CATHETER WITH SPINNING ULTRASOUND TRANSCEIVER BOARD

• US 20090281430A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Infraredx Incorporated (Nipro Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilder, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/437,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/463
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel includes an intravascular probe, and a slip ring at a proximal end of the probe. The slip ring has a stationary portion and a spinning portion. An ultrasound transceiver board is mechanically coupled to the slip ring'"'"'s spinning portion for communication with an ultrasound transducer, also within the probe. A transmission line extends between the ultrasound transducer and the ultrasound transceiver board.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:

an intravascular probe having a proximal end and a distal end;

a slip ring at the proximal end of the probe, the slip ring having a stationary portion and a spinning portion;

an ultrasound transducer mounted within the intravascular probe;

an ultrasound transceiver board mechanically coupled to the spinning portion of the slip ring; and

a transmission line extended between the ultrasound transducer and the ultrasound transceiver board.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of optical fibers extending distally from the proximal end of the probe; and

an optical bench for receiving the optical fibers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transceiver board comprises an RF circuit for providing RF energy to the ultrasound transducer, and for receiving RF energy and extracting information therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the stationary portion of the slip ring for providing power to the RF circuit on the ultrasound transceiver board.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the stationary portion of the slip ring for receiving data from the ultrasound transceiver board.

6. A method for detecting vulnerable plaque, the method comprising:

inserting a catheter containing an ultrasound transducer into a blood vessel;

spinning the ultrasound transducer within the catheter; and

concurrent with spinning the ultrasound transducer, spinning a source of RF energy for the ultrasonic transducer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising coupling power from a power source to the source of RF energy, wherein the power source rotates relative to the source of RF power for the ultrasound transducer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein coupling power from a power source to the source of RF power comprises coupling power across a slip ring.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the ultrasound transducer;

extracting information from the received signal;

encoding the extracted information onto a digital signal; and

coupling the digital signal to a processor that rotates relative to the ultrasound transducer.