Power parameters for ultrasonic catheter

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.

1 . An ultrasound catheter system comprising:
 a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element;   a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy;   wherein the control system is configured to implement a non-linear protocol in a control routine to vary non-linearly at least one of the power parameters of the at least one ultrasonic element, wherein the power parameter is selected from the group consisting of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, and pulse repetition interval.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A control system for an ultrasound catheter comprising a control unit configured to non-linearly vary a power parameter of an ultrasonic element of an ultrasonic catheter, wherein the power parameter is selected from the group consisting of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, and pulse repetition interval. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the power parameter is configured to be varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value. 
     
     
         12 . An ultrasound therapeutic system comprising:
 an ultrasonic delivery device 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;   wherein the control system is configured to implement a non-linear protocol in a control routine to vary non-linearly at least one of the power parameters of the at least one ultrasonic element, wherein the power parameter is selected from the group consisting of peak power, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, and pulse repetition interval.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one power parameter is varied randomly between a maximum value and a minimum value. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition frequency between a bounded maximum pulse repetition frequency and a bounded minimum pulse repetition frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse width randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         21 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition interval randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         22 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 5 Watts and 20 Watts. 
     
     
         23 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 8 Watts and 16 Watts. 
     
     
         24 . The ultrasound catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse repetition frequency is selected from between 1 MHz and 3 MHz. 
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition frequency between a bounded maximum pulse repetition frequency and a bounded minimum pulse repetition frequency. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse width randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition interval randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 5 Watts and 20 Watts. 
     
     
         29 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 8 Watts and 16 Watts. 
     
     
         30 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the pulse repetition frequency is selected from between 1 MHz and 3 MHz. 
     
     
         31 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition frequency between a bounded maximum pulse repetition frequency and a bounded minimum pulse repetition frequency. 
     
     
         32 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse width randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         33 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to vary pulse repetition interval randomly within a bounded range. 
     
     
         34 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 5 Watts and 20 Watts. 
     
     
         35 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the peak power is selected from between 8 Watts and 16 Watts. 
     
     
         36 . The ultrasound therapeutic system of  claim 12 , wherein the pulse repetition frequency is selected from between 1 MHz and 3 MHz.