Systems and methods for visualizing interior tissue regions using expandable imaging structures
First Claim
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1. A system for imaging an interior body region comprisinga probe including an axis and an imaging structure having a periphery adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry, andan array of spaced apart ultrasound transducers attached to the periphery of the imaging structure, wherein members of the array move radially outward and inward relative to the axis as the periphery assumes the expanded geometry and the collapsed geometry respectively.
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Abstract
An imaging structure has a periphery adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry. The periphery of the imaging structure carries an array of spaced apart ultrasound transducers.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for imaging an interior body region comprising
a probe including an axis and an imaging structure having a periphery adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry, and an array of spaced apart ultrasound transducers attached to the periphery of the imaging structure, wherein members of the array move radially outward and inward relative to the axis as the periphery assumes the expanded geometry and the collapsed geometry respectively.
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26. A method for visualizing body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a probe with an imaging structure having a periphery adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry, and an array of spaced apart ultrasound transducers attached to the periphery of the imaging structure, guiding the probe into an interior body region while causing the imaging structure to assume the collapsed geometry, causing the imaging structure to assume the expanded geometry upon arrival in the interior body region, and operating the imaging structure, while in the expanded geometry, to visualize tissue in the interior body region.
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38. A system for imaging an interior body region, comprising
a probe having an imaging structure adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry, and an array of ultrasound transducers on the imaging structure, wherein members of the array move away from one another as the imaging structure assumes the expanded geometry.
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46. A system for imaging an interior body region, comprising
a probe including a distal portion, an imaging structure having a predetermined geometry on the distal portion, a plurality of arrays of ultrasound transducers attached to the imaging structure in a predetermined arrangement for acquiring images along a plurality of sectors, and a support structure on the probe and substantially surrounding the imaging structure, the support structure being adapted to assume an expanded geometry and a collapsed geometry.
Specification