Patent ID: 8702609
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoluminal catheter for providing image-guided therapy in a patient's vasculature comprising: an elongated catheter body adapted to be inserted into a patient's vasculature, the catheter body defining a distal portion operable to be inside the patient's vasculature while a proximal portion is outside the patient; a round, conical, distal facing face, on the distal tip, defining a radial center, and bearing separately-controllable electrodes for performing controlled ablation of plaque in the patient's vasculature, each electrode extending along the distal facing face, away from the radial center in a direction different from the other electrodes, and expanding in a circumferential dimension as the electrode extends away from the radial center; a distal facing array of ultrasound imaging transducers positioned in the catheter body proximal to the electrodes and configured to transmit and receive ultrasound pulses through the electrodes to provide real time imaging information of plaque to be ablated by the electrodes; wherein the array of transducers has an optimum operating frequency between 20 and 40 MHz, and the electrodes each comprise a metallic layer having a thickness less than about 8 μm and introduce an additional loss of less than 20 dB, at both a 15 MHz operating frequency and an operating frequency between about 20 MHz and 40 MHz; wherein the electrodes are positioned on a convex surface that defines a radius of curvature of less than 10 mm and that functions as a lens for the ultrasound; wherein a volume between said convex surface and said array of transducers is filled with a material selected from a group comprising essentially of a high temperature plastic and a silicone rubber material; and whereby a catheter operator can form an image of plaque on an artery interior and in response selectively activate one or more electrodes to remove plaque along a first circumferential portion of an arterial wall, while avoiding activating an electrode along a circumferential portion of an arterial wall that does not bear plaque.