Ekos Corporation

Light Sciences Oncology Inc.

Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.p.

Gary Lichttenegger

Katsuro Tachibana

James E Rodriguey

John Zhang

Zihong Guo

Frederick Jay Bennett

Hugh Narciso

Steven Ross Daly

David Bartholomew Shine

Phillip Burwell

Nick Yeo

Jennifer Kristine Matson

James R Anderson

Jean M Bishop

Shunro Tachibana

James C Chen

Jean Bishop

Light sources are incorporated into a guidewire for enabling the ability to render light therapy be added to catheters that do not have that capability. In one exemplary embodiment, a solid guidewire includes a conductive core, and light sources are added to compartments formed in a distal end of the guidewire. In another exemplary embodiment, a light source array is included in a distal end of a hollow guidewire. A plurality of openings are formed into the walls of the hollow guidewire surrounding the array, enabling light to pass through the openings. Conductors extend from the array though the hollow center of the guidewire, to a proximal end of the hollow guidewire. The hollow guidewire can be coated with a conductive material, so that the coating on the guidewire serves as a conductor.

Light generating guide wire for intravascular use

An apparatus for delivering ultrasound energy and a drug solution to a treatment site in a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongate, hollow sheath having a distal opening and an energy delivery section at least partially constructed from a material that transmits ultrasound energy. The apparatus also includes a drug delivery lumen positioned along at least a portion of the sheath, the drug delivery lumen having at least one drug delivery port within the energy delivery section. The apparatus further includes an elongate body having an ultrasound element, the elongate body configured to be movably positioned within the sheath, such that ultrasonic energy can be transmitted from the ultrasound element through the energy delivery section.

Sheath for use with an ultrasound element

The invention relates to a catheter system. The system comprises a catheter body having a chamber containing a low acoustic impedance medium. The catheter body includes an elongated body with an external surface and an ultrasound transducer having an external side between a first end and a second end. The ultrasound transducer is positioned over the external surface of the elongated body such that the first end is adjacent to the chamber.

Ultrasound catheter for providing a therapeutic effect to a vessel of a body

A method of manufacture and medical apparatus that provides an apparatus useful in illuminating at least a portion of a lumen of a body. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible member and a polymer encasement portion encasing a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters may be electrically coupled to one another without the use of wire bonds, and in some embodiments may be coupled without intervening electrical paths or traces. A maximum cross-sectional dimension of the polymer encasement portion may be less than twice a dimension of one of the light emitters. In some embodiments the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than or equal to the sum of the dimension of one of the light emitters and a marginal dimension by which an outer portion of the polymer encasement portion extends beyond the light emitter. Light emitters may be arranged linearly, helically or in partially overlapping back-to-back relation.

Medical apparatus employing flexible light structures

Ultrasound catheter

Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue, to render photodynamic therapy. In one embodiment, a light source array preferably including a plurality of light emitting diodes, a focusing lens, and a light diffusing element are included in a distal end of a catheter. A balloon is optionally provided to interrupt blood flow that can block the transmission of light, and to center the apparatus in a blood vessel. Optical fibers optionally direct light from the light source to the diffusing element. The light source array can have a radial or linear configuration and can produce more than one wavelength of light for activating different photoreactive agents. Linear light source elements are particularly useful to treat elongate portions of tissue in a vessel. One embodiment intended for use with a conventional balloon catheter integrates light sources into a guidewire.

Photodynamic therapy apparatus and method for vascular tissue treatment

A system for delivering ultrasound energy to a treatment section in a vessel is disclosed. The system includes a sheath with a utility lumen and an energy delivery section at least partially constructed from a material which transmits ultrasound energy. The system also includes a drug delivery member having a plurality of drug delivery ports which are positioned adjacent the energy delivery section. The system further includes an elongated body including at least one ultrasound element and configured to be movably positioned within the utility lumen to transmit the ultrasound energy from the ultrasound element through the energy delivery section.

Light generating device to intravascular use

Ultrasound catheter with utility lumen

Ultrasound assembly for use with a catheter

A kit and method for causing tissue death within a tissue site is disclosed. The kit includes a media with a light activated drug activatable upon exposure to a particular level of ultrasound energy. The kit also includes a catheter with a lumen coupled with a media delivery port through which the light activated drug can be locally delivered to the tissue site. The ultrasound transducer is configured to transmit the level of ultrasound energy which activates the light activated drug with sufficient power that the ultrasound energy can penetrate the tissue site.

Ultrasound assembly for use with light activated drugs

A catheter is disclosed. The catheter includes an elongated body with an exterior surface and an ultrasound transducer with a longitudinal length. A support member supports the ultrasound transducer at the exterior surface of the elongated body and defines a chamber adjacent to the exterior surface of the elongated body. The chamber reduces transmission of ultrasound energy from the ultrasound transducer into the elongated body along the longitudinal length of the ultrasound transducer.

Growing community of inventors

Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Gary Lichttenegger