Apparatuses Comprising Catheter Tips, Including Mechanically Scanning Ultrasound Probe Catheter Tip

An ultrasonic imaging catheter tip comprising:

• a cylindrical outer capsule comprising
• a cut-out section,
• a fluid-impermeable barrier extending over the cut-out section,
• a transducer array encapsulated in a rotatable body comprising a solid material providing a desired ultrasound acoustical transmission, the rotatable body positioned in the cut-out section and in driven relationship with
• an actuator positioned within the outer capsule, and
• an interconnect communicating with the transducer array and adapted to extend to or through a catheter body adapted to receive the catheter tip,
• wherein a defined annular space remains, for an acoustic transmission medium, between the cylindrical outer capsule and the rotatable body.

An ultrasound probe catheter tip comprising:

• an outer resilient housing comprising a proximal end adapted to connect to a catheter, a distal end, and a defined space therein;
• a transducer array encapsulated in a rotatable body comprising a solid material providing a desired ultrasound acoustical transmission and mechanically linked to a drive shaft;
• an electromechanical actuator drivingly connected to the drive shaft;
• and
• an interconnect connected to the transducer array and adapted to communicate with a catheter system.