Tetrad Corporation

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Technicare Corporation

Maui Imaging, Inc.

Other

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Dennis Raymond Dietz

Clyde Gerald Oakley

Joseph V Ranalletta

Ryan C Patterson

Craig T Nordhausen

Clyde G Oakley

David J Messick

Michael J Fife

Jim H Polenske

David M Smith

Sharon L Adam

Richard W Denny

Lawrence J Busse

Johannes Haftmann

Eckehart Zimmermann

Daniel H Todd

Paul N Latulippe

Mark Nathaniel Donhowe

Daidipya J Patwa

Michael Joseph Zipparo

John L Loewen

Joseph A Huppenthal

Joe F Guess

Stephen J Douglas

William M Glenn, Jr

Wing K Law

Charles F Hottinger

Monica Page Johnson

Duane Morgan

David W Wilson

Paul A Bielewicz

Paul T Diaz

Michael Robert LaBree

Curtis J Franklin

Shawn D Quick

Thomas L Tolt

John E Shishilla

Michael Robert La Bree

The effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe can be increased by including more than one transducer array and using the transducer elements of all of the arrays to render an image can greatly improve the lateral resolution of the generated image. In order to render an image, the relative positions of all of the elements must be known precisely. Systems and methods for accurately calibrating and adjusting a multi-aperture ultrasound system are disclosed. The relative positions of the transducer elements can be computed and aligned prior to and during probe assembly.

Alignment of ultrasound transducer arrays and multiple aperture probe assembly

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of a catheter body. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The deflectable member may be interconnected to the catheter body by a live hinge. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter body. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter body and when pivoted relative to the catheter body.

Catheter

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter and when pivoted relative to the catheter. When pivoted relative to the catheter, the ultrasound transducer array may have a field of view distal to the distal end of the catheter.

Catheter with deflectable imaging device and bendable electrical conductor

An ultrasound catheter probe assembly capable of scanning a three-dimensional volume is provided. The ultrasound catheter probe assembly contains a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed along a central axis of the ultrasound catheter probe assembly. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is disposed on a mechanism operable to reciprocally pivot the plurality of ultrasonic transducers enabling the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to scan a three-dimensional volume. A helically disposed electrical interconnection member may be disposed about a pivot axis of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and may electrically interconnect the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound transducer catheter probe assembly may be fluid-filled and contain bubble position control and fluid expansion compensation features.

Real time ultrasound catheter probe

Catheter with deflectable imaging device

An improved ultrasound transducer assembly, e.g. a thickness-mode transducer assembly includes a plurality of elements comprising piezoelectric material, and a backing material disposed adjacent to a back surface of the plurality of elements. The piezoelectric material and backing material define at least a portion of a side surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is disposed upon and in contact with at least a portion of the side surface. The elements may comprise one or a plurality of front electrodes, and one or a plurality of back electrodes, wherein the front electrode(s) is electrically interconnected to the electrically conductive material disposed on the side surface portion. In a mass processing method, a plurality of thickness-mode ultrasound probe transducer assemblies may be produced, wherein a plurality of interconnected transducer subassemblies comprising a mass backing are processed in tandem.

Method of manufacturing an ultrasound probe transducer assembly

An improved acoustic lens and an improved ultrasonic transducer system comprising an improved acoustic lens and related methods are provided. The improved acoustic lens may have a uniform loss along an elevation axis or may have a loss along the elevation axis that provides for an apodization of an acoustic signal. The improved acoustic lens may be a multi-component lens. In a two-component lens embodiment, the inner lens component, for interfacing with a transducer, may have a concave outer surface and the outer lens component may have a flat or convex outer surface. In a three-component lens embodiment, the inner lens component, for interfacing with a transducer, may have a concave outer surface, the middle lens component may have a concave outer surface and the outer lens component may have a flat or convex outer surface.

Apodizing ultrasonic lens

A sheath for receiving an ultrasonic probe and for defining the relative position of the probe with respect to a biopsy gun or a rigid needle is used for precise placement of the biopsy gun or needle tip in a structure. The sheath may comprise a keyhole-shaped slot for placement of a rigid needle through a puncture separate from a surgical port through which the sheath itself and the probe are introduced. A flexible catheter can thus be placed in a structure, using the ultrasonic probe to monitor its placement, followed by removal of the probe sheath and surgical port, leaving the catheter in place.

Sheath and methods of ultrasonic guidance of biopsy and catheter

Sheath and methods of ultrasonic guidance for biopsy and catheter

A bendable ultrasonic probe useful in endosurgical operations is provided having a therapy channel with a shape that is substantially unaffected by bending of the probe. The probe can be used to convey substantially nonbendable tools to the vicinity of an ultrasonic device that has been repositioned by bending the probe. A sheath is provided having a rigid, self-supporting body portion that may be used with the bendable ultrasonic probe. The sheath may have a therapy channel for conveying surgical tools. Also, the sheath may have a flexible balloon on one end for accommodating the bendable portion of the probe, which is disposed in the flexible balloon.

Bendable ultrasonic probe and sheath for use therewith

A medical endosurgical device is provided having both ultrasonic imaging and biopsy capabilities for easy grasping and manipulation by a surgeon. The medical endosurgical apparatus includes an ultrasonic imaging probe having an insertion portion with an ultrasonic device near the insertion tip and a probe handle for manipulating the ultrasonic imaging probe to position the ultrasonic device in the patient's body. The medical endosurgical device also includes a biopsy actuator that is mounted on the handle of the ultrasonic imaging probe so that a biopsy needle assembly exiting from the biopsy actuator is oriented to the field of view of the ultrasonic device on the probe. The medical endosurgical apparatus may also include a rigid sheath disposed over the insertion portion of the ultrasonic imaging probe that is engaged with and oriented to the ultrasonic imaging probe such that a biopsy needle assembly passing through a lumen in the rigid sheath would be oriented to the field of view of the ultrasonic device.

Endosurgical ultrasonic probe with integrated biopsy actuator

The invention relates to a medical ultrasonic imaging probe, such as may be used in laparoscopic surgery. A probe is provided having both forward viewing and side viewing ultrasonic capabilities. An apparatus is provided for manipulating and orienting video ultrasound images on a video monitor according to the position of the probe. A probe is also provided having both an ultrasonic device and a surgical tool, such as an electrocautery hook for excising and/or cauterizing tissue, that can be closely monitored by the ultrasonic device. Also provided is an ultrasonic probe having lumens for placing ultrasonically transmissive medium adjacent to ultrasonic transducers. A removable, rigid sheath is provided to fit over a laparoscopic probe. Removable sheath that includes a lumen for transmission of surgical tools and the like, an inner chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive medium and sealed with a breakable membrane, a balloon that can be inflated with ultrasonically transmissive medium, and lumens for injecting ultrasonically transmissive medium in the vicinity of a probe's ultrasonic device of a probe inserted into the sheath are disclosed.

Laparoscopic probes and probe sheaths useful in ultrasonic imaging

The present invention provides an apparatus that is useful in obtaining blood flow information. The device includes a carrier that, in preferred embodiments of the invention, includes either a catheter or guide wire. The device further includes at least one transducer that is capable of generating and/or receiving an ultrasonic signal that departs or is received, respectively, by the transducer at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow. One embodiment of the apparatus employs a transducer that is capable of generating a surface acoustic wave (SAW) that, upon contact with blood, is converted into a 'leaky' wave. Another embodiment of the device employs a transducer that utilizes the grating lobe effect to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow.

Ultrasonic apparatus for use in obtaining blood flow information

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Dennis Raymond Dietz