being delivered to the treatment site.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sheath is advanced through the clot.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing a temperature at the treatment site during delivery of the ultrasound energy.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug solution is a clot dissolution compound.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug solution is delivered with a substantially even flow through a plurality of drug delivery ports formed in the drug delivery lumen.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the catheter includes the ultrasound transducers; and
the ultrasonic energy is delivered to the treatment site from the plurality of ultrasound transducers.