US3565062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic method and apparatus for removing cholesterol and other deposits from blood vessels and the like
Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc
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Filing: 1968-06-13
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-06-13
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus of the invention relates to the removal of foreign deposits of material from vessels of living human beings, such as cholesterol from blood vessels, by means of accelerations of vibratory forces in the ultrasonic frequency range without causing any disruption or damage to the surrounding walls of the vessels. The layer of material is removed from the inner surface of a vessel of a human in vivo by supporting a portion of the wall of the vessel and inserting in the vessel a tool member having an output surface that is vibrated to provide peak accelerations of at least 1,000 g''s, as the output surface of the vibrated tool member is placed in contact with the material at substantially the supported wall portion so as to transmit the mechanical vibrations thereto for a time sufficient to effect disintegration of the contacted material, and at the same time effecting relative movement of the tool member relative to the vessel so as to progressively contact, disintegrate, and thereby remove the layer of material from the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Kuris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00685; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320073; A61B2017/32008; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2217/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1, further including the step of continuously removing said disintegrated material from said vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
9 words
an ultrasonic motor connected to said vibration generator, and
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
286 words
a transmission member coupling said ultrasonic motor to said tool member for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations thereto, said transmission member extending through said first passageway for axial relative movement therewith and containing a third passageway, d. means maintaining said transmission member extending through said first passageway in axially spaced relation to said support member, e. means adapted for effecting engagement of the output surface of said tool member with said material at substantially said supported wall portion so as to transmit said vibrations thereto for effecting disintegration of said contacted material, f. means for effecting relative movement of said tool member causing the output surface thereof to move relative to said support member so as to be adapted to progressively contact, disintegrate and thereby remove said layer of material from said vessel, g. means to limit the relative movement of said tool member relative to said support member, such that said tool member output surface is adapted to remain within said supported wall portion, h. means for controlling the depth of removal of said layer of material, which includes means for maintaining said support member and said tool member output surface in relatively fixed spaced relation to each other, as said tool member is moved relative thereto, i. means for forming a fluidized suspension substantially at said support member, which means includes means for supplying a treatment fluid through a second passageway contained within said support member and j. means adapted for removing said fluidized suspension from the vessel so as to leave the supported wall portion substantially free of disintegrated material, said removing means including suction means communicating with said support member for removal of said fluidized suspension through said third passageway in said transmission member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claIm 2, wherein said removal of said disintegrated material is facilitated by applying suction to said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein said disintegrated material is removed through said vibrating tool member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein said material is removed from the said vessel by a combination of suction and ultrasonic pumping.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said layer of material is removed by: a. supplying a treatment liquid to said portion so that contact of said output surface with said material pressurizes the liquid for enhancing the effectiveness of the liquid in mixing with the disintegrated material and forming a suspension thereof, and b. simultaneously applying suction to said vessel adjacent said tool member to remove said suspension therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein said treatment liquid is supplied to said portion and the suction is applied to said portion at spaced apart locations between which at least a section of said vibrated tool member is interposed so that the suction induces the treatment liquid to flow across said vibrated tool member for ensuring the continuous mixing and the removal of said material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as in claim 1: a. wherein said step of effecting mechanical elastic vibration of said tool member includes coupling to said tool member an energy transmission member terminating exteriorly of said vessel and vibrated at an ultrasonic rate, and b. further including the step of maintaining said transmission member in spaced relation to said wall portion to prevent contact therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 8, further including the step of continuously varying the frequency of vibration of said energy transmission member so as to change the position of said loops and nodes of vibration therein, whereby substantial heat buildup along said energy transmission member at any location is prevented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said relative movement between said tool member and said internally supported wall portion is controlled such that said output surface is maintained within said supported wall portion of said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said relative movement of said tool member and said internally supported wall portion is such that there is a substantial component of relative motion perpendicular to said output surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said relative movement of said tool member and said internally supported wall portion is such that there is a substantial component of relative motion parallel to said output surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said depth of removal is controlled by providing a support member having an outer cross-sectional area adapted for supporting said vessel, and providing said output surface with a similar configuration as said support member but of a different cross-sectional area, whereby the thickness of said removed layer is substantially equal to the difference between said respective cross-sectional areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein: a. said support member cross-sectional area has a circular configuration, b. said output surface cross-sectional area of said tool member has a circular configuration, and c. said relative movement between said tool member and said support member is along the longitudinal axis of said support member, so as to substantially remove a circular layer of said material from said vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said material is of a relatively low fatigue strength relative to the fatigue strength of said vessel and said vibratory energy is applied for a time sufficient to effect fatigue fracture of said material to effect said disintegration and of any bond of the latter to said vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of supporting a portion of the wall of said vessel includes placing in said vessel a support member having a surface for engagement with and application of a radially oUtwardly directed force thereto, whereby said wall is supported along an axially extending portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 16, including the step of supporting said wall along a length of said axially extended portion in the range of from 0.20 to 2 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 16, wherein said radially outwardly directed force is applied circumferentially to said wall along said axially extending portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said output surface of said tool member is elliptically vibrated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said output surface of said tool member is torsionally vibrated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said output surface is vibrated with simultaneous longitudinal and torsional vibration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said tool output surface is vibrated in the frequency range of 10,000 to 100,000 cycles per second.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 1, further including the step of maintaining said material at a temperature below which permanent damage would occur to the surrounding wall, said temperature being maintained by supplying a treatment liquid at a preselected temperature.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel is a blood vessel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 24, wherein said material removed is cholesterol.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said blood vessel is an arterial.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said blood vessel is a veinule.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said blood vessel is an artery.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said blood vessel is a vein.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 1; a. wherein said wall portion is supported by applying said internally outwardly directed force and forming one or more nibs of said material extending inwardly from said supported wall portion, and b. further including the step of maintaining said radial force during said relative movement of said tool member and said internally supported wall portion until said respective nibs are removed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as in claim 30, wherein said internally outwardly directed force is radially applied by inserting in said vessel a support member having a cross-sectional area adapted to apply said radial force to compress said material, said support member having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive said compressed material and form said nibs, and said relative movement is axially between said tool member and said vessel to remove said nibs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said portion of the wall of said vessel is supported by said tool member.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of removing a layer of material adhered to the inner surface of a blood vessel in vivo, comprising the step of: a. providing an opening in a blood vessel, b. Internally axially supporting a portion of said vessel by inserting therein a support member having a contacting surface for engagement with and application of a radially outwardly directed force to support said portion of said blood vessel, said support member having an axially extending first passageway therethrough, c. inserting in said vessel through said first passageway a tool member having an output surface, d. supporting said tool member at one end of a transmission member extending through said first passageway and terminating at its opposite end exteriorly of said blood vessel, e. vibrating said tool member at an ultrasonic rate by transmitting mechanical elastic energy waves to said transmission member, f. mounting said transmission member in said first passageway to transmit a minimum of vibratory energy to said support member, g. placing the output surface of said vibrating member in contact with said material at substantially said internally axially supported wall portion so as to transmit said vibrations thereto for a time sufficient to effect disintegration of said contacted material, h. effecting relative movement of said tool mEmber and said vessel so as to progressively contact, disintegrate, and thereby remove said layer of material from within said blood vessel, i. supplying a treatment fluid through a second passageway to said supported portion adjacent said vibrating tool member for forming a suspension of said disintegrated material and treatment fluid, j. applying a suction force through a third passageway to said supported portion adjacent said tool member to remove said suspension from said blood vessel, and k. controlling the depth of removal of said material during the relative movement between said support member and said tool member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 33, further including the step of controlling the relative movement between said tool member and said vessel such that said output surface is maintained within said supported portion of said vessel
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as in claim 33: a. wherein said support member has a plurality of apertures extending between said contacting surface and said first passageway in the area of said supported portion, whereby said radially outwardly directed forces compresses said material and forms a plurality of nibs extending through said apertures and into said first passageway, and b. wherein said relative movement is axially in said first passageway, whereby said tool member engages and removes said nibs.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
255 words
Apparatus for removing a layer of material adhering to the inner surface of a vessel of a human in vivo, comprising a. means adapted for internally supporting the wall portion of said vessel in the proximate area from which said layer of material is to be removed, b. a tool member movably supported within said means, said tool member adapted to be inserted within said vessel and having an output surface adapted for engagement with said material, c. vibration generating means coupled to said tool member to effect vibration of the latter at a high frequency sufficient to cause disintegration of material in contact with the output surface of said tool member, d. means adapted for effecting engagement of the output surface of said tool member with said material at substantially said supported wall portion so as to transmit said vibrations thereto for effecting disintegration of said contacted material, e. means coupled to said tool member for effecting relative movement between said tool member and said means for internally supporting the vessel, wherein the output surface thereof is adapted to move within said supported wall portion, so as to progressively contact, disintegrate and thereby remove said layer of material from said vessel, and f. means for controlling the depth of removal of said layer of material, said means including means for maintaining said means for internally supporting the wall potion and said tool member output surface in relatively fixed spaced relation to each other to define a spacing therebetween for controlling the depth of removal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 36, wherein said vibration generating means includes: a. a vibration generator, b. an ultrasonic motor connected to said vibration generator, and c. a transmission member coupling said ultrasonic motor to said tool member for transmitting said ultrasonic vibrations thereto.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as in claim 37, wherein said vibration generator includes means to continuously vary the frequency of vibration of said transmission member so as to vary the position of the loops and nodes of vibration therealong so as to prevent substantial heat buildup along said transmission member at any location thereon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as in claim 37, wherein said means adopted for supporting the portion of said vessel includes a support member adapted to be inserted therein and having a passageway extending therethrough with an axially extending peripheral surface at substantially one end thereof adapted to support said wall portion of said vessel, and said transmission member extending through said pasSageway.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 39, further including radial support means maintaining said transmission member and support member in axially spaced relation to each other.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 40, wherein said radial support means includes a plurality of radially extending flanges in longitudinally spaced relation to each other along said transmission member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said radial flanges are provided substantially at loops of longitudinal vibration along said transmission member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 39, wherein said support member is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly extending flanges in said passageway to support said transmission member.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 39, wherein said means for effecting movement of said tool member relative to said means for internally supporting comprises said transmission member coupled to said tool member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 36, further including means to limit the relative movement of said tool member relative to said support means, such that said tool member output surface is adapted to remain within said supported wall portion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 36, further including means for removing the disintegrated material from said vessel.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 46, wherein said means for removing said disintegrated material includes suction means communicating with said vessel for removal of the disintegrated material therefrom.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as in clam 36, further including a. means for forming a fluidized suspension substantially at said supported wall portion containing the disintegrated material, which includes means for supplying a treatment fluid to said supported portion, and b. means for removing said fluidized suspension from the vessel so as to cave the supported wall portion substantially free of disintegrated material, said removing means including means adapted to communicate with said vessel for removal of said fluidized suspension therefrom.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as in claim 36, wherein: a. said means adapted for supporting the portion of said vessel includes a support member adapted to be inserted therein and having a passageway extending therethrough with an axially extending peripheral surface at substantially one end thereof adapted to support said portion of said vessel to provide a selected configuration of given internal cross-sectional area therein, and b. said tool member output surface having a similar configuration as said supported portion but of a different cross-sectional area, such that said depth of removal is equal to the difference between said respective cross-sectional areas.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as in claim 36: a. wherein said means adapted for supporting a portion of said vessel includes a tubular member having an annular exterior surface adapted for substantially complete engagement with the inner peripheral surface of said supported portion and a first passageway extending axially therethrough with a plurality of apertures connecting said first passageway and said exterior surface, and b. said exterior surface adapted to provide a radially outward pressure to compress said material and effect a flow of said material through said apertures to form a plurality of nibs in said first passageway, such that said relative movement removes said nibs.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 50, including means for advancing said tool member axially through said first passageway to engage said nibs and remove them.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for removing a layer of material adhering to the inner surface of vessel a of a human in vivo, comprising: a. means adapted for internally supporting the wall portion of said vessel in the proximate area from which said layer of material is to be removed, said support means including a support member adapted to be inserted therein and having a first passageway extending therethrough with an axially extending peripheral surface at substantially one end thereof adapted tO support said wall portion of said vessel, b. a tool member movably supported within said means, said tool member adapted to be inserted within said vessel and having an output surface for engagement with said material, c. vibration generating means coupled to said tool member to effect vibration of the latter at a high frequency sufficient to cause disintegration of material in contact with the output surface of said tool member, said vibration generating means including
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 52, wherein said tool member is vibrated in the range of 1,000 to 500,000 cycles per second.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as in claim 52: a. wherein said tool member is adapted for movement within said first passageway, b. wherein said support member has an annular exterior surface adapted for substantially complete engagement with the inner peripheral surface of said supported portion and a plurality of apertures connecting said first passageway and said exterior surface, and c. said exterior surface adapted to provide a radially outward pressure to compress said material and effect a flow of said material through said apertures to form a plurality of nibs in said first passageway, such that said relative movement of said tool member removes said nibs contained therein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |