High Resolution Intravascular Ultrasound Transducer Assembly Having A Flexible Substrate

A method for fabricating an ultrasound transducer assembly comprising a flexible circuit, integrated circuitry, and a set of transducer elements for facilitating providing images of a blood vessel from within a vasculature, the method comprising the steps:

• fabricating the flexible circuit comprising a flexible substrate and a set of electrically conductive lines formed upon the flexible substrate;
• constructing the set of transducer elements upon the flexible circuit and attaching the integrated circuitry to the flexible circuit while the flexible circuit is in a substantially flat shape;
• and
• re-shaping the flexible circuit into a substantially non-flat shape after the step of constructing a set of transducer elements and attaching the integrated circuitry.

An ultrasonic transducer assembly mounted to a distal end of a catheter for providing images within a vascular system, the assembly comprising:

• an array of transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals;
• electronic circuitry for controlling the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic signals by the array of transducers;
• a flexible substrate supporting the array of transducers, the electronic circuitry, and electrically conductive paths that transport electrical signals between the electronic circuitry and the array of transducers;
• a first configuration of the flexible substrate in which the array of transducers and the electronic circuitry are attached to the substrate;
• and, a second configuration of the flexible substrate in which the substrate, array of transducers and electronic circuitry are attached to the distal end of the catheter.

An ultrasonic transducer assembly mounted to a distal end of a catheter providing images within a vascular system made by the following process:

• printing electrically conductive paths on a flexible substrate in a substantially flat configuration;
• attaching to the flexible substrate in the substantially flat configuration an array of transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals and electronic circuitry for controlling the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic signals by the array of transducers;
• bending the flexible substrate in a substantially annular configuration;
• and, securing to the distal end of the catheter the substrate in the substantially annular configuration with the attached array of transducers and electronic circuitry.