Patent ID: 6929632

Claim:
A method of ultrasonically treating an obstruction of a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing an ultrasound catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter comprising: i) an elongate flexible catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally therethrough; ii) at least one ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through said catheter body and coupleable to an ultrasound source, said ultrasound transmission member having a distal end which is substantially coterminous with the distal end of said catheter body; iii) at least one fluid infusion lumen extending longitudinally through said catheter body and opening through at least one fluid outflow aperture formed at the distal end of said catheter body; iv) at least one aspiration lumen extending longitudinally through said catheter body and opening through at least one aspiration port formed in the distal most centimeter of said catheter body; b) inserting said catheter device, distal end first, into the vasculature and advancing said catheter to a point where the distal end of said catheter is adjacent the obstruction to be treated; c) coupling said ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound source and utilizing said ultrasound source to pass ultrasound through said ultrasound transmission member to the distal end of said catheter; d) infusing a liquid infusate through said infusion lumen in contact with said ultrasound transmission member and out of said distal outflow aperture, thereby removing excess heat from said ultrasound transmission member; e) applying suction to said aspiration lumen to draw matter into said distal aspiration port and through said aspiration lumen of said catheter.