Electrically-induced pressure wave emitting catheter sheath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262784-A1
Application number	US-201514984710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to the use of medical devices for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for using electrically-induced pressure waves created within a sheath to disrupt vascular blockages via the sheath and/or a tip at the end of the sheath.

First claim

1 .- 63 . (canceled)

64 . A catheter comprising:
a sheath having a guidewire lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end; at least one electrode assembly disposed adjacent to the guidewire lumen, wherein the at least one electrode assembly produced electrical energy; and means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen.

65 . The catheter of claim 64 , wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen comprises an outer band coupled to the distal end of the sheath, wherein the outer band comprises a distal end, and the at least one electrode assembly is disposed proximate the distal end of the outer band.

66 . The catheter of claim 65 , wherein the at least one electrode assembly is directed at the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen.

67 . The catheter of claim 64 , wherein the means for electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire comprises a cap coupled to the distal end of the sheath.

68 . The catheter of claim 67 , wherein the cap comprises an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the interior side is tapered to direct electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen.

69 . The catheter of claim 68 , wherein the at least one electrode assembly is disposed proximate the interior side of the cap.

70 . The catheter of claim 64 , wherein the sheath is an inner sheath, and further comprising an outer sheath translatably receiving the inner sheath.

71 . The catheter of claim 70 , wherein the outer sheath comprises a sleeve, and wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen comprises an attenuating member of the outer sheath coupled to the sleeve.

72 . The catheter of claim 71 , wherein the attenuating member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

73 . The catheter of claim 72 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise at least one of the following shapes: circle; oval; triangle; square; rectangle; polygon; diamond; pentagon; hexagon; heptagon; octagon; nonagon; and decagon.

74 . A method for treating an obstruction within vasculature of a subject, the method comprising:
positioning a catheter within the vasculature of the subject, the catheter comprising:
a sheath having a guidewire lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;
at least one electrode assembly coupled to the sheath;
means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen;
positioning the distal end of the sheath adjacent the obstruction within the vasculature; delivering a liquid medium to the distal end of the sheath; activating the at least one electrode assembly to produces pulses of electrical energy in the liquid medium; wherein producing the pulses of electrical energy from the at least one electrode in the liquid medium generates a plurality of propagating pressure waves that disrupt at least a portion of the obstruction; and wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen induces vibrations within the guidewire.

75 . The method of claim 74 , wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen comprises an outer band coupled to the distal end of the sheath, wherein the outer band comprises a distal end, and the at least one electrode assembly is disposed proximate the distal end of the outer band.

76 . The method of claim 75 , wherein the at least one electrode assembly is directed at the guidewire lumen or a guidewire in the guidewire lumen.

77 . The method of claim 74 , wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire comprises a cap coupled to the distal end of the sheath.

78 . The method of claim 77 , wherein the cap comprises an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the interior side is tapered to direct electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen.

79 . The method of claim 78 , wherein the at least one electrode assembly is disposed proximate the interior side of the cap.

80 . The method of claim 74 , wherein the sheath is an inner sheath, and wherein the catheter further comprises an outer sheath translatably receiving the inner sheath.

81 . The method of claim 80 , wherein the outer sheath comprises a sleeve, and wherein the means for directing electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly towards the guidewire lumen or a guidewire within the guidewire lumen comprises an attenuating member of the outer sheath coupled to the sleeve.

82 . The method of claim 81 , wherein the attenuating member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and wherein transmitting the pulses of electrical energy produced by the at least one electrode assembly in the liquid medium generates a plurality of propagating pressure waves that pass through the plurality of openings.

83 . The method of claim 82 , wherein the plurality of openings comprise at least one of the following shapes: circle; oval; triangle; square; rectangle; polygon; diamond; pentagon; hexagon; heptagon; octagon; nonagon; and decagon.

Assignees

• Spectranetics Corp

Inventors

• Grace Kenneth P
• Triffo Thomas
• Cezo James

Classifications

• A61B18/245

  for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi · CPC title

• A61B2017/22038

  with a guide wire · CPC title

• A61B17/22022

  using electric discharge · CPC title

• A61B18/26

  for producing a shock wave, e.g. laser lithotripsy · CPC title

• A61B2018/263

  the conversion of laser energy into mechanical shockwaves taking place in a liquid · CPC title