Patent ID: 8083707
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. Invasive or minimally invasive apparatus for removal, breakdown or erosion of undesirable deposits present on, at or in actuating bodily implants or actuating bodily-members or organs of a patient comprising: at least one distal acoustic emitter capable of directing acoustic energy toward a target bearing said deposits for the purpose of removing at least some of said deposit and recovering a desired degree of actuation; an exciter to power and control the emitters acoustic operation; the distal emitter including a deformable or soft standoff, protective member or appendage, the standoff at least one of (i) preventing or inhibiting direct emitter-target contact, (ii) allowing for gentle stoppage or suppression of the targets actuation for deposit removal, and (iii) allowing for passage of the emitter into or through the actuator without damaging the actuator, wherein the standoff comprises a saline filled balloon; a proximally grippable scope, catheter, handle, guidewire, sheath or a gripping robot distally supporting the emitter and allowing a practitioner to control acoustic coupling of and use of the emitter on the target; wherein by actuating is specifically meant that the implant or body member being treated for deposit has (a) adjacent, joined or mating portions which normally at least one of swing, hinge, pivot, distend, or flex relative to each other at least once or (b) mating parts which are plugged, connected, threaded or passed into or through each other at least once; and said deposit either currently negatively impacts normal actuation or threatens to worsen such that it eventually degrades actuation, thereby negatively impacting the patient.