Volumetric image ultrasound transducer underfluid catheter system

• US 6,306,096 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US09/586,193
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/443-446, 600/447, 600/462-463, 600/471, 600/128, 600/916, 600/606, 600/159, 600/169
• US Class Current: 600/463
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• 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 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array

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 method of viewing a cardiovascular underfluid structure, comprising:

disposing a catheter in the cardiovascular underfluid structure, the catheter comprising;

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends;

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated body to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes so as to provide a field of view within which features can be imaged; and

an electrical conductor disposed in the elongated body for electrically connecting the linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer to control circuitry external of the catheter;

transmitting ultrasound from the linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer;

receiving resultant echoes of the ultrasound using the linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer; and

analyzing the echoes to image features.

2. A method of viewing a cardiovascular underfluid structure, comprising:

disposing a catheter in the cardiovascular underfluid structure, the catheter comprising;

an elongated body having proximal and distal ends; and

a linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer mounted proximate the distal end of the elongated body to transmit ultrasound and receive resultant echoes so as to provide a field of view within which features can be imaged;

transmitting ultrasound from the linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer;

receiving resultant echoes of the ultrasound using the linear phased-array ultrasonic transducer; and

analyzing the echoes to image features.