The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
Marc-Alan Levine, San Francisco, CA (US);
Eduardo U. Sucgang, South San Francisco, CA (US);
Stephen J. Hebert, Berkeley, CA (US);
Estela D. Gatchalian, San Jose, CA (US);
Quang Q. Tran, Fremont, CA (US);
Victor C. Esch, San Francisco, CA (US);
Endovasix, Inc., Belmont, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for creating fluid flow from one location to another are disclosed. The fluid flow is created via the absorption of repetitive pulses of radiation in a fluid to generate bubbles that expand and collapse repetitively. This fluid mechanism, or pumping phenomenon, can be used to aid removal of a total or partial occlusion in a body passage by disrupting a surface of the occlusion with acoustic shock and pressure waves and/or by causing mechanical disruption of the occlusive material. Appropriate selection of materials and particular constructions improve apparatus flexibility.