Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – With means for cutting – scarifying – or vibrating tissue
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2001-10-02
Mendez, Manuel (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
With means for cutting, scarifying, or vibrating tissue
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296620
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to medical devices and more particularly to ultrasonic angioplasty catheters for effecting ultrasonic ablation of occlusive intravascular lesions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ultrasound transmitting catheters have been utilized to successfully ablate various types of obstructions from blood vessels of humans and animals. Additionally, ultrasound transmitting catheters may be utilized to deliver ultrasonic energy to mammalian blood vessels for the purpose of preventing or reversing vasospasm, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,255 (Passafaro, et al.).
Particular success has been observed in ablation of atherosclerotic plaque or thromboembolic obstructions from peripheral blood vessels such as the femoral arteries. Successful applications of ultrasonic energy to smaller blood vessels, such as the coronary arteries, necessitates the use of ultrasound transmitting catheters which are sufficiently small and flexible to permit transluminal advancement of such catheter through the tortuous vasculature of the aortic arch and coronary tree. Accordingly, the safety and efficacy of removing obstructions from coronary arteries by way of ultrasound is largely dependent upon the size and flexibility of the ultrasound transmitting catheter(s) employed.
One particular type of ultrasound transmitting catheter which may be utilized to deliver therapeutic ultrasound to an intracorporeal treatment site comprises an elongate flexible catheter body having rigid distal tip or head member inserted into, and affixed thereto with at least one ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body being coupled to the distal tip or head member, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,917 (Nita, et al.), and incorporated herein by reference.
Although these devices are of merit, there still exists a need in the art for further invention, development and refinement of ultrasound catheters to provide catheters with improved drilling performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic catheter for delivering ultrasonic energy to a treatment location within a patient's body. In a preferred embodiment, the catheter has proximal and distal portions, the distal portion having an outer tubular member.
The catheter, preferably, the distal outer tubular member, is formed, at least in part, of a polymeric material blend having a flexural modulus of elasticity less than about 150 ksi. Preferably, the catheter is formed of a polymeric material blend with a flexural modulus of elasticity ranging from about 40 to about 126 ksi. More preferably, the polymeric material blend has a flexural modulus of elasticity ranging from about 50 to about 60 ksi.
In one embodiment, the polymeric material blend comprises at least one polymeric material and a filler. The filler, preferably, is barium sulfate. The percent (%) weight ratio of the polymeric material to the filler may range from about 60 to about 85 polymer with a corresponding filler ranging from about 40 to about 15. Preferably, the % weight ratio of the polymeric material to the filler is from about 65 to about 75 polymer with a corresponding filler ranging from about 35 to about 25. In a preferred embodiment, the % weight ratio of the polymeric material to the filler is from about 78 to about 83 polymer with a corresponding filler ranging from about 22 to about 17. The polymeric material blend, optionally, may include a coloring agent, such as purple pigment, in quantity sufficient to impart visible color to the blend, preferably, up to about 5 wt. %.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5542917 (1996-08-01), Nita et al.
patent: 5656029 (1997-08-01), Imran et al.
patent: 5797920 (1998-08-01), Kim
patent: 5827201 (1998-10-01), Samson et al.
patent: 5860963 (1999-01-01), Azam et al.
Cornish Wayne E.
Gesswein Douglas H.
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
Mendez Manuel
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