METHODS FOR REMOVING CALCIUM FROM PERIPHERAL ARTERY VESSELS
Methods of removing calcium and other deposits from peripheral and other vessel walls using ultrasound waves. In an exemplary method of treating a deposit in a patient's peripheral artery, the method comprises the steps of generating an ultrasound wave outside of the patient and directing the ultrasound wave toward a peripheral artery of the patient.
1 . A method of treating a deposit in a patient's peripheral artery, comprising the steps of:
generating an ultrasound wave outside of the patient; and
directing the ultrasound wave toward a peripheral artery of the patient.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
introducing a suction catheter into the vasculature of the patient; and
using the suction catheter to aspirate a fragmented part of the arterial deposit.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
generating a plurality of ultrasound waves outside of the patient; and
directing the plurality of ultrasound waves toward the peripheral artery of the patient wherein the generated plurality ultrasound waves vary in power or rate of wave delivery.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound waves have a rate of wave delivery of 2-4 Hz.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound wave comprises a rectangular shaped focal beam.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular shaped focal beam has a length of 1-2 cm.
7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of:
directing the plurality of ultrasound waves so that a length of the peripheral artery is treated.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the suction catheter comprises a flared tip.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound wave is generated from an ultrasound wave source positioned outside the patient.
10 . A method of treating a deposit in a patient's peripheral artery, comprising the steps of:
positioning an ultrasound wave source exterior to a patient;
generating a plurality of ultrasound waves from the ultrasound wave source; and
directing the plurality of ultrasound waves into the patient so that the deposit in the peripheral artery is treated.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ultrasound wave source generates a rectangular shaped focal beam.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rectangular shaped focal beam is 1-2 cm in length.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
directing the plurality of ultrasound waves so that a length of the peripheral artery is treated.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasound wave source travels along the length of the artery every few minutes to treat a desired length of the artery.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound waves have a rate of wave delivery of 2-4 Hz.
16 . A method of treating a deposit in a patient's peripheral artery using system comprising an ultrasound wave source and a suction catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting a plurality of ultrasound waves from the ultrasound wave source;
placing the ultrasound wave source exterior to and facing the patient so the plurality of ultrasound waves travel into the patient artery; and
introducing the suction catheter into the vasculature of the patient and aspirating fragmented deposit parts.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
manipulating the ultrasound wave source so that a length of the artery is treated by the plurality of ultrasound waves.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound waves have a rate of wave delivery of 2-4 Hz.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound wave source is configured to emit a rectangular shaped focal beam.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the rectangular shaped focal beam has a length of 1-2 cm.