Method for intravascular two-dimensional ultrasonography and recanalization
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for imaging the interior wall of a blood vessel, said method comprising:
- generating an ultrasonic signal using a transducer located within the blood vessel;
sweeping the signal continuously in a predetermined pattern about the interior wall of the blood vessel, wherein said sweeping is accomplished by rotating the transducer or a reflective surface which deflects the signal from the transducer within a catheter which remains substantially stationary while the signal is being swept;
receiving ultrasonic signal reflected from the interior wall of the blood vessel; and
producing an image from the reflected signal.
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Abstract
Ultrasonic apparatus, system and method for high resolution intravascular imaging to assist indovascular lesions and to monitor the results of interventional therapy. An ultrasonic transducer is carried by the distal end of a catheter adapted for insertion into a vessel, and either the transducer or another element is rotated and/or translated relative to the catheter to image different portions of the vessel.
730 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for imaging the interior wall of a blood vessel, said method comprising:
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generating an ultrasonic signal using a transducer located within the blood vessel; sweeping the signal continuously in a predetermined pattern about the interior wall of the blood vessel, wherein said sweeping is accomplished by rotating the transducer or a reflective surface which deflects the signal from the transducer within a catheter which remains substantially stationary while the signal is being swept; receiving ultrasonic signal reflected from the interior wall of the blood vessel; and producing an image from the reflected signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for imaging the interior of a blood vessel, said method comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a flexible tubular member within the blood vessel proximate a preselected region; sweeping a transducer element through a preselected pattern within said distal end while the flexible tubular member remains substantially stationary; generating an ultrasonic signal from the transducer, which signal impinges against the interior wall of the blood vessel; receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from the blood vessel wall with the transducer; and producing an image of the blood vessel based on the reflected ultrasonic energy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for imaging the interior of a blood vessel, said method comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a flexible tubular member within the blood vessel proximate a preselected region; directing an ultrasonic signal against a reflective surface within the distal end of the flexible tubular member; manipulating the reflective surface to reflect the ultrasonic signal in a preselected pattern within the blood vessel while the flexible tubular member remains substantially stationary; receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from within the blood vessel; and producing an image of the interior of the blood vessel based on the reflected ultrasonic energy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for recanalization of a blood vessel, said method comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a flexible tubular member within the blood vessel proximate a region of stenosis; generating an ultrasonic signal with an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the distal end of the flexible tubular member while the flexible tubular member remains substantially stationary; sweeping the ultrasonic signal through a preselected pattern about the interior wall of the blood vessel, including the region of stenosis, wherein said sweeping is accomplished by rotating the ultrasonic transducer or a reflective surface disposed within the tubular member to deflect said signal in a predetermined pattern; receiving ultrasonic signal reflected back from the interior wall; producing an image of the region of stenosis; and reanalyzing the region of stenosis using interventional means located on the distal end of the flexible tubular member, wherein the location of intervention is based at least partly on the image. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification