Medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter with first and second tip portions
First Claim
1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer; and
a catheter comprising a tip portion carrying the ultrasound transducer, the tip portion comprising a first portion in an acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer and a second portion outside the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer, wherein the first and second portions comprise different acoustic and mechanical properties.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter with a tip portion carrying an ultrasound transducer. The tip portion comprises a first portion that is in the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer, and a second portion that is outside the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer. The first and second portions comprise different acoustic and mechanical properties. For example, the mechanical properties of the second portion can give the catheter tip sufficient durability to withstand normal use without bowing, while the acoustic properties of the first portion can give the catheter tip desired acoustic properties. This may be especially important for small diameter catheters (e.g., maximum cross-sectional dimensions less than or equal to about 10 French or 8 French) where the stiffness of the catheter tip is reduced.
142 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter comprising:
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an ultrasound transducer; and
a catheter comprising a tip portion carrying the ultrasound transducer, the tip portion comprising a first portion in an acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer and a second portion outside the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer, wherein the first and second portions comprise different acoustic and mechanical properties. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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2. A medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter tip portion shaped to carry an ultrasound transducer, the tip portion comprising:
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a first portion in an acoustic path of an ultrasound transducer carried by the tip portion; and
a second portion outside the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer carried by the tip portion, wherein the first and second portions comprise different acoustic and mechanical properties.
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Specification