Patent ID: 7621902

Claim:
A method for disrupting a vascular occlusion in a blood vessel, the method comprising: positioning an ultrasonic catheter at a location within the blood vessel near the occlusion, wherein the ultrasonic catheter comprises: an elongate catheter body having at least one hollow lumen and a distal end; an ultrasound transmission member disposed at least partially within the hollow lumen of the elongate catheter body; a distal head coupled with a distal end of the ultrasound transmission member, the distal head comprising at least one fluid outflow aperture; and a hollow guidewire tube having a guidewire lumen, wherein the hollow guidewire tube is coupled with the distal head and an outer wall of the guidewire tube is attached to an inner wall of the catheter body at an adhesive point; engaging the distal head of the catheter against the occlusion, wherein the distal head is disposed adjacent the distal end of the catheter body but is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body; infusing fluid through the at least one fluid outflow aperture in the distal head to a location adjacent the vascular occlusion; and vibrating the distal head while engaged against the occlusion to disrupt the occlusion.