Markers for a medical ultrasound imaging catheter

A method for manufacturing a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the method comprising:

• positioning a catheter housing relative to a template, the catheter housing housing an array of ultrasound elements, and the template including at least one first aperture, the positioning being of the first aperture to be near but not on the array;
• forming a marker aperture in the catheter housing using the first aperture of the template;
• inserting a marker in the marker aperture;
• and
• sealing the catheter housing around the marker;
• wherein positioning comprises:
• sensing, by a beamformer and image processor connected with the array, an acoustic target having a different acoustic reflectivity than material of the template supporting the acoustic target, the sensing being of a position of the array relative to the template, the position indicating a first alignment of the array based on a peak in acoustic response received by the beamformer from the array;
• and
• aligning the array relative to the template based on the sensing.

A method for manufacturing a medical ultrasound imaging catheter, the method comprising:

• positioning a catheter housing relative to a template, the catheter housing housing an array of ultrasound elements, and the template including a plurality of guide apertures, the positioning being of the guide apertures to be near but not on the array;
• forming marker apertures in the catheter housing using the plurality of guide apertures of the template;
• inserting markers in the marker apertures;
• and
• sealing the catheter housing around the markers;
• wherein positioning comprises positioning based on measurement by the array of an acoustic response of an acoustic target of the template.