초록 ▼

An ultrasonic device for applying cavitation force to an unwanted material is provided. The device is particularly useful for removing plaque from a human artery wherein a portion of the device can enter an artery and pass through the artery to the vicinity of the plaque. The device includes a solid

An ultrasonic device for applying cavitation force to an unwanted material is provided. The device is particularly useful for removing plaque from a human artery wherein a portion of the device can enter an artery and pass through the artery to the vicinity of the plaque. The device includes a solid wire of titanium material, a transducer, a generator for providing vibration energy via the transducer, and a handpiece enclosing the transducer and having a tapered end portion with an exponential surface of slightly concave profile. The tapered end portion is fixedly connected to an inner end of the wire. For human applications, the wire has an overall length in the range of about 5 inches to 40 inches and has a uniform outer diameter in the range of about from 0.015 inches to 0.040 inches. The device includes a catheter assembly having a catheter tube enclosing the wire and includes a container unit mounted on the tapered end portion of the handpiece. The container unit has a fluid chamber for receiving a contrast material which passes through the chamber, through the catheter tube, to the outer end tip portions of the wire and tube in the area of the plaque to be removed. The container unit also has a coupling unit forming an outer end wall thereof having a fixed portion and a rotatable knob portion for moving the catheter tube axially relative to the wire for adjusting the extension of the outer end tip portion of the wire beyond the outer end tip portion of the catheter tube.

대표청구항 ▼

An ultrasonic device for use in removing an unwanted material from an artery of a human body by cavitation comprising: a wire having a first end portion and having a second end portion for causing cavitation adjacent to the unwanted material; support means having a handpiece having a tapered horn en

An ultrasonic device for use in removing an unwanted material from an artery of a human body by cavitation comprising: a wire having a first end portion and having a second end portion for causing cavitation adjacent to the unwanted material; support means having a handpiece having a tapered horn end portion with an integral metal joint fixedly connected to the first end portion of the wire; drive means including a transducer supported by the handpiece for providing ultrasonic vibration through the tapered horn end portion to the wire and for connection to a generator; and a catheter assembly surrounding said wire and moveable relative to the wire to permit the second end portion of the wire to be positioned adjacent to the unwanted material; wherein said catheter assembly has a catheter tube and a container unit, said container unit including a peripheral wall and a front end wall portion and a rear end wall portion enclosing a cavity, said catheter tube having a first end portion connected to the container unit and having a second end portion disposed around the second end portion of the wire; and wherein said peripheral wall of said container unit has an annular interior partition projecting into said cavity, said partition having an O-ring member through which the wire passes, said O-ring member and partition forming a front sealed chamber and a separate rear chamber in said cavity; and wherein said O-ring member and partition are located at a selective distance from the tapered horn end portion, said location of the O-ring member being at a nodal point of a longitudinal wave of vibration of the wire, thereby minimizing transverse movement of the wire at the O-ring member and avoiding relatively high stress due to a transverse wave at the integral metal joint.