Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of intravascular blockages includes introducing a medicament and ultrasound to the blockage, monitoring the blockage or bleeding to determine a status thereof and controlling the agent introduced to the blockage based upon the monitoring.

Abstract: Acute care method and apparatus for treating a patient experiencing thrombotic vascular occlusion includes introducing a selected dose of an active agent proximate a vascular occlusion in the patient in order to lyse the vascular occlusion and radiating the vascular occlusion and active agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for enhancing the action of anti-cancer agents, which includes the introduction of anti-cancer agent into or proximate a tumor within a body and thereafter introducing ultrasonic energy at the solid tumor with the introduced anti-cancer agent. The ultrasonic energy is sufficient to increase the anti-cancer activity on the solid tumor without significant heating of the solid tumor or surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for utilizing a combination of ultrasonic energy and an echo contrast agent containing microbubbles, for substantially dissolving blood clots or other fistula obstructions. One embodiment of the present invention alternatively utilizes a selected dose of thrombolytic agent in combination with an echo contrast agent, for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a fistula.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for utilizing a combination of ultrasonic energy and an echo contrast agent containing microbubbles, for substantially dissolving blood clots or other vascular obstructions. One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a selected dose of thrombolytic agent in combination with an echo contrast agent, for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a vascular system in less time than the time required by activity of the selected dose of thrombolytic agent without the ultrasonic radiation of the thrombosis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging guidewire apparatus for ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of blood vessels, comprising: an elongated, flexible, catheter guide (10) having a plurality of electrical conductors, a transducer seat (11), attached to transducer seat (11) an ultrasonic transducer (14), a flexible distal guidewire (12). Distal guidewire (12) may be ended at its distal end with a protective ball (23). A rotary drive unit (28) for rotation of imaging guidewire together with transducer (14), and an electronic computer (30) for processing signals, obtained by reflecting ultrasonic pulses from tissue of the vessel surrounding transducer (14), into cross-sectional images of vessels.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging guidewire apparatus for ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of blood vessels, comprising: an elongated, flexible, catheter guide (10) having a plurality of electrical conductors, a transducer seat (11), attached to transducer seat (11) an ultrasonic transducer (14), a flexible distal guidewire (12). Distal guidewire (12) may be ended at its distal end with a protective ball (23). A rotary drive unit (28) for rotation of imaging guidewire together with transducer (14), and an electronic computer (30) for processing signals, obtained by reflecting ultrasonic pulses from tissue of the vessel surrounding transducer (14), into cross-sectional images of vessels.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a vascular system by introducing a select dose of thrombolytic agent proximate the thrombosis disposed within a vessel of a body and radiating the thrombosis with ultrasound generated exterior to the body to effect removal of the thrombosis in less time than the time required by activity of the selected dose of thrombolytic agent without the ultrasonic radiation of the thrombosis.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus and method for coupling ultrasonic energy into intravascular walls to enhance phonophoresis and for dissolution of intravascular blockages. The apparatus includes a radiator for coupling ultrasonic waves and a piezoelectric crystal, connected with said radiator, for the intravascular generation of ultrasonic waves; said ultrasonic waves being propagated along a longitudinal axis of said piezoelectric crystal. The radiator is sized for intravascular insertion. A transmission cable may be provided for transmitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer to the radiator. A seed liquid is introduced proximate the radiator for promoting cavitation of intravascular fluid. In addition, enhancement of dissolution of intravascular blockages and inhibition of restenosis by chemical agents is significantly increased when combined with ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus for clot dissolution and plaque ablation includes a radiator for coupling ultrasonic waves into plaque and a piezoelectric crystal, connected with said radiator, for the intravascular generation of ultrasonic waves; said ultrasonic waves being propagated along a longitudinal axis of said piezoelectric crystal and having an inertial node position within said piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric crystal is constructed in order to prevent significant power loss caused by a shifting of the inertial node of the generated ultrasonic waves to a position exterior to said piezoelectric crystal due to loading of the radiator-means caused by the coupling of ultrasonic waves into the clot or plaque.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus and method for coupling ultrasonic energy into intravascular walls to enhance phonophoresis and for dissolution of intravascular blockages. The apparatus includes a radiator for coupling ultrasonic waves and a piezoelectric crystal, connected with said radiator, for the intravascular generation of ultrasonic waves; said ultrasonic waves being propagated along a longitudinal axis of said piezoelectric crystal. A seed liquid is introduced proximate the radiator for promoting cavitation of intravascular fluid. In addition, enhancement of dissolution of intravascular blockages and inhibition of restenosis by chemical agents is significantly increased when combined with ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus for clot dissolution includes a radiator for coupling ultrasonic waves and a piezoelectric crystal, connected with said radiator, for the intravascular generation of ultrasonic waves; said ultrasonic waves being propagated along a longitudinal axis of said piezoelectric crystal. A seed liquid is introduced proximate the radiator for promoting cavitation of intravascular fluid. In addition, enhancement of clot dissolution by chemical agents is shown to be significantly increased when combined with ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus for clot dissolution and plaque ablation includes a radiator for coupling ultrasonic waves into plaque and a piezoelectric crystal, connected with said radiator, for the intravascular generation of ultrasonic waves; said ultrasonic waves being propagated along a longitudinal axis of said piezoelectric crystal and having an inertial node position within said piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric crystal is constructed in order to prevent significant power loss caused by a shifting of the inertial node of the generated ultrasonic waves to a position exterior to said piezoelectric crystal due to loading of the radiator caused by the coupling of ultrasonic waves into the clot or plaque.