High Resolution Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging Systems and Methods

A method for obtaining a high resolution intravascular ultrasound image using a high resolution intravascular ultrasound imaging system having an image processor and a catheter configured for percutaneous insertion into a target blood vessel, said method comprising:

• a. rotating a rotatable imaging assembly of said catheter about a longitudinal axis of said catheter,
• b. energizing, by a pulser of said image processor, said ultrasonic transducer with a multi-frequency waveform signal,
• c. emitting, by said ultrasound transducer, ultrasound energy towards said target blood vessel based on said multi-frequency waveform signal,
• d. receiving, by said ultrasound transducer, ultrasound energy reflected from said target blood vessel,
• e. decomposing, by a receiver of said image processor, received ultrasound energy into a plurality of individual subband signals,
• f. individually processing, by said receiver of said image processor, said plurality of subband signals, and
• g. composing, by said receiver of said image processor, said high resolution intravascular ultrasound image based on said individually processed plurality of subband signals.

A high resolution intravascular ultrasound imaging system comprising:

• an image processor configured to be operably coupled with one or more electrical conduits of a rotatable imaging assembly contained in a catheter configured for percutaneous intravascular insertion, the image processor including:
• a pulser configured to energize an ultrasonic transducer of said rotatable imaging assembly with a multi-frequency waveform signal, the ultrasonic transducer being located at or near a distal end of said catheter and configured to emit ultrasound energy towards a target blood vessel while rotating about a longitudinal axis of said catheter, which comprises an elongated body;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive and decompose ultrasound energy reflected by said target blood vessel and received by said imaging assembly into a plurality of individual subband signals, individually process said plurality of subband signals, and then reconstitute said plurality of subband signals into one or more imaging signals representing the target blood vessel.