ROTATIONAL INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND PROBE WITH AN ACTIVE SPINNING ELEMENT

• US 20100234736A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Corl, Paul Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/463
• 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 8/445 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 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/52 Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves image processing per se G06T
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/355 Arcuate movement

Abstract

An intravascular ultrasound probe is disclosed, incorporating features for utilizing an advanced transducer technology on a rotating transducer shaft. In particular, the probe accommodates the transmission of the multitude of signals across the boundary between the rotary and stationary components of the probe required to support an advanced transducer technology. These advanced transducer technologies offer the potential for increased bandwidth, improved beam profiles, better signal to noise ratio, reduced manufacturing costs, advanced tissue characterization algorithms, and other desirable features. Furthermore, the inclusion of electronic components on the spinning side of the probe can be highly advantageous in terms of preserving maximum signal to noise ratio and signal fidelity, along with other performance benefits.

Claims

1. A rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature, the probe comprising:

an elongate catheter having a flexible body;

an elongate transducer shaft disposed within the flexible body, the transducer shaft having a drive cable and a transducer coupled to the drive cable;

a spinning element coupled to the transducer shaft, the spinning element having an electronic component coupled thereto that is in electrical contact with the transducer; and

a motor coupled to the spinning element for rotating the spinning element and the transducer shaft.

2. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the spinning element has a printed circuit board, and the electronic component is attached to the printed circuit board.

3. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the transducer is a PMUT transducer.

4. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the transducer is a CMUT transducer.

5. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the spinning element includes a generator for generating power for the transducer.

6. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a transmitter, a time-gain-control amplifier, an amplitude detector, a phase detector, an analog to digital converter, an optical transceiver, an encoder circuit, a wireless communication component, and a microcontroller.

7. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a rotary transformer.

8. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board having an algorithm stored thereon for interleaving data obtained at different frequencies from the transducer.

9. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising at least three conductive lines electrically connecting the spinning element to the transducer.

10. An interface module for a rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature, the interface module comprising:

a connector for attachment to a catheter having a transducer shaft with a transducer;

a spinning element coupled to the connector, the spinning element having an electronic component coupled thereto that is in electrical contact with the connector; and

a motor coupled to the spinning element for rotating the spinning element.

11. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the spinning element has a printed circuit board, and the electronic component is attached to the printed circuit board.

12. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the spinning element is attached to an optical coupler.

13. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the spinning element includes a slip ring contact for a brush.

14. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the spinning element includes a generator for generating power for the transducer.

15. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a transmitter, a time-gain-control amplifier, an amplitude detector a phase detector, an analog to digital converter, an optical transceiver, an encoder circuit, a wireless communication component, and a microcontroller.

16. The interface module of claim 10 further comprising a rotary transformer.

17. The interface module of claim 10 further comprising a printed circuit board having an algorithm stored thereon for interleaving data obtained at different frequencies from the transducer.

18. The interface module of claim 10 wherein the connector includes at least three conductive lines electrically connected to the spinning element.

19. An interface module for a rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature, the interface module comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a connector for attachment to a catheter having a transducer shaft with a transducer;

a spinning element coupled to the connector, the spinning element having more than two signal pathways electrically connecting the spinning element to the connector; and

a motor coupled to the spinning element for rotating the spinning element and the transducer shaft.

20. The interface module of claim 19 wherein the spinning element includes at least one of a rotary transformer, a slip ring contact for a brush, a power generator, a wireless communication component, and an optical communication component.