A method of delivery ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound to a treatment site and an ultrasonic catheter system are disclosed. The ultrasonic catheter system comprises a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a treatment zone located between the distal end and the proximal end, a fluid delivery lumen, at least one ultrasound radiating element positioned in the treatment zone, wiring electrically coupled to the at least one ultrasound radiating element and extending through the tubular body and terminating at a connector, and a control system comprising external circuitry and an isolation pod that is configured to be electrically connected to the connector, the isolation pod being positioned between the tubular body and the external system and comprising an isolation barrier and circuitry for driving the ultrasound radiating element.

The present invention provides methods and devices for treating endovascular disease. Vibrational energy is delivered to change compliance and increase permeability at the treatment area. To improve clinical outcomes, one or more therapeutic drugs may be delivered to the treatment area.

A multi-pillar piezoelectric stack (MPPS) ultrasound transducer includes N pillars, each formed of a stack of M piezoelectric elements, N and M being integers of at least two. The ultrasound transducer further includes a bonding layer between each pair of the M piezoelectric elements. The pillars are laterally spaced from each other to form an inter-pillar gap. The transducer further includes at least one electrical interconnect for connecting the ultrasound transducer to a signal source. Through the MPPS design, the therapeutic range and the transducer sensitivity are increased over the conventional single pillar piezoelectric stack (SPPS) transducer design.

A method of delivery ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound to a treatment site and an ultrasonic catheter system are disclosed. The ultrasonic catheter system comprises a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end and a treatment zone located between the distal end and the proximal end, a fluid delivery lumen, at least one ultrasound radiating element positioned in the treatment zone, wiring electrically coupled to the at least one ultrasound radiating element and extending through the tubular body and terminating at a connector, and a control system comprising external circuitry and an isolation pod that is configured to be electrically connected to the connector, the isolation pod being positioned between the tubular body and the external system and comprising an isolation barrier and circuitry for driving the ultrasound radiating element.

Systems and methods for treating a blood clot include a catheter to be inserted into a patient. The catheter is used to deliver low stability microbubbles toward the blood clot in the patient. A thrombolytic agent is delivered toward the blood clot, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the microbubbles to vibrate the microbubbles.

A method for using metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets for ultrasonic lysis of blood clots includes administering metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets into a blood vessel that includes or that leads to a blood vessel that includes a blood clot, the metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets each have a liquid core comprising a perfluorocarbon material that has a boiling point below 25 C. at atmospheric pressure and that remains stable in liquid form at 25 C. at atmospheric pressure. The method further includes applying ultrasound energy to the perfluorocarbon nanodroplets within or surrounding the blood clot, causing the perfluorocarbon nanodroplets to vaporize and convert to bubbles, which cavitate and lyse the blood clot.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for stabilizing and grasping tissues such as valve leaflets, assessing the grasp of these tissues, approximating and fixating the tissues, and assessing the fixation of the tissues to treat cardiac valve regurgitation, particularly mitral valve regurgitation.

A surgical apparatus for treating a blood clot in a vessel of a patient having an elongated member having an outer wall, a first hole at a distal portion and a second hole spaced proximally from the first hole positioned in a side wall. A first lumen is provided within the elongated member for blood flow through the second hole, through the lumen and exiting the first hole to maintain blood flow during treatment of the blood clot. An energy emitter emits energy to the blood clot or hardenings and a connector connects the energy emitter to an external energy source, wherein blood flows into the second hole positioned proximal of the blood clot and exits the first hole distal of the blood clot during activation of the energy emitter. In some instances when the apparatus is introduced from a retrograde upstream approach blood may flow through the device in the opposite direction.

Methods and devices are disclosed herein that allow for infusion and aspiration through a single device. The device can be used to treat a stroke by delivering the device to the site of a blood clot and simultaneously or sequentially infusing a thrombolytic or other drug into the clot and aspirating the dissolving clot from the patient. The methods and devices can advantageously permit more efficient thrombolytic infusion and clot aspiration. Modular systems are also disclosed, as are methods of treating subdural hematoma or other conditions.

An infusion system for sonothrombolysis treatment uses a syringe loaded with a microbubble solution and operated by a syringe pump to deliver the microbubble solution to a subject during sonothrombolysis treatment. To prevent the stratification of the microbubble solution in the barrel of the syringe during treatment, the barrel also contains a plurality of magnetic beads which are agitated into semi-random patterns of motion in the syringe chamber during the procedure. The magnetic beads are moved by magnetic attraction and repulsion from the moving magnets of a magnetic stirrer mounted in proximity to the syringe during treatment.