# US 10,863,969 B2 · Systems with sonic visualization capability and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,969 B2 - Document ID: US10863969B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/435,772 - Filed: 2017-02-17 - Published: 2017-08-24 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-18 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Mark D. Wood; Paul D. Aquilino; Ryan Hartman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863969B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)} - A61M 25/0067: {characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips (A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10)} - B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract According to aspects of the present disclosure, a system for visualizing a target area may include an elongate shaft. The elongate shaft may include a distal portion, a lumen that extends longitudinally through the distal portion, and an opening at the distal end of the distal portion. The opening may be in communication with the lumen. The system also may include a visualization assembly housed within the distal portion of the elongate shaft. The visualization assembly may include a transducer array having a field of view in which the transducer array transceives sound waves. The field of view of the transducer array may cover at least part of the distal portion of the elongate shaft and the target area to facilitate visualization of the part of the distal portion of the elongate shaft and the target area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for visualizing a target area, comprising: an elongate shaft, including: a distal portion, a lumen that extends longitudinally through the distal portion, and a first opening at a distal end of the distal portion, wherein the first opening is in communication with the lumen; and a visualization assembly housed within the distal portion of the elongate shaft, wherein the visualization assembly includes a transducer array having a field of view in which the transducer array transceives sound waves, and the field of view of the transducer array covers at least part of the distal portion of the elongate shaft and the target area to facilitate visualization of the part of the distal portion of the elongate shaft and the target area at a same time, wherein the transducer array includes a plate, and a second opening extends through the plate, wherein a portion of the distal end of the distal portion of the elongate shaft includes a taper such that at least a portion of a radially outermost surface of the transducer array is exposed from the elongate shaft by the taper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer array surrounds at least a portion of the second opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer array includes at least one ultrasonic transducer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft includes a third opening at the distal end of the distal portion, and the system further includes an optical visualization assembly received in the third opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft has a distalmost end, and the transducer array includes at least one transducer configured to transmit sound waves toward a region distal to the distalmost end, and to receive sound waves from the region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer array includes at least one transducer on a side of the visualization assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one transducer includes a plurality of plates, each of the plates has a plurality of transducers thereon, and the plates are arranged in a ring formation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer array includes at least one transducer configured to transmit sound waves toward a region lateral to the distal portion of the elongate shaft, and receive sound waves from the region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a control member coupled to the distal portion of the elongate shaft to exert a deflecting force on the distal portion, such that the visualization assembly deflects with the distal portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a second elongate shaft disposed within the lumen and configured to move relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the plate is attached to a distal end of the second elongate shaft. ### Claim 12 A system for visualizing a target area, comprising: an introducer, including: a first elongate shaft, and a plurality of lumens in the first elongate shaft, wherein the plurality of lumens includes a first lumen that extends longitudinally through the first elongate shaft; and a visualization assembly slidably received by the introducer, the visualization assembly including: a second elongate shaft, and a transducer array at a distal portion of the second elongate shaft, wherein the transducer array is configured to transceive sound waves for visualization of the target area, and to slide proximally and/or distally relative to the first elongate shaft within the first lumen, and wherein the transducer array includes a plate having an opening extending through the plate, wherein a portion of a distal end of the first elongate shaft includes a taper such that at least a portion of a radially outermost surface of the transducer array is exposed from the first elongate shaft by the taper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the introducer further includes an optical visualization assembly, and the optical visualization assembly includes an imaging device at a distal end of the introducer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the transducer array is extendable distally beyond the distal end of the first elongate shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the transducer array includes a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer array.