Intraluminal rotational ultrasound for diagnostic imaging and therapy

1. An ultrasound device configured to be positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel of a patient, the ultrasound device comprising:

an ultrasound processor;

a flexible elongate sheath configured to be positioned within the lumen of the blood vessel of the patient, the sheath comprising an inner lumen;

a rotatable, flexible elongate drive cable comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the drive cable is disposed within the inner lumen of the sheath;

a hub coupling the drive cable to the sheath, wherein the hub comprises a rotational interface to permit the drive cable to rotate relative to the sheath;

an ultrasound imaging element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to obtain imaging data while the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath, the ultrasound imaging element configured to be controlled by the ultrasound processor;

an ultrasound therapy element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to apply an ultrasound therapy while the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath, the ultrasound therapy element configured to be controlled by the ultrasound processor separate from the ultrasound imaging element separately so that the ultrasound therapy applied by the ultrasound therapy element does not interfere with the imaging data obtained by the ultrasound imaging element;

wherein the ultrasound processor is configured to control the ultrasound device to:

acquire ultrasound echoes of the blood vessel using the first ultrasound imaging element;

automatically determine a density or hardness of an occlusion or calcification of the blood vessel based on the acquired ultrasound echoes; and

perform an ultrasound therapy procedure on the occlusion or calcification of the blood vessel based on the determined density or hardness using the ultrasound therapy element.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging element and the ultrasound therapy element each comprise a single transducer.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a center frequency of the ultrasound imaging element is between 10 MHz and 70 MHz and a center frequency of the ultrasound therapy element is between 20 kHz and 5 MHz.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging element and the ultrasound therapy element are adjacent to one another.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a port to receive a fluid that fills an inner lumen of the sheath surrounding the drive cable.

6. An ultrasound method for imaging and treating a patient with a device comprising a sheath having an elongate body extending into a lumen of a blood vessel of the patient, and a rotatable, flexible and elongate drive cable disposed within the sheath and coupled to the sheath via a hub, the method comprising:

while the device is inserted into the lumen of the blood vessel of the patient, applying a torque to the drive cable to thereby permit the drive cable to rotate within a rotational interface of the hub;

obtaining imaging data representative of the blood vessel of the patient using a first ultrasound element disposed at a distal portion of the drive cable while the drive cable rotates relative to sheath;

determining a density or hardness of an occlusion or calcification of the blood vessel based on the imaging data representative of the blood vessel of the patient; and

applying an ultrasound therapy to the occlusion or calcification based on the determined density or hardness using a second ultrasound element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable while the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath;

wherein the obtaining of the imaging data, the determining of the density or hardness of the occlusion or calcification, and the applying of the ultrasound therapy are performed without removing the device from the lumen of the blood vessel of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining, using a computer, a parameter for the ultrasound therapy based on the determined density or hardness.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises introducing a pharmacological agent within the lumen of the blood vessel of the patient.

9. An ultrasound system comprising:

an ultrasound device configured to be positioned within a lumen of a blood vessel of a patient, the ultrasound device comprising: a flexible elongate sheath configured to be positioned within the lumen of the blood vessel of the patient; a rotatable, flexible elongate drive cable disposed within an inner lumen of the sheath and coupled to the sheath via a rotational interface of a hub so that the drive cable is rotatable relative to the sheath; a first ultrasound element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to obtain imaging data of the blood vessel while the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath; and a second ultrasound element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to apply an ultrasound therapy to the blood vessel while the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath; and

a computer in communication with the first and second ultrasound elements, wherein the computer is operable to transmit a plurality of control signals such that the first and second ultrasound elements emit ultrasound energy at a plurality of different frequencies as the drive cable rotates relative to the sheath, the computer programmed to:

acquire ultrasound echoes of the blood vessel using the first ultrasound element;

automatically determine a density or hardness of an occlusion or calcification of the blood vessel based on the acquired ultrasound echoes; and

perform an ultrasound therapy procedure on the occlusion or calcification of the blood vessel based on the determined density or hardness using the second ultrasound element.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 9 further comprising a motor coupled to the drive cable and configured to rotate the drive cable relative to the sheath.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises a port to receive a fluid that fills the inner lumen of the sheath surrounding the drive cable, wherein the fluid transmits ultrasonic waves and lubricates the rotation of the drive cable relative to the sheath.