Echogenic devices, material and method

An echogenic material device insertable into biological tissue and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an elongated member for insertion into said biological tissue having a second predetermined acoustic impedance, said member comprising a material having a first predetermined acoustic impedance different from said second impedance, said first and second acoustic impedances having at least a predetermined difference therebetween, said member including a surface having a plurality of discontinuous, at least partially spherical indentations, said indentations having a radius of curvature less than a wavelength of a sonic beam, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said indentation cooperate in response to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member about said interface.

A method for manufacturing an echogenic medical device for insertion into biological tissue and imageable with sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• forming an elongated member of said device from a material having a first predetermined acoustic impedance different from a second predetermined acoustic impedance of said biological tissue, said first and second impedances having at least a predetermined difference, said member having an outer surface;
• and
• forming an interface in said elongated member for producing said image in response to said beam, said interface having a plurality of fixedly positioned, discrete particulate-type, discontinuous, curved surfaces formed about said outer surface and having a dimension less than a wavelength of a sonic beam from said equipment, whereby said difference between said first and second acoustic impedances and said curved surfaces cooperate in response to said sonic beam to produce an image of said member about said interface.

An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imageable, said composite material including a formable matrix material with discrete sound reflective particles made from a material different than and more sonically reflective than said matrix material being embedded in said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member.

An echogenic device to be positioned within a medium and imageable with sonic equipment, said device comprising a body having an outer surface with image enhancing means for improving the sonic imaging of the device, characterized in that said means comprises fixedly positioned, discrete particulate type, discontinuous, acoustic discontinuities having a curved surface formed about or associated with the outer surface of the body.

An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imagable, said composite material including a solid matrix material other than a gel and discrete sound reflective particles fixedly positioned throughout said matrix material, ultrasonically different than tissue and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member.

An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imagable, said composite material including a solid matrix material other than a gel and at least one discrete omni-directional sound reflective particle fixedly positioned in said matrix material, ultrasonically different than tissue and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member at a selected location of said at least one omni-directionally sound reflective particle.

An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an echogenic body member comprising a medical device to be inserted inside a patient and including a composite material echogenically imagable, said composite material including a solid matrix material and discrete sound reflective particles fixedly positioned throughout, different than and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member, said sound reflective particles having an at least partially spherical surface for providing sound reflections at a plurality of angles.

An echogenic device adapted to be imaged by sonic imaging equipment, comprising:

• an echogenic body member including a composite material echogenically imagable, said composite material including a solid matrix material and discrete sound reflective particles fixedly positioned throughout, different than and more sonically reflective than said matrix material to enhance the echogenicity of said body member, said echogenic body member comprising a medical device to be inserted inside a patient and including a tubular catheter body at least one longitudinal lumen within a catheter wall.