Ultrasonic imagining catheters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for ultrasonic imaging, the apparatus comprising:
- a catheter having a distal region;
an ultrasonic transducer array disposed at the distal region;
a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the transducer array for supplying electrical power to the array, wherein at least a portion of the flexible circuit is helically wound about the catheter; and
at least one multiplexer unit electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, and wherein the at least one multiplexer unit is proximal of the transducer array.
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Abstract
An intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter is provided with a flexible circuit electrically coupled to a transducer array mounted on the distal end of the catheter, a portion of the flexible circuit being helically wound about the catheter in order to enhance the flexibility of the circuit. The catheter may be a balloon catheter which is also provided with a stent mounted on the balloon, the stent carrying one or more drugs designed to be eluted or washed into a patient'"'"'s blood stream after the stent has been delivered, by the balloon catheter, into a target area within the patient'"'"'s vascular system.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for ultrasonic imaging, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a distal region; an ultrasonic transducer array disposed at the distal region; a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the transducer array for supplying electrical power to the array, wherein at least a portion of the flexible circuit is helically wound about the catheter; and at least one multiplexer unit electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, and wherein the at least one multiplexer unit is proximal of the transducer array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 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)
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28. An apparatus for ultrasonic imaging, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a distal region; an ultrasonic transducer array disposed at the distal region; a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the transducer array for supplying electrical power to the array, wherein at least a portion of the flexible circuit is helically wound about the catheter; and a plurality of multiplexer units electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, wherein the multiplexer units are longitudinally spaced with respect to one another along the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification