Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Volcano Corporation

David G Miller

Michael Peszynski

Ivan Salgo

Heather Beck

Paul Douglas Corl

Bernard Joseph Savord

Rodney J Solomon

Joseph R Fallon

Alexander Tykulsky

Daniel Gerard Maier

Dennis J Buckley

Richard F Dillman

Michael Hoar

Heather Beck Knowles

The invention provides a method of intravascular intervention that includes inserting a guidewire comprising an extended body into a lumen within tissue of a patient, advancing the guidewire into a chronic total occlusion, vibrating a proximal end of the guidewire with a mechanical vibrator, and crossing the chronic total occlusion while a distal end of the guidewire is vibrating.

Vibrating guidewire torquer and methods of use

Rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. The present disclosure is particularly directed to rotary transformers incorporating flex circuits that are suitable for use in rotational IVUS systems. In one embodiment, a rotary transformer for a rotational IVUS device includes: a rotational component and a stationary component. At least one of the rotational and stationary components includes a core formed of a magnetically conductive material and a flex circuit coupled to the core. In some instances, the flex circuit is coupled to the core such that a coil portion of the flex circuit is received within a recess of the core and an extension of the flex circuit extending from the coil portion extends through an opening of the core.

Rotary transformer and associated devices, systems, and methods for rotational intravascular ultrasound

A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue includes a transesophageal probe or a transnasal, transesophageal probe connected to a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The two-dimensional transducer array is disposed on a distal portion of the probe's elongated body. The transmit beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected pattern defined by azimuthal and elevation orientations. The receive beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to acquire ultrasound data from the echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume. The tissue volume is defined by the azimuthal and elevation orientations and a selected scan range. The receive beamformer is constructed to synthesize image data from the acquired ultrasound data. The image generator is constructed to receive the image data and generate images that are displayed on an image display. Preferably, the image generator is constructed to generate, from the image data, several orthographic projection views over the selected tissue volume.

Transesophageal and transnasal, transesophageal ultrasound imaging systems

Wiring an IC, using flexible circuits, by relating a circuit board to an IC and using traces on the circuit board as a second set of input to the IC. More specifically, a set of first lands on the circuit board are connected to a first set of lands on the IC. The circuit board and IC are positioned so as to present a second set of lands on the circuit board in close proximity to a second set of lands on the IC. A first flex circuit is connected to the second lands on the circuit board while a second flex circuit is connected to the second lands on the IC. The flex circuits may be connected to signal wires or may serve themselves as the main signal wires.

Ultrasound probe wiring apparatus

Integrated circuit wiring method

A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Imaging ultrasound transducer temperature control system and method using feedback

A micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) substrate that reduces or eliminates the lateral propagation of acoustic energy includes holes, commonly referred to as vias, formed in the substrate and proximate to a MUT element. The vias in the MUT substrate reduce or eliminate the propagation of acoustic energy traveling laterally in the MUT substrate. The vias can be doped to provide an electrical connection between the MUT element and circuitry present on the surface of an integrated circuit substrate over which the MUT substrate is attached.

Micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) substrate that limits the lateral propagation of acoustic energy

The invention is a wafer having variable acoustic properties. The wafer may be used as a substrate over which to form an ultrasonic transducer, an IC, or may be used as a circuit board. An ultrasonic transducer formed on the wafer may include piezoelectric ceramic transducer elements or MUT elements. By controlling the acoustic impedance of the wafer upon which the integrated control circuitry for an ultrasonic transducer is formed, the acoustic impedance of the wafer can be matched to the acoustic impedance requirements of the ultrasonic transducer. Furthermore, by the addition of internal voids, the wafer reduces or eliminates the lateral propagation of acoustic energy through the wafer.

Ultrasonic transducer wafer having variable acoustic impedance

A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In one exemplary embodiment, a different mutable system parameter is altered based on which imaging mode the system is using. In two other exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Ultrasonic tee probe with two dimensional array transducer

A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention control the temperature of the transducer face by changing the imaging modes of the system. In a preferred embodiment, feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer is used to determine when to switch from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode. In another preferred embodiment, the system switches from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In yet another preferred embodiment, the system switches to a &ldquo;mixed&rdquo; imaging mode, where the system cycles rapidly between a higher power imaging mode and a lower power imaging mode, and the resulting data is combined to form a single image.

Imaging ultrasound transducer temperature control system and method

A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the operator selects one or more mutable system parameters of the ultrasound system which will be changed if either the temperature becomes too great, or at the operator's command, or both.

Operator supervised temperature control system and method for an ultrasound transducer

An ultrasound system and method for intravascular imaging is disclosed. The ultrasound system includes an intravascular catheter with an ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The intravascular catheter has an elongated body made for insertion into a blood vessel and connected to a catheter handle. The catheter includes a catheter core located inside a steerable guide sheath, both having a proximal part and a distal part. The catheter includes an articulation region connected to a positioning device for positioning the transducer array to have a selected orientation relative to an examined tissue region. For each orientation of the transducer array, the transmit and receive beamformers acquire ultrasound data over an image plane of the examined tissue region. The catheter core is connected to a rotation device constructed and arranged to rotate, or oscillate over an angular range, the transducer array that acquires ultrasound data over a multiplicity of image planes. The image generator is constructed to form a selected tissue image based on the acquired ultrasound data.

Growing community of inventors

North Andover, MA, United States of America

David G Miller