Ultrasonically marked cardiac catheters

• US 4,697,595 A
• Filed: 01/31/1985
• Issued: 10/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Telectronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Breyer, Branko, Cikes, Ivo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/697,056
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660-663, 128/24 A
• US Class Current: 600/463
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00924 for ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. lubricating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/18 Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

The hollow cylindrical wall of the catheter is composed of flexible, electrically insulating, ultrasonically transparent material. Embedded therein are spaced tubular-shaped ultrasonic piezoelectric transducers which substantially surround the lumen. The transducers receive signals from the imaging transducer on the body surface and serve to establish catheter location within the body during a diagnostic procedure. Electrical connector leads from the transducers are embedded in the wall and connected to a signal processor which provides an output for incorporation into the display of an echocardiograph image display system.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising a substantially cylindrical wall and a hollow lumen, said wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall being made of an ultrasonically transparent and electrically insulating material, said wall including a substantially tubular ultrasonic receiver means disposed therein, said receiver means spaced from said inner surface and said outer surface of said wall, said receiver means including electrical connector means extending longitudinally within said wall, said receiver means including at least a first and second ultrasonic receiver, said receivers being disposed in said wall at longitudinally spaced positions.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said receivers are ultrasonically piezoelectric transducers.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is a cardiac catheter.

4. A catheter system comprising:

a catheter, said catheter including a substantially cylindrical wall and a hollow lumen, said wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall being made of an ultrasonically transparent and electrically insulating material, said wall including

at least one ultrasonic receiver means disposed therein, said receiver comprising a single substantially tubular ultrasonic transducer, said receiver spaced from said inner surface and said outer surface of said wall, said receiver including electrical connector means extending longitudinally within said wall;

a signal processing means operably connectable to said electrical connector means; and

an imaging and display means for displaying an image, said imaging and display means being operably connectable to said signal processing means, said signal processing means providing an output for incorporation into said image displayed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said signal processing means is adapted for processing a signal from an external transducer received by said at least one ultrasonic receiver and for providing a signal representative of the location of said catheter as said output.

6. A cardiac catheter comprising a substantially cylindrical wall and a hollow lumen, said wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall being made of an ultrasonically transparent and electrically insulating material, said wall including a substantially tubular ultrasonic receiver means disposed therein, said receiver means spaced from said inner surface and said outer surface, said receiver means including electrical connector means extending longitudinally within said wall, said receiver means including at least a first and second ultrasonic receiver, said receivers being disposed in said wall at longitudinally spaced positions.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein said receivers are ultrasonic piezoelectric transducers.