Volumetric image ultrasound transducer underfluid catheter system

• US 6,039,693 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• 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): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/087,419
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/444, 600/447, 600/459, 600/466, 600/467, 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 catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

an ultrasonic transducer array longitudinally mounted on the body, the array being operated for transmitting ultrasonic signals for imaging; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the body for electrically connecting the array to a control circuitry.

2. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body includes at least one internal channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongated body.

3. A catheter apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one internal channel is a port for delivering a therapeutic device to the distal end of the elongated body.

4. A catheter apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one internal channel is a guide wire port.

5. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is an offset stereoscopic imaging ultrasound transducer array.

6. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a piezoelectric polymer material.

7. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a polyvinylidenedifloride (PVDF) material.

8. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is external of the catheter apparatus.

9. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is a phased array.

10. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lens mounted on the ultrasonic transducer array for defocusing ultrasound beams, at least some of the beams being directed laterally outward which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, providing a real-time three dimensional image.

11. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a plurality of rows of ultrasonic transducer elements, the ultrasonic transducer elements being phased in both an elevation direction of the array as well as an azimuthal direction of the array, providing a real time three-dimensional image.

12. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes equal numbers of rows and columns of ultrasonic transducer elements, the ultrasonic transducer elements being phased in both an elevation direction of the array as well as an azimuthal direction of the array, providing a real time three-dimensional image.

13. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a therapeutic device delivered via the body for operation within a field of view of the imaging so as to allow visualization of therapeutic device during the operation.

14. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array has a frequency of 5 to 30 MHz.

15. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array has a frequency of 7 to 15 MHz.

16. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 4 to 24 French.

17. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 6 to 12 French.

18. A catheter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 7 to 8 French.

19. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

an ultrasonic transducer array longitudinally mounted on the body, the array being operated for transmitting ultrasonic signals for forming a multi-dimensional image; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the body for electrically connecting the array to control circuitry.

20. A catheter apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

an ultrasonic transducer array having at least one row of ultrasonic transducer elements mounted on the body, each of the ultrasonic transducer elements of the array being concurrently operable as a part of the array for transmitting ultrasonic signals for imaging; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the body for electrically connecting the array to a control circuitry.

21. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the elongated body includes at least one internal channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongated body.

22. A catheter apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one internal channel is a port for delivering a therapeutic device to the distal end of the elongated body.

23. A catheter apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one internal channel is a guide wire port.

24. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is an offset stereoscopic imaging ultrasound transducer array.

25. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a piezoelectric polymer material.

26. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a polyvinylidenedifloride (PVDF) material.

27. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry is external of the elongated body.

28. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is a phased array.

29. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer elements are longitudinally mounted on the body.

30. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a lens mounted on the ultrasonic transducer array for defocusing ultrasound beams, at least some of the beams being directed laterally outward which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, providing a real time three-dimensional image.

31. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes a plurality of rows of ultrasonic transducer elements, the ultrasonic transducer elements being phased in both an elevation direction of the array as well as an azimuthal direction of the array, providing a real time three-dimensional image.

32. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array includes equal numbers of rows and columns of ultrasonic transducer elements, the ultrasonic transducer elements being phased in both an elevation direction of the array as well as an azimuthal direction of the array, providing a real time three-dimensional image.

33. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a therapeutic device delivered via the body for operation within a field of view of the imaging so as to allow visualization of therapeutic device during the operation.

34. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array has a frequency of 5 to 30 MHz.

35. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array has a frequency of 7 to 15 MHz.

36. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 4 to 24 French.

37. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 6 to 12 French.

38. A catheter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the catheter body has a diameter of 7 to 8 French.