Catheter-mounted doppler ultrasound transducer and signal processor
First Claim
1. A lead adapted to be coupled to a cardiac control or measurement device having a power source and a signal receiving means, for measuring blood flow in a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular system, comprising:
- an elongate tube having a proximal portion adapted to be connected to said device and a distal portion adapted to be inserted into said cardiovascular system,ultrasound transducer means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof, said ultrasound transducer means including an ultrasound transmitter and receiver circuit for transmitting ultrasonic frequency signals into the patient'"'"'body and receiving ultrasonic frequency echo signals from blood flowing therein,means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof and electrically coupled to said transmitter and receiver circuit for processing said received ultrasonic frequency signals into audio frequency signals, andinsulated conductive means positioned within said elongate tube and extending between the distal portion thereof and the proximal portion thereof for, when coupled to said cardiac control or measurement device, delivering electrical power from said device power source to said processing means and communicating said audio frequency signals from said processing means to said device signal receiving means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Doppler ultrasound transducer and interconnected high frequency signal processing circuit, adapted for operative coupling on a distal portion of an intravascular catheter, for ultrasonically sensing high frequency signals representative of blood flow within a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular system, processing these high frequency signals into baseband audio signals, and communicating these audio signals to associated low frequency signal processing circuitry located in the proximal portion of the catheter by modulating the load current of a power supply within the high frequency circuit.
158 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lead adapted to be coupled to a cardiac control or measurement device having a power source and a signal receiving means, for measuring blood flow in a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular system, comprising:
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an elongate tube having a proximal portion adapted to be connected to said device and a distal portion adapted to be inserted into said cardiovascular system, ultrasound transducer means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof, said ultrasound transducer means including an ultrasound transmitter and receiver circuit for transmitting ultrasonic frequency signals into the patient'"'"'body and receiving ultrasonic frequency echo signals from blood flowing therein, means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof and electrically coupled to said transmitter and receiver circuit for processing said received ultrasonic frequency signals into audio frequency signals, and insulated conductive means positioned within said elongate tube and extending between the distal portion thereof and the proximal portion thereof for, when coupled to said cardiac control or measurement device, delivering electrical power from said device power source to said processing means and communicating said audio frequency signals from said processing means to said device signal receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ultrasound transducer and interconnected circuit for ultrasonically interrogating a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular system and converting received high frequency ultrasound signals into baseband audio signals, adapted for mounting and operative coupling to a catheter, comprising:
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a switchable power supply controlled by signals communicated to it by said operatively coupled catheter, said power supply having a load current during operation, a transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic frequency energy into the patient'"'"'s body, said transmitter being empowered by said switchable power supply, a Doppler ultrasound signal detecting means for detecting ultrasound frequency Doppler signals from echoes arising from said ultrasonic transmissions and converting said ultrasound frequency Doppler signals into baseband audio signals, means for modulating the load current of said switchable power supply to provide a signal which is a function of said audio frequency signals, and a conductor for communicating the load current comprising the audio frequency function signal to said operatively coupled catheter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. The combination of a lead and a cardiac control or measurement device, said device having a power source and a signal receiving means, said combination adapted to measure blood flow in a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular system, said lead comprising:
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an elongated tube having a proximal portion adapted to be connected to said device and a distal portion adapted to be inserted into said cardiovascular system, ultrasound transducer means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof, said ultrasound transducer means including an ultrasound transmitter and receiver circuit for transmitting ultrasonic frequency signals into the patient'"'"'s body and receiving ultrasound frequency echo signals from blood flowing therein, means affixed to said tube in the distal portion thereof and electrically coupled to said transmitter and receiver circuit for processing said received ultrasonic frequency signals into audio frequency signals, and insulated conductive means positioned within said elongate tube and extending between the distal portion thereof and the proximal portion thereof for delivering electrical power from said device power source to said processing means, and for communicating said audio frequency signals from said processing means to said device signal receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification