Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Acist Medical Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Donald Masters

Thomas C Moore

Peter Thornton, Jr

David Allan White

Eric Williams

Veijo T Suorsa

Donald S Mamayek

Martin Belef

E Scott Harshman

Anthony J Pantages

Kendall R Waters

Zihong Guo

Duc Lam

Stuart L Carp

John Douglas Marshall

Chandru Chandrasekaran

Ryan Kaveckis

J Steve Reynolds

Veijo Soursa

Scott Harshman

Gaylin Mildred Yee

Jesus Andres Lopez, Iii

Duc H Lam

An ultrasonic catheter is disclosed. The ultrasonic catheter comprises a micro-electromechanical (MEMS) based Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (pMUT) array disposed within a distal end of a body. The ultrasonic catheter further comprises a plurality of electronic flex circuits, connected at one end to a handle connector and at other end to a first layer of AIC. The handle connector passes ultrasound signals to the distal end via the plurality of electronic flex circuits. Further, a distal pMUT interposer is disposed between the first layer and a second layer of AIC, with InvisiVia connections. The InvisiVia connection is configured to bring the electronic flex circuit from one side of the distal pMUT interposer to the other. Further, the MEMS based pMUT array sends a pressure wave and receives a returning pressure wave echo via the InvisiVia connections of the distal pMUT interposer.

Ultrasonic catheter

An intravascular ultrasound imaging system comprises a catheter having an elongated body having a distal end and an imaging core arranged to be inserted into the elongated body. The imaging core is arranged to transmit ultrasonic energy pulses and to receive reflected ultrasonic energy pulses. The system further includes an imaging engine coupled to the imaging core and arranged to provide the imaging core with energy pulses to cause the imaging core to transmit the ultrasonic energy pulses. The energy pulses are arranged in repeated sequences and the energy pulses of each sequence have varying characteristics. The reflected pulses may be processed to provide a composite image of images resulting from each different characteristic.

Intravascular ultrasound system for co-registered imaging

An intravascular ultrasound imaging system with a catheter having an elongated body having a distal end and an imaging core arranged to be inserted into the elongated body. The imaging core is arranged to transmit ultrasonic energy pulses and to receive reflected ultrasonic energy pulses. The system further includes an imaging engine coupled to the imaging core and arranged to provide the imaging core with energy pulses to cause the imaging core to transmit the ultrasonic energy pulses. The energy pulses are arranged in repeated sequences and the energy pulses of each sequence have varying characteristics. The reflected pulses may be processed to provide a composite image of images resulting from each different characteristic.

A medical imaging system includes an imaging device for inserting into a lumen of a catheter. The imaging device includes an ultrasound transducer and bias circuitry electrically coupled to the transducer for biasing the transducer. At least one communication line is coupled to both the ultrasound transducer and the bias circuitry and extends to a proximal end of the catheter. The at least one communication line transmits a transducer drive signal to the transducer and a charge signal to the bias circuitry. At least one inductive coupler is in communication with the at least one communication line. The transducer drive signal and the charge signal are both AC signals. The transducer drive signal has a transducer-drive-signal frequency and the charge signal has a charge-signal frequency that is different than the transducer-drive-signal frequency.

Ultrasound imaging systems with bias circuitry and methods of making and using

Described herein are rotary transformers for coupling signals between components that rotate relative to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, a rotary transformer comprises a rotary shaft, a first magnetic core on the rotary shaft, and a first winding wound around the first magnetic core. The rotary transformer farther comprises a hollow second magnetic core, and a second winding wound along the inner wall of the second magnetic core. During operation, the first winding on the rotary shaft rotates within the second winding with the magnetic cores magnetically coupling signals between the two windings. Also, the first and second windings are closely spaced to provide capacitive coupling between the windings that extends the frequency response of the transformer. In one embodiment, the windings comprises substantially flat conductors wound in the shape of the windings. In another embodiment, each of the windings comprises circular loops connected by jogs.

Rotary transformer

An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Electrical connector

Described herein are rotary transformers for coupling signals between components that rotate relative to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, a rotary transformer comprises a rotary shaft, a first magnetic core on the rotary shaft, and a first winding wound around the first magnetic core. The rotary transformer further comprises a hollow second magnetic core, and a second winding wound along the inner wall of the second magnetic core. During operation, the first winding on the rotary shaft rotates within the second winding with the magnetic cores magnetically coupling signals between the two windings. Also, the first and second windings are closely spaced to provide capacitive coupling between the windings that extends the frequency response of the transformer. In one embodiment, the windings comprises substantially flat conductors wound in the shape of the windings. In another embodiment, each of the windings comprises circular loops connected by jogs.

A catheter assembly for an intravascular ultrasound system includes a catheter, an imaging core, and a shield-coupling capacitor. The catheter defines a lumen extending along a longitudinal length of the catheter. The imaging core is configured and arranged for inserting into the lumen. The imaging core includes a rotatable driveshaft, one or more transducers, one or more conductors, and a conductive shield. The one or more transducers are mounted to the rotatable driveshaft. The one or more conductors are coupled to the one or more transducers and extend along the driveshaft. The conductive shield is disposed around the one or more conductors. The shield-coupling capacitor is electrically coupled to the conductive shield and includes one or more rotating capacitors. The one or more rotating capacitors include one or more rotating plates and one or more stationary plates. The shield-coupling capacitor is configured and arranged for coupling to a system ground.

Shielding for intravascular ultrasound imaging systems and methods of making and using

The present invention provides systems and methods for reducing noise in an imaging catheter system. In an embodiment, a catheter comprises an imaging transducer and a transmission line within the catheter to transmit signals to and from the transducer. To reduce noise caused by exposure of the transmission line to external interference, a choke balun is coupled to the transmission line. In another embodiment, the signal from a rotating imaging transducer of the catheter is coupled to a motor drive unit by a slip ring assembly. The transducer signal is passed through first and second transformers placed on opposite sides of the slip ring assembly to reduce noise from the slip ring assembly. In another embodiment, the catheter includes a position sensor to track the position of the catheter. The position sensor is coupled to a second choke balun to further reduce noise.

Systems and methods for reducing noise in an imaging catheter system

The present invention provides systems and methods for locking and detecting the presence of a catheter. In an embodiment, a catheter system comprises a catheter and a magnet attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The catheter system further comprises a lock receptacle configured to receive and lock the proximal end of the catheter therein, and a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnet, and hence the catheter, when the catheter is locked in the lock receptacle.

Systems and methods for locking and detecting the presence of a catheter

A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Imaging catheter assembly with distal end inductive coupler and embedded transmission line

A combination catheter includes an ultrasound transducer and RF ablation electrode. The ultrasound transducer transmits ultrasound signals into and receives echo signals from a vessel. The echo signals are processed and used to produce an image of the tissue surrounding the catheter. A driveshaft rotates the ultrasound transducer to obtain a 360&deg; view of the vessel wall. At the distal end of the driveshaft is an electrode. An RF generator is electrically coupled to the driveshaft to deliver RF energy to the electrode at the distal end of the driveshaft to ablate occluding material in the vessel. The electrode may have a variety of tip shapes including concave, roughened, or expandable configurations, depending on the size of the vessel and composition of the occluding material to be ablated.

RF ablation and ultrasound catheter for crossing chronic total occlusions

A diagnostic and/or therapeutic catheter having a plurality of ultrasound transducers. In a first embodiment, the center frequencies of the second and third transducers may be substantially equal to a fundamental harmonic and a second harmonic, respectively, of ultrasound waves created by the first transducer. In second embodiment, the second transducer transmits waves with a center frequency substantially equal to the center frequency of the first transducer. In third embodiment, the second transducer has a center frequency that differs from the center frequency of the first transducer and the center frequency of the third transducer may be substantially equal to a difference between the fundamental harmonic of the ultrasound waves transmitted by the first transducer and a fundamental harmonic of ultrasound waves produced by the second transducer.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Donald Masters