Patent ID: 8192391
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of operating an ultrasonic catheter comprising: advancing a catheter with at least one ultrasonic element to a treatment site in a patient's vascular system or tissue; driving the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic energy may be characterized by a plurality of power parameters including a frequency, a pulse, a duty cycle, a time average power, and a peak power, wherein during a pulse the at least one ultrasonic element is driven at the frequency, the duty cycle is defined as a ratio of a time of one pulse to a time between an initiation of one pulse and an initiation of a second sequential pulse, the peak power is a peak power achieved during a pulse and the time average power is an average of power during a full cycle between the initiation of one pulse and the initiation of the second sequential pulse; delivering a therapeutic compound to the treatment site through the catheter; and varying a power parameter and a physiological parameter of the ultrasonic element, wherein varying the power parameter and the physiological parameter comprises: