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Publication Number
US-10368893-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to some embodiments there is provided a method for controlling a treatment effect on blood vessel tissue during an ultrasonic treatment, the method comprising positioning an ultrasonic transducer device in the blood vessel lumen; controlling a treatment effect by controlling fluid flow, wherein controlling comprises deploying a fluid restrictor at a location relative to the transducer effective to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream or adjacent the transducer. According to some embodiments there is provided an ultrasonic transducer device sized for placement in a body lumen, and comprising a fluid restrictor effective to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream or adjacent the transducer. In some embodiments, the fluid is blood.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an ultrasound transducer device and methods for controlling a treatment effect on blood vessel tissue during non-focused ultrasonic treatment. A non-focused ultrasonic transducer device generates one or more non-focused ultrasonic beams directed to target tissue located outside an inner wall of a blood vessel, while the transducer is positioned in the blood vessel lumen and prevents contact with the inner wall. The treatment effect is generated without damaging a surface of the inner wall.
A control mechanism is provided by controlling fluid flow through deployment of a fluid restrictor at a location relative to the transducer. The fluid restrictor blocks at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream, or adjacent the transducer while allowing natural blood flow between the transducer and the inner wall of the blood vessel. This natural blood flow is used to cool the inner wall enough to prevent thermal damage.
In the device aspect, a non-focused flat piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate one or more non-focused ultrasonic beams and is sized for placement in a body lumen with natural blood flow. A controller electrifies the piezoelectric transducer to generate a non-focused ultrasonic power beam for tissue ablation, and a power unit enables the ultrasonic power beam. The disclosed device further includes a fluid restrictor effective to block fluid upstream, downstream, or adjacent the transducer and shaped and positioned to allow at least some natural flow between the transducer and inner wall to cool the inner wall enough to prevent thermal damage.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated claim coverage includes multiple independent claims for methods and devices for non-focused ultrasonic treatment of blood vessel tissue. The inventive features focus on non-focused ultrasonic treatment of target tissue outside the inner wall while preventing transducer contact, and controlling the treatment effect through fluid-flow control using a deployed fluid restrictor to cool the inner wall. Additional independent claim coverage specifies a non-focused ultrasonic treatment without damaging the inner-wall surface, monitoring fluid flow using a flow sensor, and maintaining a liquid space gap with the inner wall.
Fluid-flow controlled non-focused ultrasonic treatment outside inner wall
A method positioning a non-focused ultrasonic transducer device in the blood vessel lumen to face target tissue outside the inner wall while preventing contact with the inner wall, treating the target tissue with non-focused ultrasonic beams to generate a treatment effect, and controlling the treatment effect by controlling fluid flow through deployment of a fluid restrictor relative to the transducer to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream, or adjacent the transducer while allowing natural blood flow between the transducer and the inner wall to cool the inner wall.
Non-focused flat piezoelectric transducer with fluid restrictor cooling
A non-focused flat piezoelectric transducer configured to generate one or more non-focused ultrasonic beams and sized for placement in a body lumen, placed to prevent contact with the inner wall and facing target tissue outside the inner wall; a controller electrifying the piezoelectric transducer to generate a non-focused ultrasonic power beam for tissue ablation; a power unit enabling the ultrasonic power beam; and a fluid restrictor effective to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream, or adjacent the piezoelectric transducer while allowing at least some natural flow of blood between the transducer and the inner wall to cool the inner wall enough to prevent thermal damage.
Non-focused ultrasonic treatment without damaging inner wall surface with flow monitoring
A method positioning an ultrasonic transducer device in the blood vessel lumen facing target tissue located outside an inner wall; treating the target tissue by one or more non-focused ultrasonic beams for generating a treatment effect without damaging a surface of the inner wall; controlling a treatment effect by deploying a fluid restrictor in the form of a wire or a thin plastic sheet at a location relative to the transducer effective to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream, or adjacent the transducer while allowing natural blood flow between the transducer and the inner wall to cool the inner wall; and monitoring fluid flow using a flow sensor.
Maintained liquid space gap with fluid-flow controlled non-focused ultrasound
A method positioning a non-focused ultrasonic transducer device in the blood vessel lumen at a distance from an inner wall of the blood vessel, while mechanically ensuring a liquid space between the inner wall and the non-focused ultrasonic transducer device, with the transducer facing target tissue outside the inner wall; treating the target tissue by one or more non-focused ultrasonic beams generated by the non-focused ultrasonic transducer without damaging a surface of the inner wall; and controlling a treatment effect by controlling fluid flow through deployment of a fluid restrictor at a location relative to the transducer effective to block at least a portion of fluid flowing upstream, downstream, or adjacent the transducer, wherein the deployed fluid restrictor allows natural blood flow between the transducer and the inner wall to cool the inner wall.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on non-focused ultrasonic treatment of blood vessel target tissue outside the inner wall with prevention of inner-wall contact, and controlling the treatment effect using a deployed fluid restrictor that blocks upstream, downstream, or adjacent fluid while allowing natural blood flow to cool the inner wall enough to prevent thermal damage. Additional independent claim coverage specifies non-focused ultrasonic beams without damaging the inner-wall surface, includes flow monitoring using a flow sensor, and further specifies embodiments using a wire or thin plastic sheet restrictor and mechanical liquid-space gap maintenance from the inner wall.
Stated Advantages
Prevention of thermal damage to the inner wall by cooling the inner wall using natural blood flow allowed by the deployed fluid restrictor.
Generating a treatment effect without damaging a surface of the inner wall.
Avoiding contact between the transducer and the inner wall while facing target tissue outside the inner wall.
Documented Applications
Ultrasonic surgical blood-vessel treatment/control of a treatment effect on blood vessel tissue using non-focused ultrasonic beams and fluid-flow control for cooling the inner wall.
Non-focused ultrasonic tissue ablation in a body lumen with natural blood flow, using a fluid restrictor arranged to allow natural cooling flow between the transducer and the inner wall.
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