A method of and a system for treating a lesion. A waveguide is inserted into a vessel of a subject, with the lesion being present in the vessel and the waveguide extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the waveguide is positioned adjacent to the lesion, and a high amplitude broadband mechanical pulse is generated and propagated from the proximal end to the distal end of the waveguide. At least a portion of the high amplitude broadband mechanical pulse is propagated from the distal end of the waveguide to the lesion, with the at least a portion of the high amplitude broadband mechanical pulse propagating up to the lesion, thereby treating at least partially the lesion.

Therapeutic ultrasound devices and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a therapeutic ultrasound device includes a housing configured for handheld operation by a user, an ultrasound assembly positioned within the housing and configured to generate ultrasound energy, a battery positioned in the housing and coupled to the ultrasound assembly to power the ultrasound assembly to generate the ultrasound energy, a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, and an acoustic transmission member. The flexible elongate member includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a first lumen extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The housing is coupled to the proximal portion. The acoustic transmission member includes a proximal portion acoustically coupled to the ultrasound assembly and configured to receive the ultrasound energy, and a distal portion extending within the first lumen and configured to transmit the ultrasound energy to the body lumen to deliver a therapy.

An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially λ/2 or a multiple of λ/2, where λ is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

A treatment method to reduce or eliminate a patient's symptoms caused by a medical condition or disease is disclosed. The treatment has the step of administering acoustic shock waves directed to one or more reflexology zones or to one or more reflexology zones and an area near a source of the pain if any is exhibited to treat the medical condition. The treatment further has the steps of activating acoustic shock waves of an acoustic shock wave generator to emit acoustic shock waves and subjecting the one or more reflexology zones or the one or more reflexology zones and the area near a source of the medical condition or pain, if any is exhibited, to acoustic shock waves to treat the medical condition.

A method of controlling the temperature of an ultrasonic blade between two temperature set points includes applying a first power level to an ultrasonic transducer to set an ultrasonic blade temperature to a first target temperature T1, monitoring a phase angle φ between voltage V.sub.g(t) and current I.sub.g(t) signals applied to the transducer, inferring the temperature of the blade based on the phase angle φ, determining that a transection process is complete, and applying a second power level to the transducer to set the blade temperature to a second target temperature T2. The transducer may be coupled to the blade via an ultrasonic waveguide. The first target temperature may be optimized for vessel sealing and the second target temperature may be optimized for clamp arm pad life. The control circuit may determine that transection is complete by determining that the ultrasonic blade contacts the clamp arm pad.

A catheter including a core wire, a sonic connector at a proximal terminus of the core wire, and a tip member at a distal terminus of the core wire. The core wire can be at least partially disposed within a lumen of an elongate body. The sonic connector can be configured to couple to an ultrasound-producing mechanism. The tip member can be welded to the core wire at one or more weld locations between the tip member and the core wire, and the tip member can flare from the core wire at one or more weld-free locations between the tip member and the core wire. The manner in which the tip member can flare from the core wire at the one or more weld-free locations is characteristic of ultrasonic activation of the tip member.

A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a shaft, a balloon positioned at the distal end of the shaft, a guidewire disposed longitudinally within the shaft to receive a guidewire during use, a balloon disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and longitudinal scoring wires to score a vascular lesion attached to the distal end of the shaft. The scoring wires are disposed over the balloon and disposed within the shaft. The proximal ends are welded or otherwise affixed to a spring mounted in the handle. The balloon expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon through the inflation lumen. This expansion pushes the scoring wires against the vascular lesion. The scoring wires attach to a source of vibrations. The scoring wires are made of a helical coil.

An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system having a resonant frequency, the system including a transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of driving the blade may include determining a tissue type contacting the blade, setting current delivered to the transducer to achieve a desired blade temperature, and setting a desired period during which the desired temperature is applied to the tissue. The tissue type may be determined by measuring an impedance of the transducer, comparing an impedance measurement data point to a reference data point, and classifying the impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison. Alternatively, the tissue type may be determined by applying a drive signal to the transducer, sweeping the frequency of the drive signal from below to above a resonance of the ultrasonic system, measuring and recording impedance/admittance variables, and comparing the measured variables to reference variables.

A method of determining an initial temperature of an ultrasonic blade may include measuring a resonant frequency of an ultrasonic blade prior to activating an ultrasonic transducer, in which the ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the blade via an ultrasonic waveguide, comparing the measured resonant frequency to a baseline resonant frequency, determining an initial temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on a difference between the measured resonant frequency and the baseline resonant frequency, and applying a power level to the blade based on the initial temperature of the blade. The method may further include applying a high power level to the transducer when the initial temperature of the ultrasonic blade is low or applying a low power level to the transducer when the initial temperature of the blade is high. The baseline resonant frequency may be stored in a memory look up table.

A surgical method treats infections on a lead positioned at least partially within a patient's body. The surgical method includes uncoupling the lead from a pulse generator. The lead is then coupled to an ultrasound wave generator. Ultrasound waves are propagated from the ultrasound wave generator through the lead. Systems are disclosed.