Ultrasound Imaging Catheters with Reciprocating Phased Array Transducers
AssigneeVolcano Corporation
InventorNorman H. Hossack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a catheter imaging device includes an elongated catheter shaft having a forward looking ultrasonic transducer disposed at a distal end thereof. A first device is coupled to the transducer for sweeping an ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer in a first plane and through a first angle therein, and a second device is coupled to the transducer for sweeping the ultrasonic beam in a second plane and through a second angle therein, the second plane being disposed orthogonal to the first plane. In one aspect, the ultrasonic transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements.
Claims20
A catheter device, comprising:
- an elongated catheter shaft;
- a forward looking ultrasonic transducer disposed at a distal end of the catheter shaft;
- a first device for sweeping an ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer in a first plane and through a first angle therein;
- and
- a second device for sweeping the ultrasonic beam in a second plane and through a second angle therein, the second plane being disposed orthogonally to the first plane.
A method for acquiring a page of three-dimensional (3D) image data corresponding to a selected field of view, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated catheter shaft having a forward looking linear phased array ultrasonic transducer disposed at a distal end thereof;
- coupling a first device to the transducer for mechanically sweeping an ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer in a first plane and through a first angle therein;
- coupling a second device to the transducer for electronically sweeping the ultrasonic beam in a second plane and through a second angle therein, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane;
- scanning the entire field of view with the ultrasonic beam using the first and second devices to form a plurality of frames of two-dimensional (2D) image data;
- and
- combining the 2D image data frames to form a page of three-dimensional (3D) image data corresponding to the selected field of view.
A method for performing a fly-through procedure in a vasculature of a patient's body, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated catheter shaft having:
- a forward looking linear phased array ultrasonic transducer disposed at a distal end thereof;
- a first device coupled to the transducer for mechanically sweeping an ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer in a first plane and through a first angle therein;
- a second device coupled to the transducer for electronically sweeping the ultrasonic beam in a second plane and through a second angle therein, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane;
- inserting the distal end of the catheter shaft into a lumen of the vasculature;
- scanning the interior of the vasculature with the ultrasonic beam using the first and second devices to form a plurality of frames of two-dimensional (2D) image data;
- combining the 2D image data frames to form a page of three-dimensional (3D) image data corresponding to the interior of the vasculature;
- processing the 3D image data to render a 2D image of the interior of the vessel;
- displaying the 2D image on a display;
- advancing the distal end of the catheter shaft further distally into the lumen;
- and
- repeating the scanning, combining, processing, displaying and advancing such that a continuous image of the interior of the vasculature in a region ahead of the distal end of the catheter is displayed on the display as the distal end of the catheter is advanced through the lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.