Patent ID: 6454737
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
An ultrasonic device for removing obstructive matter from a tortuous anatomical passageway, said device comprising:an elongate pliable catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and further comprising: an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen of a luminal diameter extending longitudinally therethrough; and an inner tube having an outer surface of an outer diameter, a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; the outer diameter of said inner tube being smaller than the luminal diameter of said outer tube, and said innter tube being disposed within the lumen of said outer tube; a distal tip member fixedly attached to the distal end of said catheter body for engaging the obstuctive matter, wherein said distal tip member is in abutting contact with the distal ends of said inner and outer tubes, said distal tip member having a distal surface; a solid, flexible ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through said catheter body to transmit ultrasound from an ultrasound source located externally to said catheter body, through said catheter body, to said distal tip member; and at least one aspiration passageway extending longitudinally through said distal tip member from the proximal surface thereof to the distal surface thereof, said aspiration passageway being in communication with the lumen of said outer tube such that matter located at the distal tip member may be aspirated, in the proximal direction, through said passageway and through the lumen of said outer tube.