Ultrasound radiating members for catheter
AssigneeEkos Corporation
InventorRichard R. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method comprises providing a substantially planar slab of piezoelectric material having a top surface. The method further comprises drilling a plurality of holes through the top surface and into the slab. The method further comprises making a plurality of cuts through the top surface and into the slab. The cuts form a plurality of polygons that are generally centered about one of the holes. The method further comprises plating the slab with an electrically conductive material. The method further comprises removing the electrically conductive material from the top surface of the slab. The method further comprises cutting the slab substantially parallel to the top surface.
Claims15
An ultrasound catheter comprising:
- a tubular member;
- at least one ultrasound radiating member positioned with the tubular member, the ultrasound radiating member comprising a front face and a rear face, each having n sides, wherein n>4, n faces connecting the sides of the front and rear faces, and a central bore extending from the front face to the rear face, wherein at least a portion of the surfaces of the inner bore and n faces are coated with a conductive material;
- and
- a first wire and a second wire, the first wire being connected to the inner bore and the second wire being connected to at least one of the n faces.
An apparatus comprising:
- an elongate ultrasound radiating member having a hollow, cylindrical central core and three or more substantially flat sides;
- a first cylindrical electrode applied to the hollow, cylindrical central core;
- a second electrode applied to at least one of the sides;
- and
- a tubular catheter body configured to surround the elongate ultrasound radiating member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.