Patent ID: 6660013
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ultrasonic apparatus for removing plaque from a blood vessel comprising:an elongate probe having proximal and distal extremities, the elongate probe being sized so that it can be introduced into a blood vessel and having a length so that when the distal extremity is disposed in the vicinity of a plaque on the inner surface of the vessel the proximal extremity is outside of a body of a treated patient, the elongate probe having a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity; a probe tip disposed in the passage, the probe tip being capable of conducting ultrasonic energy into the plaque on the vessel for cavitating the plaque; an ultrasonic generator which is capable of delivering ultrasonic energy to the probe and into the plaque to debulk the vessel by reduction of the plaque to a particulate material; a handle coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe, wherein a plurality of transverse anti-nodes along at least a portion of the length of the elongate probe create a plaque destroying effect along at least a portion of the length of the elongate probe.