the following detailed description of and the accompanying drawings are provided for purposes of describing and illustrating presently preferred embodiments of the invention only , and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims in any way . as shown in the drawings , the presently preferred ultrasonic atherectomy catheter 10 of the present invention comprises an elongate pliable catheter body 12 having at least one hollow lumen 14 extending longitudinally therethrough . a distal tip member 16 is mounted within or on the distal end of the catheter body 12 . a proximal connector assembly 18 is mounted on or connected to the proximal end of the catheter body 12 to facilitate connection of the catheter device 10 to an ultrasound transducer or other device capable of generating ultrasonic vibratory movement . in the embodiment shown , the catheter body 12 is formed of an outer tube 20 having an outer tube lumen 22 extending longitudinally therethrough , and an inner tube 24 which has an inner tube lumen 26 extending longitudinally therethrough . the inner tube 24 is preferably positioned co - axially within the lumen 22 of the outer tube 20 , such that an annular peripheral portion of the outer tube lumen 22 surrounds the outer surface 28 of the inner tube 24 . the outer tube 20 and inner tube 24 are concomitantly connected or held in abutment with the distal tip member 16 , such that the respective distal ends of the outer 20 and inner 24 tubes are securely held in their desired coaxial positions . in the embodiment shown , the distal tip member 16 comprises a generally cylindrical rigid body having an annular shoulder 30 formed around the proximal surface thereof , so as to define a generally cylindrical inner region 32 which protrudes in the proximal direction from the center of the distal tip member 16 . the diameter d 1 of the cylindrical central projection 32 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the distal end of the inner tube 24 , and the distal end of the inner tube 24 is fitted over the central projection 32 , with the distal tip of the inner tube abutting against shoulder 30 . the outer diameter d 2 of the remaining portion of the tip member 16 is substantially the same of the inner diameter of the outer tube 20 , such that the remaining body of the distal tip members 16 may be securely fitted within the distal end of the outer tube 20 , as shown . adhesive , heat fusing techniques , or other fusion method may be utilized to securely hold the distal tip member 16 within the distal end of the outer tube 20 . similarly , adhesive , heat fusing or other fusion technique may be utilized to securely hold the distal end of the inner tube 24 in contact with the central projection 32 on the proximal end of the distal tip member 16 . the frontal surface of the distal tip member 16 is provided with a concave indentation 34 . a guidewire passage bore 37 is formed longitudinally through the center of the distal tip member 16 , and a guidewire tube 36 extends therethrough . the distal end of the guidewire tube 36 opens through a distal guidewire aperture formed in the center of the concave indentation 34 , at the distal end of the catheter 10 . the proximal end of the guidewire tube 36 is affixed within or about a proximal guidewire passage aperture 38 . in the embodiment shown in the drawings , the proximal guidewire aperture 38 is formed in the sidewall of the outer tube 20 , at a location approximately 10 - 30 cm from the distal end de of the catheter body 12 . a corresponding passage hole or opening 40 is formed in the wall of the inner tube 24 , to permit the guidewire tube 36 to exit therethrough . such passage or opening 40 in the wall of the inner tube 24 is fused or sealed about the outer surface of the guidewire tube 36 , thereby preventing fluid leakage through the passage or opening 40 , about the guidewire tube 36 . it will be appreciated that the specific embodiment shown in the drawings is a &# 34 ; monorail &# 34 ; type of catheter , wherein the guidewire tube 36 extends through only the distal - most portion of the catheter body 12 . alternative &# 34 ; over the wire &# 34 ; embodiments of the invention may also be provided wherein the guidewire tube 36 extends longitudinally through the entire catheter body 12 , and wherein the proximal end of the guide wire tube 36 is affixed to or opens through a guidewire entry aperture or sidearm located in the proximal connector assembly 18 of the catheter device 10 . in the &# 34 ; monorail &# 34 ; embodiment shown in the drawings , a guidewire gw , such as a standard cardiovascular guidewire of the type commonly used in modern clinical medicine having an outer diameter of 0 . 008 - 0 . 025 inches , may be inserted into the guidewire bore 37 , and the catheter device 10 may then be advanced in the distal direction over the guidewire gw such that the proximal end of the guidewire gw will emerge through the proximal guidewire aperture 38 . in this manner , the catheter device 10 may be advanced over a prepositioned guidewire in accordance with standard cardiovascular catheterization technique . an ultrasound transmission member 50 extends longitudinally through the lumen 26 of the inner tube 24 and is connected or held in abutment , at its distal end , with the distal tip member 16 . the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member 50 is connected to or held in abutment with a sonic connector 52 which is formed on or extends from the proximal connector assembly 18 . when an ultrasound transducer , or other device capable of generating ultrasonic vibratory movement is connected to the sonic connector 52 , the ultrasonic vibratory movement emitted thereby is transmitted through the ultrasound transmission member 50 , to the distal tip member 16 . in the preferred embodiment , the ultrasound transmission member 50 is preferably formed of a metal alloy , or other material , which exhibits superelastic properties within the range of operating temperatures normally encountered by the ultrasound transmission member 50 during use . one suitable superelastic material usable to form the ultrasound transmission member 50 is a nickel - titanium alloy having 50 . 8 atomic percent nickel , balance titanium . the preferred proximal connector assembly 18 comprises a distal portion 60 , a proximal portion 62 , and a sonic connector housing portion 63 . the distal portion 60 comprises a tubular hard plastic tube having a fluid / debris aspiration sidearm 62 extending at an angle therefrom . an aperture or opening 64 is formed in the rigid tubular body of the distal portion 60 such that fluid / debris may be aspirated from the lumen 22 of the outer tube 20 , through aspiration sidearm 62 , via hole or aperture 64 . a distal nut 66 and pliable plastic sleeve 68 are attached about the outer surface of the proximal portion of the outer tube 20 , thereby securely fastening the outer tube 20 to the distal portion 60 of the proximal connector assembly 18 . as shown in fig2 the outer tube 20 and inner tube 24 extend longitudinally through the distal portion 60 of the proximal connector assembly 18 , to a point adjacent the proximal nut 68 which conjoins the proximal portion 62 to the distal portion 60 . at that location , the distal end of the outer tube 20 is fused , or compressively held in contact with , the outer surface of the inner tube 24 , so as to prevent fluid within the lumen 22 of the outer tube 20 , from leaking in the proximal direction beyond the location of second nut 68 . the proximal portion 62 of the proximal connector assembly 18 comprises a rigid tubular plastic body , and the lumen 26 of the inner tube 24 extends and opens into the inner bore 70 of the proximal portion 62 , as shown . a fluid infusion sidearm 72 extends from the rigid tubular body of the proximal portion 62 , to permit infusion of fluid into the bore 70 of the proximal portion 62 , and into and through the lumen 26 of the inner tube 24 . the sonic connector 52 of the proximal connector assembly 18 is housed within a connector housing 63 , which connector housing 63 is threadably mounted on the proximal end of the proximal portion 62 . a pliable plastic tube 74 extends through the sonic connector housing 63 , and protrudes partially into the hollow inner bore 70 of the proximal portion 62 , as shown . the ultrasound transmission member 50 extends from the sonic connector 52 , through the pliable plastic tube 74 , through the hollow inner bore 70 of the proximal portion 62 , and into the lumen 26 of the inner tube 24 . such ultrasound transmission member 50 then continues longitudinally though the lumen of the inner tube 24 , to its distal end which , as described above , is affixed to or held in abutting contact with the distal tip member 16 of the catheter device 10 . o - rings 80 , 82 are positioned within a threaded frontal cavity 84 , formed in the distal portion of the sonic connector housing 63 . the proximal end of the proximal portion 62 is threaded , and is received within the threaded frontal bore 84 of the sonic connector housing 63 such that o - rings 80 , 82 are compressed thereby . in this regard , pressure is exerted by o - rings 80 , 82 inwardly against the outer surface of plastic tube 74 , thereby stabilizing and holding the plastic tube 74 in a centralized position . the outer diameter of the ultrasound transmission member 50 is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the plastic tube 74 such that the plastic tube 74 will limit possible side to side movement of the adjacent portion of the ultrasound transmission member 50 , while allowing the ultrasound transmission member 50 to freely move longitudinally back and forth . such limitation on side - to - side vibratory movement of the ultrasound transmission member 50 , within the region of the plastic tube 74 , serves to minimize the likelihood of fracture or breakage of the ultrasound transmission member 50 , in the critical region closest to the point of connection to the ultrasound transducer or other ultrasound source . thus , as shown in the step - wise illustration of fig4 a - 4c , the catheter shown in fig1 - 3 may be initially inserted , over a prepositioned guidewire gw having a preferred diameter of 0 . 008 - 0 . 025 inches , into an anatomical passageway such as a blood vessel bv wherein a quantity of atherosclerotic plaque or other obstructive matter om is located . the guidewire gw is initially advanced through the obstructive matter om , and the catheter device 10 is advanced to a point where the distal end de of the catheter body 12 is immediately adjacent the obstructive matter om ( fig4 a ). thereafter , an ultrasound transducer / generator or other source of ultrasonic energy attached to the sonic connector 52 is energized so as to pass ultrasonic energy through the ultrasound transmission member 50 , to the distal tip member 16 , thereby causing the distal tip member 16 to undergo ultrasonic vibratory movement . the catheter body 12 is subsequently advanced such that the vibrating peripheral edges of the concave indentation 34 of the vibrating tip member 16 cut into or separate the obstructive matter om . as the vibrating peripheral edge of the concave distal tip member 16 severs or cuts away particles or quantities of the obstructive matter om , the severed particles or quantities of obstructive matter may be aspirated through debris aspiration apertures 48 , through debris / fluid aspiration pathways 46 , through lumen 22 , and out of the aspiration sidearm 62 located on proximal connector 18 ( fig4 b ). this will typically be accomplished by attaching a suction source to aspiration sidearm 62 . a collection vessel may also be provided to collect the debris or other matter received through aspiration , to permit such matter to be subsequently analyzed for variation of the type and quantity of obstructive matter om removed . also , apart from or during the procedure , quantities of irrigation fluid , medicaments , or other fluid may be infused through infusion sidearm 72 , through lumen 26 , through infusion outlet passageways 42 , and out of infusion outlet apertures 44 . after the device 10 has been utilized to remove a sufficient amount of the obstructive matter om to restore patency to the blood vessel bv or other anatomical passageway , the guidewire gw may be withdrawn and the catheter body 12 may be withdrawn from the body , thereby leaving the blood vessel bv in a restored state of improved patency . it will be appreciated that the present invention has been described herein with reference to certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention , and no effort has been made to exhaustively describe all possible physical embodiments of the invention , or all possible components which may be utilized to practice the invention . in this regard , various modifications , additions , deletions and alterations may be made to the above - described embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention . accordingly , it is intended that all such additions , deletions modifications and alterations be included within the scope of the following claims .
an ultrasonic device and method for removing obstructive matter from an anatomical structure or passageway . the device comprises an elongate pliable catheter having a distal tip member attached to the distal end thereof , and an ultrasound transmission member which extends longitudinally therethrough to carry ultrasound from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal tip member . the distal tip member has a concave indentation formed in the distal surface thereof , and at least one inlet passageway extending therethrough in communication with a catheter lumen to facilitate suctioning of severed matter which becomes located within the concave indentation of the distal tip . the device may further incorporate means for infusing fluid separately or concurrently with the aspiration of the severed obstructive matter .