Markers for a medical ultrasound imaging catheter
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorsLex J. Garbini, Wilko Gerwin Wilkening, Ricardo Espinosa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catheter is provided for medical ultrasound imaging that can be effectively used in combination with other imaging modalities to detect medical structures of interest as well as the catheter. Markers are added to the catheter with precision, which provides a means to merge the images from different modalities. Using a template, apertures for marker placement are formed in the catheter after creating the catheter housing. The ultrasound array may be used for accurate positioning of the template. Alternatively or additionally, a rigid insert with markers connects with the array. The insert holds the markers in place and may reduce artifacts in ultrasound scanning due to flexing of the array.
Claims27
A method for manufacturing a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the method comprising:
- positioning a catheter housing relative to a template, the catheter housing housing an array of ultrasound elements, and the template including at least one first aperture, the positioning being of the first aperture to be near but not on the array;
- forming a marker aperture in the catheter housing using the first aperture of the template;
- inserting a marker in the marker aperture;
- and
- sealing the catheter housing around the marker.
A system for inserting a marker in a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the system comprising:
- a guide;
- a clamp configured to hold the medical ultrasound imaging catheter in a position relative to the guide;
- and
- a through hole in the guide.
A method for manufacturing a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the method comprising:
- positioning an insert adjacent to a transducer array, the insert having a marker;
- connecting the transducer array with the insert such that the marker is adjacent to the transducer array in a distal, proximal, side, or behind direction relative to the medical ultrasound imaging catheter;
- and
- forming a housing of the medical ultrasound imaging catheter over the transducer array, insert, and marker.
A system for manufacturing a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the system comprising:
- an insert having a cavity and at least one marker adjacent to the cavity;
- and
- a transducer array sized to fit within the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.