# US 8,465,686 B2 · Method of manufacturing a rotational intravascular ultrasound probe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,686 B2 - Document ID: US8465686B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/339,477 - Filed: 2008-12-19 - Published: 2010-06-24 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-19 - Assignees: Volcano Corporation - Applicants: Stephen Charles Davies; Norman Hossack; Peter Howard Smith - Inventors: Stephen Charles Davies; Norman Hossack; Peter Howard Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465686B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/0891: {for diagnosis of blood vessels} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/44: {Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device} - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4455: {Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects} - A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe} - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - B29C 45/0053: {combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping (injection-compression moulding B29C45/561)} - B29C 45/14549: {Coating rod-like, wire-like or belt-like articles (B29C45/14426 takes precedence)} - G01S 7/52079: {Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44)} - G01S 15/894: {by rotation about a single axis} - G01S 15/8952: {using discrete, multiple frequencies} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) - A61B 8/0833: {involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures} - A61B 8/085: {for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules} - G01S 7/52092: {using frequency diversity} - Y10T 29/49005: Acoustic transducer - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature and a method of manufacturing the same. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe comprises an elongate catheter having a flexible body and an elongate transducer shaft disposed within the flexible body. The transducer shaft comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a drive shaft extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, an ultrasonic transducer disposed near the distal end portion for obtaining a circumferential image through rotation, and a transducer housing molded to the drive shaft and the ultrasonic transducer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature, the method comprising: providing an injection mold having a recess in communication with a channel; providing an intravascular ultrasonic transducer for obtaining an intravascular image through rotation, the transducer including a front layer, a back layer, and a sacrificial layer disposed over the front layer, the transducer being coupled to a wire; disposing the transducer within the recess; disposing the wire within the channel; sliding a drive cable over the wire into the channel; injecting a material into the recess and the channel to form a transducer housing attached to the transducer and the drive cable; and removing the sacrificial layer after the transducer housing is formed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing is rigid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the size of the transducer after the transducer housing is formed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein reducing the size of the transducer after the transducer housing is formed comprises trimming a portion of the transducer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein reducing the size of the transducer after the transducer housing is formed comprises trimming the transducer along fracture lines adjacent an outer periphery of the transducer housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein reducing the size of the transducer after the transducer housing is formed comprises grinding the transducer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer, the transducer housing, and the drive cable form a transducer shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: inserting the transducer shaft into a catheter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: inserting the transducer, the transducer housing, and the drive cable into a catheter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing has a domed end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing has a linear shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material is an epoxy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein sliding the drive cable over the wire includes positioning a section of the drive cable into the recess adjacent the transducer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the injection mold comprises a first mold plate and a second mold plate that mate to form the recess. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first mold plate and the second mold plate mate to form the channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer is the only transducer molded to the transducer housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric material.