Intravascular, ultrasonic imaging catheters and methods for making same
First Claim
1. An intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter for imaging the cross section of a vessel, comprising:
- (a) a spiral wound strip of flexible plastic capable of being polarized in discrete regions to act as a piezoelectric in those regions;
(b) a plurality of discrete driving electrodes disposed on a first surface of said strip to define active regions of said strip;
(c) at least one ground electrode defined on a second surface of said strip at least in the regions opposite from said driving electrodes;
said strip being selectively polarized to be piezoelectrically active in said active regions while remaining substantially inactive in the areas between said regions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel intravascular, ultrasonic imaging catheters are provided which utilize thin layers of a flexible plastic material, such as PVDF, which can be spot polarized in active regions which are to serve as piezoelectric transducers. Thin layer metallic electrodes are deposited on opposing surfaces of these active regions. Strips of the appropriately configured material also having shielding and backing and/or core forming portions are spiral wound into a completed catheter. Alternatively, the catheters are fabricated from extruded PVDF tubing which may be formed around a central core which carries those electrodes which are to contact the inner surface of the extruded tube.
228 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter for imaging the cross section of a vessel, comprising:
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(a) a spiral wound strip of flexible plastic capable of being polarized in discrete regions to act as a piezoelectric in those regions; (b) a plurality of discrete driving electrodes disposed on a first surface of said strip to define active regions of said strip; (c) at least one ground electrode defined on a second surface of said strip at least in the regions opposite from said driving electrodes; said strip being selectively polarized to be piezoelectrically active in said active regions while remaining substantially inactive in the areas between said regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A meter of making an intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter for imaging the cross section of a vessel, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a strip of flexible plastic material capable of being polarized in discrete regions to act as a piezoelectric transducer in those regions, said strip having proximal and distal ends; (b) adhering electrodes to opposing surfaces of said strip near its distal end to define active regions thereon; (c) spot poling said active regions of said strip to provide at least one piezoelectric transducing element on said strip; (d) attaching connectors to said electrodes for electrically connecting said electrodes to connections at the proximal end of said catheter; (e) spiral winding said strip around its longitudinal axis to form a spiral having a diameter of less than about 1 mm; (f) fixing said spiral in its wound position to provide a catheter capable of use in ultrasonic imaging. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of making an intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter for imaging the cross section of a vessel, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a tube of flexible plastic material capable of being polarized in discrete regions to act as a piezoelectric transducer in those regions, said tube having proximal and distal ends; (b) adhering electrodes to opposing surfaces of said tube near its distal end to define active regions thereon; (c) spot poling said active regions of said tube to provide at least one piezoelectric transducing element on a strip; and (d) attaching connectors to said electrodes for electrically connecting said electrodes to connections at the proximal end of said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification