Ultrasonic imaging catheter having rotational image correlation
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic imaging catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
means within the distal end of the catheter body for producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image in an image plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body;
means for producing a marker on the ultrasonic cross-sectional image, where the position of the marker corresponds to the rotational orientation of the distal end of the catheter at the time the image is produced; and
means on the catheter body for producing a fluoroscopically visible marker which is in a fixed relative rotational alignment with the ultrasonic image marker, whereby the orientation of the ultrasonic image may be correlated with the physical orientation of the catheter body observed by fluoroscopy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging catheter comprises a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end. An ultrasonic imaging transducer is located within the distal end and is arranged to produce an image in an image plane which is generally normal to the axial direction of the catheter. An ultrasonically opaque element is attached to the catheter body and disposed through the image plane so that an image artifact or marker appears on the resulting ultrasonic image. The artifact corresponds to the location on the catheter where the element is located. A fluoroscopic marker is also provided on the catheter body, typically located proximally of the region where the ultrasonic imaging transducer and other components are located. The fluoroscopic marker has a geometry selected so that the marker has a unique appearance depending on the rotational orientation of the catheter when viewed by fluoroscopy. In this way, the viewing physician may determine the actual rotational orientation of the catheter within the body lumen being viewed and may further correlate the position of the catheter with the apparent position of the ultrasonic image which has been obtained.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic imaging catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; means within the distal end of the catheter body for producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image in an image plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; means for producing a marker on the ultrasonic cross-sectional image, where the position of the marker corresponds to the rotational orientation of the distal end of the catheter at the time the image is produced; and means on the catheter body for producing a fluoroscopically visible marker which is in a fixed relative rotational alignment with the ultrasonic image marker, whereby the orientation of the ultrasonic image may be correlated with the physical orientation of the catheter body observed by fluoroscopy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ultrasonic imaging catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; means within the distal end of the catheter body for producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image in an image plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; an ultrasonically opaque element fixed relative to the catheter body and passing through the image plane; a fluoroscopically opaque marker formed on the catheter body and spaced longitudinally apart from the ultrasonic imaging means, wherein said marker when viewed in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body produces a pattern which is uniquely characteristic of a particular rotational orientation of the catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for correlating the rotational orientation of an ultrasonic image produced by a catheter with the rotational orientation of the catheter itself observed by fluoroscopy, said method comprising:
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producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image in an image plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, said image having a marker which is aligned with a fixed radial direction in the image plane relative to the catheter; producing a fluoroscopic image of the catheter in a plane generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the catheter has a fluoroscopic marker which is aligned in a predetermined orientation relative to the ultrasonic marker, whereby the rotational orientation of the catheter can be correlated with the rotational orientation of the ultrasonic image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for producing a cross-sectional image of the interior of a blood vessel, said marker comprising:
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introducing the distal end of a catheter to a desired region within the blood vessel; mechanically rotating an ultrasonic signal about an image plane which is normal to the distal end of the catheter; receiving reflected ultrasonic signal from the interior of the blood vessel and producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image therefrom; producing a marker in the ultrasonic cross-sectional image which is aligned with a fixed radial direction in the image plane; fluoroscopically imaging the distal end of the catheter in a plane generally normal to the image plane; and producing a marker in the fluoroscopic image which corresponds to the rotational alignment of the catheter in the blood vessel, whereby the rotational orientation of the catheter can be correlated with the rotational orientation of the ultrasonic image. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification