Volumetric image ultrasound transducer underfluid catheter system

• US 5,704,361 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Tajik, Abdul Jamil, Seward, James Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/678,380
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.01, 128/660.1, 128/661.01, 128/662.03, 128/662.06, 128/916
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

An underfluid ultrasound imaging catheter system includes a catheter having a distal end inserted into an underfluid structure, an ultrasonic transducer array mounted proximate the distal end of the catheter wherein the array has a row of individual transducer crystals, a lens mounted on the array for defocusing ultrasound beams in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the array so as to provide a volumetric field of view within which the underfluid features are imaged. Alternatively, the single row of transducer crystals is replaced by multiple rows of transducer crystals so as to provide a volumetric field of view. This imaging catheter system helps an operator see 3-dimensional images of an underfluid environment, such as the 3-dimensional images of fluid-filled cavities of heart, blood vessel, urinary bladder, etc. Features in such wide volumetric field of view can be imaged, measured, or intervened by an underfluid therapeutic device with an aid of the real-time image.

Claims

1. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

an ultrasonic transducer linear phased array mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated body, the array transmitting ultrasound beams and receiving resultant echoes, the array comprising a row of individual transducer elements aligned generally in a longitudinal direction of the elongated body;

a lens mounted on the array for defocusing the ultrasound beams, at least some of the beams being directed laterally outward in an elevational dimension of the array, which is perpendicular to an azimuthal dimension of the array, providing a real-time three dimensional image, so that features can be measured and intervened under a real-time observation; and

an electrical conductor, disposed in the elongated body, electrically connecting the transducer to a control circuitry external of the elongated body.

2. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lens is a planoconcave lens made from silicone rubber.

3. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lens is a planoconvex lens made from a plastic material.

4. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

an ultrasonic transducer linear phased array mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated body, the array transmitting ultrasound beams and receiving resultant echoes, the array comprising a plurality of rows of individual arrays, each individual array having a plurality of individual transducer elements, the transducer elements being phased in both an elevation dimension and an azimuthal dimension of the array which provides a real-time three dimensional image, so that features can be measured and intervened under a real-time observation; and

an electrical conductor, disposed in the elongated body, electrically connecting the transducer to a control circuitry external of the elongated body.

5. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

an ultrasonic transducer linear phased array mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated body, the array transmitting ultrasound beams and receiving resultant echoes, the array comprising equal numbers of rows and columns of individual transducer elements, the transducer elements being phased in both an elevation dimension and an azimuthal dimension of the array which provides a real-time three dimensional image, so that features can be measured and intervened under a real-time observation; and

an electrical conductor, disposed in the elongated body, electrically connecting the transducer to a control circuitry external of the elongated body.

6. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus for underfluid imaging, intervention, and measuring, comprising:

an elongated, flexible body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being inserted into an underfluid structure;

an ultrasonic transducer linear phased array mounted on the elongated body proximate the distal end of the elongated body, the array producing a a real-time three dimensional image of the underfluid structure in front of the array outside the elongated body, features of the underfluid structure can be intervened by a therapeutic device and measured under a real-time observation;

a port disposed in the elongated body extending from proximate the proximal end to proximate the distal end of the elongated body for receiving the therapeutic device, the therapeutic device being operated underfluid with an aid of the real-time image; and

means for actuating the ultrasonic transducer linear phased array.

7. A real-time imaging catheter in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a guidewire port disposed in the elongated body extending from proximate the proximal end to proximate the distal end of the elongated body for receiving a guide wire.

8. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; and

an ultrasound imaging system for transmitting ultrasonic beams and receiving resultant echoes, the ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated catheter body and including a plurality of individual transducer elements in an azimuthal dimension of the array that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated catheter body, the ultrasound imaging system being constructed and arranged to spread the ultrasonic beams such that the ultrasonic beams cover a 3-dimensional scanning region, the scanning region being defined by the azimuthal dimension, a depth dimension transversely aligned with respect to the azimuthal dimension, and an elevational dimension transversely aligned with respect to both the depth dimension and the azimuthal dimension.

9. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ultrasound imaging system includes a lens for spreading the ultrasonic beams in the elevational dimension.

10. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transducer array includes multiple rows of individual arrays, each individual array having a plurality of transducer elements, and the transducer array is phased in both the elevational dimension and the azimuthal dimension.

11. A real-time imaging catheter apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transducer array includes one and one half rows of individual arrays, each individual array having transducer elements, and the transducer array is phased in both the elevational dimension and the azimuthal dimension.