Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs.

Abstract: An ablative apparatus that can be used to treat atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias by ablating cardiac tissue is disclosed. When the distal end of the apparatus reaches the tissue to be ablated, an ablation probe driven by a transducer is vibrated. Scratching the tissue with abrasive members, the vibrating ablation probe is capable of mechanically ablating tissues. This mechanical ablation may be utilized to penetrate epicardial fat, thereby exposing the underlying myocardium. The ablative apparatus may then be used subject the exposed myocardium to mechanical ablation, cryoablation, ultrasonic ablation, and/or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards the holding of medical devices during manufacture to enable the application of therapeutic and/or protective coatings. More specifically, the present invention provides medical device holders that securely retain stents and other medical devices during the application of a coating while minimizing compressive and tensile forces applied to the stents. The invention avoids disruptions to coating quality due to holder blockage during coating deposition. The invention discloses an improved device containing a mandrel and frame that may improve coating uniformity by eliminating shadowing from the frame of the medical device holder when applying coatings to stents and other medical devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards the holding of medical devices during manufacture to enable the application of therapeutic and/or protective coatings. More specifically, the present invention provides medical device holders that securely retain stents and other medical devices during the application of a coating while minimizing compressive and tensile forces applied to the stents. The invention avoids disruptions to coating quality due to holder blockage during coating deposition. The invention discloses an improved device containing a mandrel and frame that may improve coating uniformity by eliminating shadowing from the frame of the medical device holder when applying coatings to stents and other medical devices.

Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the horn's internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations are reflected back into the chamber, like an echo. The ultrasonic vibrations echoing off the front wall pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to force movement of protrusions to spray a fluid. The apparatus includes a horn with an internal chamber. Within the internal chamber of the horn are protrusions extending from a wall of the chamber. When the horn is vibrated, a fluid is expelled from the horn by the oscillation of the protrusions. Fluid to be expelled from the horn enters the internal chamber of the horn through at least one channel passing through a wall of the horn and leading into the chamber. After passing through the horn's internal chamber, the fluid exits the horn by passing through a channel originating in the front wall of the chamber and ending at the horn's radiation surface. A transducer may be connected to the horn's proximal end to generate ultrasonic vibrations throughout the length of the horn.

Abstract: A method of treating areas of the body utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated.

Abstract: A method of treating infected wounds utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated.

Abstract: A method of treating areas of the body utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the treatment of tissue, such as hard and soft tissues, wounds, tumors, muscles, and cartilage, through the direct contact of ultrasound energy is disclosed. Ultrasound energy is delivered to a target area through direct contact with an ultrasound tip. Ultrasound energy is also delivered through direct contact with a coupling medium. The ultrasound tip is specially designed to comprise of a cavity area for controlled fragmentation and the simultaneous sonication of a target area. The specially designed ultrasound tip allows for ultrasound energy to focus on a target area. The ultrasound apparatus may be moved in a variety of different directions during the treatment of tissue.

Abstract: A method of ultrasound assisted wound debridement is disclosed. The method comprises dissecting material to be debrided with an ultrasonically vibrating cutting structure. Splatter created during the procedure is captured with ultrasound waves directed towards a collection point. Capturing splatter, the delivered ultrasound waves reduce and/or eliminate the amount splattered escaping into ambient air. The material to be debrided is dissected with an ultrasonically vibrating cutting that induces vibrations within the material to be debrided. The induced vibrations carry energy into the material that strains the adhesion holding the material together and/or to the wound, selectively separating susceptible materials while potentially sparing healthy, healing, and/or granulation tissue from debridement.

Abstract: A method enabling relatively pain-free wound debridement is provided. The method entails double-delivering ultrasound to the wound and dissecting material to be debrided with a cutting edge. Delivering ultrasound energy via a coupling medium to an area of the wound within the vicinity of the material to be debrided and exposing the material to be debrided to ultrasound vibrations as to induce vibrations about the point of dissection, the double-delivery of ultrasound elicits an effect allowing for relatively pain-free debridement. While the effect elicited by the double-delivery is in place, the material to be debrided is dissected with a cutting edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of utilizing ultrasound to atomize a liquid comprising the steps of inducing ultrasonic vibrations within a solid member, delivering a liquid to be atomized to a surface of said member from which ultrasonic waves radiate from said member (hereafter referred to as a “radiation surface”), and allowing the liquid delivered to said radiation to be atomized and propelled away from said member. Delivering the liquid to be atomized to the radiation surface of the vibrating member may comprise the steps placing the liquid on a side of the vibrating member and allowing the liquid to be carried by the ultrasonic waves traveling through the vibrating member to a radiation surface. Alternatively, delivering the liquid to be atomized to a radiation surface of the vibrating member may comprise the step of passing the liquid through a channel opening within a radiation surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of utilizing ultrasonic waves emitted into a fluid to treat the fluid, matter within the fluid, and/or organisms within the fluid in a variety of manners such as, but not limited to, cleaning objects within the fluid, sterilizing the fluid and/or objects within it, separating bonded matter within the fluid, segregating matter within the fluid into discrete laminas, killing organisms within the fluid, inactivating organisms within the fluid, extracting matter from organisms within the fluid, extracting matter from other matter within the fluid, inducing chemical reactions within the fluid, and/or converting toxic matter within the fluid into a less toxic state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound liquid atomization and/or separation system comprising an ultrasound atomizer and a liquid storage area in communication with said ultrasound atomizer. The system may further comprise an injector containing an injector body housing the ultrasound atomizer and a channel or plurality of channels running through said injector body and delivering liquids to said ultrasound atomizer. The ultrasound atomizer comprises an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound tip at the distal end of said transducer, a liquid delivery orifice or plurality liquid delivery orifices, and a radiation surface at the distal end of said tip. The atomizer may further comprise a liquid delivery collar comprising a liquid receiving orifice or a plurality of liquid receiving orifices and a liquid delivery orifice or plurality of liquid delivery orifices. The liquid delivery collar may further comprise a central orifice into which said ultrasound tip may be inserted.

Abstract: Device and methods for the treatment of wounds using ultrasound energy are disclosed. The portable wound treatment device may deliver ultrasound energy to a wound through direct contact with the ultrasound tip and/or through a liquid coupling medium. Several ultrasound tips specially designed to concentrate and focus ultrasound energy onto a wound are also disclosed. The ultrasound tip may also possess an abrasive peripheral boundary to aid in debriding the wound and/or removing necrotic tissue. The disclosed invention may have multiple beneficial effects in treating a wound such as sterilizing a wound, reducing external bleeding, and/or providing pain relief.

Abstract: An ablative apparatus that can be used to treat atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias by ablating cardiac tissue is disclosed. When the distal end of the apparatus reaches the tissue to be ablated, an ablation probe driven by a transducer is vibrated. Scratching the tissue with abrasive members, the vibrating ablation probe is capable of mechanically ablating tissues. This mechanical ablation may be utilized to penetrate epicardial fat, thereby exposing the underlying myocardium. The ablative apparatus may then be used subject the exposed myocardium to mechanical ablation, cryoablation, ultrasonic ablation, and/or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasound surgical apparatus and associated methods of use enabling relatively pain-free wound debridement is provided. The apparatus is constructed from a tip mechanically coupled to a shaft. The shaft is mechanical coupled to an ultrasound transducer driven by a generator. The ultrasound tip possesses at least one radial surface, a cavity, or some other form of a hollowed out area, within at least one of the radial surfaces, and a cutting member at the opening of the cavity. A method of debriding a wound and/or tissue with the apparatus can be practiced by delivering ultrasonic energy released from the various surfaces of the vibrating tip to the wound and/or tissue prior to and/or while portions of the tip are scrapped across the wound and/or tissue.

Abstract: An Ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy, either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs.