Abstract: A catheter comprises a catheter body having an oscillating driver, an interface surface mechanically coupled to the driver, and an inflatable balloon disposed near the interface surface. The balloon may be an angioplasty balloon, in which case the interface surface will deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a blood vessel as part of an angioplasty or related procedure. Alternatively, the catheter may comprise a pair of axially spaced-apart isolation balloons, in which case the interface surface can deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a treatment region defined between said balloons. The energy can thus act to mix or enhance penetration of a treatment held between said balloons in performing a vascular treatment procedure.

Abstract: A method of enhancing cellular absorption of a substance delivered into a target region of a patient's body, comprising: (a) delivering the substance to the target region; and (b) directing vibrational energy to the target region, wherein the vibrational energy is of a type and in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption into cells of the target region.

Abstract: Transducers and systems for applying ultrasonic energy to enhance drug delivery are illustrated.

Abstract: Atherosclerotic plaque and blood vessels may be stabilized by directing vibrational energy, typically ultrasonic energy, into the adjacent blood vessel wall. Application of the vibrational energy, optionally in combination with growth factors, growth factor genes, or other substances which enhance growth instability of a fibrotic cap over the plaque, will reduce the risk of rupture of unstable plaque and inhibit the conversion of stable plaque into unstable plaque.

Abstract: A catheter comprises a catheter body having an oscillating driver, an interface surface mechanically coupled to the driver, and an inflatable balloon disposed near the interface surface. The balloon may be an angioplasty balloon, in which case the interface surface will deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a blood vessel as part of an angioplasty or related procedure. Alternatively, the catheter may comprise a pair of axially spaced-apart isolation balloons, in which case the interface surface can deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a treatment region defined between said balloons. The energy can thus act to mix or enhance penetration of a treatment held between said balloons in performing a vascular treatment procedure.

Abstract: The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a video monitor and aids the clinician in guiding other medical devices, which are provided with ultrasound transducers, through the body to locations at which they are needed to perform clinical procedures. In one embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the system is used in the heart to help the physician guide mapping catheters for measuring electrical activity, and ablation catheters for ablating selected regions of cardiac tissue, to desired locations within the heart.

Abstract: In an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, ultrasound echoes representing vessel walls are distinguished from ultrasound echoes from blood by detecting and examining the phase of all received ultrasound echoes, extracting selected parameters from the phase information and utilizing the extracted parameters to suppress ultrasound echoes representing blood, thereby to enhance the lumen-to-vessel wall contrast. In a first embodiment, parameters are derived from a phase difference between echoes in approximately the same spatial location, including comparisons between neighboring image vectors of the same image frame or comparison between vectors on successive image frames. Selected parameters may be extracted based on statistics of the phase signal or the phase difference signal or from the slope of the phase difference or the phase signal, either between neighboring image vectors in the same image frame or between images of successive image frames.

Abstract: In an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, ultrasound echoes representing vessel walls are distinguished from ultrasound echoes from blood by detecting and examining the phase of all received ultrasound echoes, extracting selected parameters from the phase information and utilizing the extracted parameters to suppress ultrasound echoes representing blood, thereby to enhance the lumen-to-vessel wall contrast. In a first embodiment, parameters are derived from a phase difference between echoes in approximately the same spatial location, including comparisons between neighboring image vectors of the same image frame or comparison between vectors on successive image frames. Selected parameters may be extracted based on statistics of the phase signal or the phase difference signal or from the slope of the phase difference or the phase signal, either between neighboring image vectors in the same image frame or between images of successive image frames.