US5456259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic transducer arrangement and catheter
Assignee: Intravascular Research Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-07-30
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Granted: 1995-10-10
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Expires: 2012-07-30
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/GB92/01412 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 31, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 31, 1994 PCT Filed Jul. 30, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO/0002809 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 18, 1993.A catheter (1a, 1b) is provided with an ultrasonic transducer array at its tip (3), the transducer array having been manufactured from an annulus of piezoelectric material (10) by making longitudinal mutually parallel slots (18) in the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Barlow
- 👤 Patrick J. Ryan
- 👤 Robert J. Dickinson
- 👤 Elvin L. Nix
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; B06B1/0633; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of manufacturing a transducer array which comprises the steps of: a) mounting an annular electrically conducting transducer member on a support sleeve by means of an acoustic backing layer; b) mounting two locating sleeves on the support sleeve, one adjacent each of the two ends of the annular transducer member respectively; c) machining the outer surface of the annular transducer member and sleeves to the desired profile; and d) sawing longitudinally extending slots in the annular transducer member to define a plurality of discrete transducer elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of manufacturing a transducer array which comprises the steps of: a) mounting an annular electrically conducting transducer member on a support sleeve by means of an acoustic backing layer; b) mounting two locating sleeves on the support sleeve, one adjacent each of the two ends of the annular transducer member respectively; c) machining the outer surface of the annular transducer member and sleeves to the desired profile; and d) sawing longitudinally extending slots in the annular transducer member to define a plurality of discrete transducer elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 including the step of forming a plurality of bond pads on one of the locating sleeves and connecting an electrical lead to each bond pad to enable an associated transducer element or elements to be electrically energized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which each electrical lead is first spaced radially outwardly from its associated bond pad and an electrical and physical connection is then made by filling the gap between the lead and the bond pad with an appropriate material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ultrasonic transducer array comprising an annulus of piezo-electric material having a plurality of physical discontinuities defining a plurality of transducer elements separated from each other, a metal support, said annulus being relatively rigid and being mounted on said support, and a relatively flexible acoustic backing layer between said annulus and said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ultrasonic transducer array comprising an annulus of piezo-electric material having a plurality of physical discontinuities defining a plurality of transducer elements separated from each other, a metal support, said annulus being relatively rigid and being mounted on said support, and a relatively flexible acoustic backing layer between said annulus and said support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said acoustic backing layer comprises a silver loaded epoxy resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus is made of a polarized lead zirconate titantie (PZT) and said transducer elements are defined by circumferentially spaced grooves in said annulus and which run substantially parallel to the axis of said annulus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said piezo-electric material is PZT and said support is a tungsten carbide tube, said annulus is bonded to said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus has a pair of ends and at least one of said ends is supported by a rigid ring bonded to said support to increase the stability of the assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 which has an outer diameter no greater than 2 mm and the number of said transducer elements is at least 32.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus has an axially extending portion flange for supporting electrical contact points for the electrical energization of the transducer array and for the return of echo signals from the transducer array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 including electrical connections to the piezo-electric transducer array, each said connection includes a metallized layer formed on the piezo-electric material by sputtering.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 including electrically conducting tracks on a flexible support mounted on said annulus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus has an outer face that is both acoustically matching and biocompatible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus has an axially extending portion of smaller external diameter than the external diameter of the annulus and which smaller diameter portion is divided into separate axially extending bond pads to which electrical conductors are secured for the electrical energization of said transducer elements and the return of echo signals from the transducer elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An array as claimed in claim 14 including electrical conductors which are bonded to said bond pads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
An array as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of said conductors are spaced radially outwardly from said transducer array leaving a gap between the array and the conductors, said gap being filled with a re-flow material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An array as claimed in claim 14 including electrical supply cables in the form of ribbon cables.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An array as claimed in claim 14 including electrical conductors for energizing the transducer array, said conductors being helically wound.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An array as claimed in claim 14 including a resilient sleeve having axially extending slots through which electrical conductors pass and are gripped thereby.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which said annulus is joined to said support by a diffusion process.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
An array as set forth in claim 4 in which said annulus is joined to said support by a glass interlayer process.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 including at least one ribbon cable for energizing said array, said cable being externally metallized to reduce radio frequency interference and electrical cross-talk.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An array as claimed in claim 4 in which the distal end of the transducer array is provided with a rounded plastic end cap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of the transducer array as claimed in claim 4 with a catheter, the transducer array being mounted on the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic array which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting an annular electrically conducting transducer member on a metal support sleeve by means of an acoustic backing layer; and (b) mounting two locating sleeves on the support sleeve one adjacent each of the two ends of the annular transducer member respectively in order to increase the stability of the resulting assembly.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic array which comprises the steps of: (a) mounting an annular electrically conducting transducer member on a metal support sleeve by means of an acoustic backing layer; and (b) mounting two locating sleeves on the support sleeve one adjacent each of the two ends of the annular transducer member respectively in order to increase the stability of the resulting assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 25 comprises the further steps of: (a) machining the outer surface of the annular transducer member and sleeves; and (b) sawing longitudinally extending slots in the annular transducer member to define a plurality of discrete transducer elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 26 including the step of forming a plurality of bond pads on one of the locating sleeves and connecting an electrical lead to each bond pad to enable an associated transducer element to be electrically energized.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 in which said electrical lead is first spaced radially outwardly from its associated bond pad and an electrical and physical connection is then made by filling the gap between the lead and the bond pad with a re-flow material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-09 | 1999-04-10 | 1999-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-09 | 2003-04-10 | 2003-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-09 | 2007-04-10 | 2007-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |