Patent ID: 7758510

Claim:
A method of using an ultrasound system during a medical procedure, comprising: a. providing an ultrasound system having: an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; an ultrasound transmission member extending through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end; an ultrasound transducer having a transducer horn; a sonic connector that is directly connected to the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member and attached the transducer horn; and a mechanism that is moveable with respect to the sonic connector; and b. moving the mechanism from a first position where the sonic connector is attached to the transducer horn, to a second position where ultrasound energy is being propagated through the ultrasound transmission member; wherein the mechanism immediately surrounds the sonic connector when the mechanism is in the first position, and the mechanism is spaced-apart from, and does not surround, the sonic connector when the mechanism is in the second position to minimize energy loss during ultrasound energy propagation.