Patents by Inventor Kim R. Volz

Kim R. Volz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11925367
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20190223895
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasound catheter system comprising a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element; and a control system configured to generate power parameters to drive the ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy is provided. The control system is configured to provide an ultrasonic pulse with a high pressure gradient with respect to time and/or distance. In another embodiment, a method of enhancing delivery of a therapeutic compound comprising delivering the therapeutic compound to a treatment site in a patient; and exposing the treatment site to an ultrasonic energy generated by an oscillating electrical signal pattern having a rise or fall rate greater than an sinusoidal pattern for the same amplitude and frequency is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventor: Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20190223894
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20190216477
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Patent number: 10188410
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Patent number: 10182833
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Patent number: 9849273
    Abstract: An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The ultrasound catheter system comprises a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element and a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy. The control system is configured to vary at least one of the power parameters and at least one physiological parameter by repeatedly cycling the power parameter and the physiological parameter through two set of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20120271203
    Abstract: An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The ultrasound catheter system comprises a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element and a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy. The control system is configured to vary at least one of the power parameters and at least one physiological parameter by repeatedly cycling the power parameter and the physiological parameter through two set of values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Patent number: 8192391
    Abstract: An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The method of operating an ultrasonic catheter comprises advancing a catheter with at least one ultrasonic element to a treatment site in a patient's vascular system or tissue, driving the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy, delivering a therapeutic compound to the treatment site through the catheter, and varying a power parameter and a physiological parameter of the ultrasonic element by ramping the power parameter and the physiological parameter between two set of minimum and maximum values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ekos Corporation
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20110004105
    Abstract: An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The ultrasound catheter system comprises a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element and a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy. The control system is configured to vary at least one of the power parameters and at least one physiological parameter by ramping the power parameter and the physiological parameter between two set of minimum and maximum values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20090018472
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20080171965
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning an ultrasound radiating member at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature. The method further comprises activating the ultrasound radiating member to produce pulses of ultrasonic energy at a cycle period T?1 second. The acoustic parameters such as peak power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and frequency or any combination of them can be varied non-linearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azita Soltani, Kim R. Volz
  • Patent number: 6979293
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a clot dissolution treatment in a patient's vasculature comprises positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient's vasculature. The method further comprises performing a clot dissolution treatment at the treatment site. The clot dissolution treatment comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site such that a clot located at the treatment site at least partially dissolves. The method further comprises delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment site during the clot dissolution treatment. The method further comprises receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter. The method further comprises comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Ekos Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas R. Hansmann, Robert L. Wilcox, Floyd Karp, Natalya Peskin, Kim R. Volz
  • Publication number: 20030220568
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a clot dissolution treatment in a patient's vasculature comprises positioning a catheter at a treatment site in the patient's vasculature. The method further comprises performing a clot dissolution treatment at the treatment site. The clot dissolution treatment comprises delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound from the catheter to the treatment site such that a clot located at the treatment site at least partially dissolves. The method further comprises delivering a thermal measurement signal from a first portion of the catheter to the treatment site during the clot dissolution treatment. The method further comprises receiving the thermal measurement signal at a second portion of the catheter. The method further comprises comparing the delivered thermal measurement signal with the received thermal measurement signal to evaluate a blood flow rate at the treatment site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas R. Hansmann, Robert L. Wilcox, Floyd Karp, Natalya Peskin, Kim R. Volz