US5846205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter-mounted, phased-array ultrasound transducer with improved imaging
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
•
Filing: 1997-01-31
•
Granted: 1998-12-08
•
Expires: 2017-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A phased-array ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a catheter. An end portion is mounted to the catheter around a transducer array, and the end portion defines an acoustic window which is essentially non-focusing to ultrasonic energy passing therethrough. Because the acoustic window is non-focusing, a relatively small radius of curvature can be used on the radially outer surface of this window.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael G. Curley
- 👤 Diana M. Tasker
- 👤 Cynthia C. Becker
- 👤 Randall L. Schlesinger
- 👤 John W. Eaton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0052; A61B8/44; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0136; A61B18/00; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A phased-array ultrasonic transducer comprising: a catheter comprising a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; an array of transducer elements carried by the distal end of the catheter, said array defining an azimuthal axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; said catheter comprising an end portion positioned adjacent and radially outwardly from the array, said end portion conducting ultrasound waves to and from an active surface of the array with a speed greater than about 1250 m/sec and being substantially non-focusing to said ultrasound waves; said end portion characterized by a maximum cross-sectional dimension less than about 8 mm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A phased-array ultrasonic transducer comprising: a catheter comprising a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; an array of transducer elements carried by the distal end of the catheter, said array defining an azimuthal axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; said catheter comprising an end portion positioned adjacent and radially outwardly from the array, said end portion conducting ultrasound waves to and from an active surface of the array with a speed greater than about 1250 m/sec and being substantially non-focusing to said ultrasound waves; said end portion characterized by a maximum cross-sectional dimension less than about 8 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than about 3.3 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than about 2 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises an acoustic window positioned adjacent the active surface of the array, said window comprising a radially outer surface; wherein the radially outer surface is characterized by a radius of curvature substantially equal to one half of the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the end portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein the end portion is substantially circular in cross section through the acoustic window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises urethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1 or 6 wherein the catheter comprises a catheter shaft, and wherein the end portion is molded to the catheter shaft around the array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein the end portion is molded as a single component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises Pebax.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1 or 9 wherein the end portion comprises a pre-molded element that is assembled over the array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein the end portion is adhered to the array by thermally softening the end portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 10, wherein the end portion is pre-molded as a single component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from the active surface of the array with a speed greater than about 1410 m/sec.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasonic waves to and from the active surface of the array with a speed greater than or equal to about 1570 m/sec.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises a thermoformed thermoplastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from an active surface of the array with a speed greater than about 1500 m/sec.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said end portion is substantially defocusing to said ultrasound waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from an active surface of the array with a speed matched to a speed of sound in tissue, wherein said tissue is blood.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from the active surface with a speed of 1570 m/sec +or -20%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from the active surface with a speed of 1570 m/sec +or -10%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from the active surface with a speed of 1570 m/sec +or -5%.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said end portion conducts ultrasound waves to and from the active surface with a speed of about 1570 m/sec.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the end portion comprises an acoustic window positioned adjacent the active surface of the array, said window comprising a radially outer surface shaped as a portion of a cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3938502A
Cited
US4605009A
Cited
US4794931A
Cited
US4841977A
Cited
US4917097A
Cited
US4947852A
Cited
US5375602A
Cited
US5345940A
Cited
US5325860A
Cited
US5713363A
Cited
US5704361A
Cited
US5297553A
Cited
US5291893A
Cited
US5417219A
Cited
US5368037A
Cited
US5398689A
Cited
US5476107A
Cited
US5400785A
Cited
US5562096A
Cited
US5699805A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |