Patent US3362540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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Echogenic devices, material and method
Assignee: Cook Urological Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-21
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Granted: 1993-04-13
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Expires: 2012-01-21
Abstract
Abstract Echogenic medical devices and methods of fabrication and of use are disclosed. The devices are adapted to be inserted into a patient. The device includes an elongated member including a material having an acoustic impedance different from that of the surrounding medium. The medium includes surrounding biological tissue or fluids surrounding the member when inserted into a passageway of the patient. The acoustic impedance of the elongated member is sufficiently different from the surrounding medium for enhancing an image produced in response to a sonic beam produced from imaging equipment. The elongated member also includes an interface layer of a high density metal of which the deposition on the base material of the member is ion beam assisted. The interface layer includes an outside surface having a plurality of particulate-type, discontinuous curved surfaces of partially spherical indentations formed therein or spheres extending therefrom. The difference between the acoustic impedances of the interface layer and the surrounding medium along with the discontinuous surfaces of the interface layer cooperate in response to a beam from sonic imaging equipment to significantly enhance the image of the medical device member.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr. Rodney W. Bosley
- 👤 Paul G. Thomson
- 👤 Thomas L. Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:30
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K85/00; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; A61B8/0841; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/14; A61L31/18; A61B2090/3925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An echogenic medical device insertable into a medium and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising: a member for insertion into a medium having a first acoustic impedance, said member including a first material and an interface layer on said first material, said interface layer having a particulate-type, discontinuous curved surface having a dimension less than a wavelength of a sonic beam from said equipment, said interface including a second material different from said first material and having a second acoustic impedance different from said first acoustic impedance of said medium, said first and second acoustic impedances having at least a predetermined difference therebetween, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said curved surface cooperate in response to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An echogenic medical device insertable into a medium and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising: a member for insertion into a medium having a first acoustic impedance, said member including a first material and an interface layer on said first material, said interface layer having a particulate-type, discontinuous curved surface having a dimension less than a wavelength of a sonic beam from said equipment, said interface including a second material different from said first material and having a second acoustic impedance different from said first acoustic impedance of said medium, said first and second acoustic impedances having at least a predetermined difference therebetween, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said curved surface cooperate in response to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said first material includes a first surface and wherein said member includes a particulate in said first surface for forming said particulate-type, discontinuous curved surface in said first surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said particulate includes a plurality of particles having at least a partially spherical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said particles comprise a tungsten material of a generally spherical shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said particles comprise a glass material of a generally spherical shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said first material includes a matrix material for fixedly positioning said particulate in said first surface thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second material of said interface layer is deposited on said first material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said second material comprises a metal from a group consisting of titanium, tungsten, barium, bismuth, platinum, silver, gold, and palladium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said first material comprises a material from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, C-FLEX™, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, and silicone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said discontinuous curved surface includes a radius in a range of 0.5 to 25 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said first material includes a first surface and said particulate-type discontinuous curved surface includes a plurality of partially spherical indentations in said first surface of said first material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said interface layer has a thickness in a range of 2,000 to 3,200 angstroms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
An echogenic device to be positioned within a medium and imageable with sonic equipment, said device comprising a body with image enhancing means for improving the sonic imaging of the device, characterized in that said body includes an outer layer thereon and that said means comprises fixedly positioned, discrete particulate type, discontinuous, acoustic discontinuities having a curved surface formed about or associated with the outer layer of the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
An echogenic device to be positioned within a medium and imageable with sonic equipment, said device comprising a body with image enhancing means for improving the sonic imaging of the device, characterized in that said body includes an outer layer thereon and that said means comprises fixedly positioned, discrete particulate type, discontinuous, acoustic discontinuities having a curved surface formed about or associated with the outer layer of the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the acoustic impedance of the outer layer has a difference from that of the medium to achieve image enhancement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said discontinuities comprise a plurality of at least partial spheres.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said discontinuities comprise a plurality of at least partially spherical indentations in said outer layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said outer layer comprises a metal from a group consisting of titanium, tungsten, barium, bismuth, platinum, silver, gold, and palladium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said outer layer has a thickness in the range of 2,000 to 3,200 angstroms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the discontinuities each have a dimension substantially less than the wave length of a sonic beam from the ultrasonic equipment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising: an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imageable, said composite material including a solid matrix material and discrete sound reflective particles fixedly positioned throughout said matrix material, ultrasonically different than tissue and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member, said member also including an outer layer thereon to further enhance the echogenicity of said body member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
78 words
An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising: an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imageable, said composite material including a solid matrix material and discrete sound reflective particles fixedly positioned throughout said matrix material, ultrasonically different than tissue and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member, said member also including an outer layer thereon to further enhance the echogenicity of said body member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
229 words
An echogenic medical device insertable into a medium and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising: a member for insertion into a medium having a first acoustic impedance, said member including a base material from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, C-FLEX™, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, and silicone and an interface layer deposited on said base material, said interface layer having a discrete, particulate-type, discontinuous curved surface having a diameter less than a wavelength of a sonic beam from said imaging equipment, said base material including a deposition surface, said member including a particulate in said deposition surface for forming said particulate-type, discontinuous surface in said deposition surface, said particulate including a plurality of particles from a group of tungsten and glass materials in a generally spherical shape, said interface layer including a metal from a group consisting of titanium, tungsten, barium, bismuth, silver gold, platinum, and palladium different from said base material and having a second acoustic impedance different from said first acoustic impedance of said medium, said first and second acoustic impedances having at least a predetermined difference therebetween, said metal of said interface layer being vacuum deposited on said deposition surface of said base material using ion beam assistance, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said curved surface responds to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
229 words
An echogenic medical device insertable into a medium and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising: a member for insertion into a medium having a first acoustic impedance, said member including a base material from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, C-FLEX™, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, and silicone and an interface layer deposited on said base material, said interface layer having a discrete, particulate-type, discontinuous curved surface having a diameter less than a wavelength of a sonic beam from said imaging equipment, said base material including a deposition surface, said member including a particulate in said deposition surface for forming said particulate-type, discontinuous surface in said deposition surface, said particulate including a plurality of particles from a group of tungsten and glass materials in a generally spherical shape, said interface layer including a metal from a group consisting of titanium, tungsten, barium, bismuth, silver gold, platinum, and palladium different from said base material and having a second acoustic impedance different from said first acoustic impedance of said medium, said first and second acoustic impedances having at least a predetermined difference therebetween, said metal of said interface layer being vacuum deposited on said deposition surface of said base material using ion beam assistance, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said curved surface responds to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member.
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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) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |