Intracavitary echographic imaging catheter
First Claim
1. A intracavitary echographic imaging catheter including a proximal end adapted to be located outside the patient and a distal end situated adjacent to a tissue to be examined and a body linking said two ends, said distal end comprising a guide wire and an ultrasound transparent capsule housing a fixed piezoelectric transducer and an ultrasonic wave deflecting mirror driven by a rotating means in said capsule wherein, in said catheter the means for rotating comprise a microactuator having a stator and a rotor housed in said capsule, said mirror being arranged directly without the presence of a coupling transmission, on a surface of said rotor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Catheter for echographic imaging within a cavity, comprising a proximal end situated to the outside of the patient, a distal end situated close to the tissues which are to be investigated, and a body connecting these two ends, the distal end comprising a guide wire and a capsule which is transparent to ultrasound and in which are accommodated a fixed piezoelectric transducer and a mirror for deflecting the ultrasonic wave and driven by means of rotation accommodated in the said capsule, this catheter being characterized in that the said mirror (30) is placed directly, without torque transmission shaft, on the surface of the rotor (34) of a microactuator constituting the said means of rotation.
172 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A intracavitary echographic imaging catheter including a proximal end adapted to be located outside the patient and a distal end situated adjacent to a tissue to be examined and a body linking said two ends, said distal end comprising a guide wire and an ultrasound transparent capsule housing a fixed piezoelectric transducer and an ultrasonic wave deflecting mirror driven by a rotating means in said capsule wherein, in said catheter the means for rotating comprise a microactuator having a stator and a rotor housed in said capsule, said mirror being arranged directly without the presence of a coupling transmission, on a surface of said rotor.
Specification