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Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductorsRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Kinesitherapy, Kinesitherapy, UltrasonicUltrasound catheter with embedded conductors description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060206039, Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY INFORMATION [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/378,032, filed Feb. 28, 2003, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/361,341, entitled "Small Vessel Catheter with Embedded Conductors" and filed Feb. 28, 2002 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/309,417, entitled "Small Vessel Ultrasonic Catheter" and filed Dec. 3, 2002, the entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a catheter having an ultrasound assembly useful for delivering ultrasound energy at a treatment site in a body. The apparatus is particularly well suited for delivering ultrasound energy at a treatment site located within a small blood vessel in the distal anatomy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Several therapeutic and diagnostic applications use ultrasound energy. For example, ultrasound energy can be used to enhance the delivery and therapeutic effect of various therapeutic compounds. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,740, 4,953,565 and 5,007,438, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. In some applications, it is desirable to use an ultrasound catheter to deliver the ultrasound energy and/or therapeutic compound to a specific treatment site in the body. Such an ultrasound catheter typically comprises an elongate member configured for advancement through a patient's vasculature. An ultrasound assembly is mounted along the distal end portion of the elongate member and is adapted for emitting ultrasound energy. The ultrasound catheter may include a delivery lumen for delivering the therapeutic compound to the treatment site. In this manner, the ultrasound energy can be emitted at the treatment site to enhance the desired therapeutic effects and/or delivery of the therapeutic compound. [0004] In one particular application, ultrasound catheters have been successfully used to treat human blood vessels that have become occluded by plaque, thrombi, emboli or other substances that reduce the blood carrying capacity of the vessel. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,069, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. To remove the blockage, the ultrasound catheter is advanced through the patient's vasculature to deliver solutions containing dissolution compounds directly to the blockage site. To enhance the therapeutic effects of the dissolution compound, ultrasound energy is emitted into the compound and/or the surrounding tissue. [0005] In another application, ultrasound catheters may be used to perform gene therapy on an isolated region of a blood vessel or other body lumen. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,976, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, an ultrasound catheter can be provided with one or more expandable members for occluding a section of the body lumen at a treatment site. A gene therapy composition is delivered to the treatment site through the delivery lumen of the catheter. The ultrasound assembly is used to emit ultrasound energy at the treatment site to enhance the entry of the gene composition into the cells in the body lumen. [0006] In addition to the applications discussed above, ultrasound catheters may be used for a wide variety of other purposes, such as, for example, delivering and activating light activated drugs with ultrasound energy (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,842, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein). [0007] Over the years, numerous types of ultrasound catheters have been proposed for various therapeutic purposes. However, none of the existing ultrasound catheters is well adapted for effective use within small blood vessels in the distal anatomy. For example, in one primary shortcoming, the region of the catheter on which the ultrasound assembly is located (typically along the distal end portion) is relatively rigid and therefore lacks the flexibility necessary for navigation through difficult regions of the distal anatomy. Furthermore, it has been found that it is very difficult to manufacture an ultrasound catheter having a sufficiently small diameter for use in small vessels while providing adequate pushability and torqueability. Still further, it has been found that the distal tip of an ultrasound catheter can easily damage the fragile vessels of the distal anatomy during advancement through the patient's vasculature. [0008] Accordingly, an urgent need exists for an improved ultrasound catheter that is capable of safely and effectively navigating small blood vessels. It is also desirable that such a device be capable of delivering adequate ultrasound energy to achieve the desired therapeutic purpose. It is also desirable that such a device be capable of accessing a treatment site in fragile distal vessels in a manner that is safe for the patient and that is not unduly cumbersome. The present invention addresses these needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In accordance with the foregoing, it is desired to provide an ultrasound catheter having increased flexibility and maneuverability. Such features are advantageous when a treatment is to be performed in the peripheral vasculature, and are especially advantageous when a treatment is to be performed in small vessels, such as in the neurovascular system. [0010] As such, according to one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasound catheter comprises an elongate tubular body. The elongate tubular body has a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region. The tubular body defines a central lumen having a central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen. The elongate, hollow inner core has an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core. The ultrasound catheter further comprises at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region. The at least two electrical conductors are positioned between the tubular body and the inner core. The at least two electrical conductors are electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member. The at least two electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core a plurality of times in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region. [0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasound catheter comprises an elongate tubular body. The elongate tubular body has a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region. The tubular body defines a central lumen having a central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen. The elongate, hollow inner core has an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core. The ultrasound catheter further comprises at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region. The at least two electrical conductors are positioned between the tubular body and the inner core. The at least two electrical conductors are electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member. The at least two electrical conductors are disposed substantially parallel to a catheter axis in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region. [0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises an elongate, hollow body. The elongate, hollow body has a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a body thickness, and an inner lumen. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the body thickness of the elongate, hollow body. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of elongate electrical conductors extending between the elongate, hollow body proximal region and the ultrasound radiating member. The plurality of elongate electrical conductors are positioned within the body thickness of the elongate, hollow body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of an ultrasound catheter that is particularly well suited for insertion into small blood vessels of the human body. [0014] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a distal end of the ultrasound catheter of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasound catheter taken through line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A. [0016] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the ultrasound catheter including a stiffener at the distal tip. [0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of an ultrasound catheter wherein a portion of the inner core has a corrugated configuration for enhanced flexibility. [0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of an ultrasound catheter wherein the proximal joint comprises braided sections for enhanced flexibility. [0019] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of an ultrasound catheter including a bendable wire adapted for providing a shapeable tip. Continue reading about Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors... Full patent description for Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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