Endosonics Corporation

Volcano Corporation

University of California

University of Southern California

Cedars-sinai Medical Center

Volcano Therapeutics, Inc.

Douglas N Stephens

Matthew N O'Donnell

Michael J Eberle

Horst F Kiepen

Gerald Lea Litzza

Gary P Rizzuti

Katherine W Ferrara

Andreas Hodjicostis

David H Rammler

Gadi Pelled

Dan Gazit

Qifa Zhou

Ching-Chen Wu

David Bleam

Thomas Matthew Cummins

Adam D Savakus

Daniel S Haviland

Randy Ziegenbein

Robert G Wodnicki

Andrew P Proudian, Deceased

An ultrasound transmitter device for treating a patient is provided. The ultrasound transmitter device includes an imaging probe; an imaging array; and a therapeutic ultrasound device, wherein the imaging probe is configured to guide the therapeutic ultrasound device to the patients treatment site by use of ultrasound imaging with the imaging array, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound device is configured to produce a controlled intensity of ultrasound energy for treating the patients treatment site, and wherein the imaging probe and the therapeutic ultrasound device are configured to work in conjunction with one another to apply therapeutic ultrasound to tissue or bone graft sites in the patient.

Transfection and drug delivery

A modular array includes modular array includes one or more array modules. Each array module includes one or more transducer arrays, where each of the one or more transducer arrays includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements; a conducting interposer arranged and configured to provide acoustic absorbing backing for the one or more transducer arrays; and one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The conducting interposer and the one or more ASICs are in electrical contact with each other at a first direct electrical interface. Additionally, the conducting interposer and the one or more transducer arrays are in electrical contact with each other at a second direct electrical interface.

Modular piezoelectric sensor array with co-integrated electronics and beamforming channels

An ultrasound transducer assembly of the present invention includes a flexible circuit to which an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry are attached during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly. The flexible circuit comprises a flexible substrate to which the integrated circuitry and transducer elements are attached while the flexible substrate is in a substantially flat shape. The flexible circuit further comprises electrically conductive lines that are deposited upon the flexible substrate. The electrically conductive lines transport electrical signals between the integrated circuitry and the transducer elements. After assembly, the flexible circuit is re-shapable into a final form such as, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape.

High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate

An ultrasound transducer array () includes at least one transducer element () having a first () and second () portions separated by an acoustical discontinuity (). The first portion () has the desired length to form a half-wave k31 resonance, while the second portion () has a resonant length for an undesired very low frequency out-of-band k31 resonance. The thickness of the transducer element () is designed for k33 half-resonance. Given the design, the transducer element () can operate and provide for both forward-looking () and side looking () elevation apertures. A method is also disclosed for using the disclosed ultrasound transducer () in ultrasound imaging.

Method and apparatus for delivering therapy in and association with an intravascular ultrasound device

An ultrasound transducer array ( ) includes at least one transducer element ( ) having a first ( ) and second ( ) portions separated by an acoustical discontinuity ( ). The first portion ( ) has the desired length to form a half-wave k resonance, while the second portion ( ) has a resonant length for an undesired very low frequency out-of-band k resonance. The thickness of the transducer element ( ) is designed for k half-resonance. Given the design, the transducer element ( ) can operate and provide for both forward-looking ( ) and side looking ( ) elevation apertures. A method is also disclosed for using the disclosed ultrasound transducer ( ) in ultrasound imaging.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic imaging

An ultrasound transducer array ( ) includes at least one transducer element ( ) having a first ( ) and second ( ) portions separated by an acoustical discontinuity ( ). The first portion ( ) has the desired length to form a half-wave k31 resonance, while the second portion ( ) has a resonant length for an undesired very low frequency out-of-band k31 resonance. The thickness of the transducer element ( ) is designed for k33 half-resonance. Given the design, the transducer element ( ) can operate and provide for both forward-looking ( ) and side looking ( ) elevation apertures. A method is also disclosed for using the disclosed ultrasound transducer ( ) in ultrasound imaging.

A catheter position guide (,) includes a first open channel (,) along the length of the position guide (,) designed to receive a catheter (,). An optional second channel (,) substantially on the opposite side of the first channel (,) is designed to receive a guide wire (,). One or more hubs (,) help retain the catheter position guide's proximal end (,) to a pullback device (,).

Positioning device

A blood flow detection and imaging method and system is described for displaying images in accordance with signals transmitted from an intravascular ultrasound transducer probe. The image processor includes means for independently designating persistence factors for smoothing calculated speed and power of the dynamic portion of a field of view within a vasculature. Furthermore, the designation of a particular image point within a field of view as a dynamic image point (such as a blood flow region) as opposed to a static image point (such as a tissue region) is determined by averaging signal values for image points proximate to an image point of interest over both time and space.

Method and apparatus for creating a color blood flow image based upon

An apparatus and method are described for imaging blood flow from within a vasculature. An ultrasound catheter probe carrying an ultrasound transducer array is inserted within a blood vessel. The transducer array emits ultrasound excitation signals and receives ultrasound echo waveforms reflected from blood and tissue in a region of the vasculature. A series of the echo waveforms resulting from a series of excitation signals are combined in a manner such that the echo signals from static features in the region, such as tissue and plaque, are significantly attenuated. The combined signal primarily represents the relatively dynamic features in the region (i.e. the blood flow). A blood flow image is constructed from the combined signal. The blood flow image is colorized and combined with an image of the relatively static features in the region. Thereafter, the combined image is displayed on a video display.

Apparatus and method for detecting blood flow in intravascular

An in vivo imaging device is provided for producing real-time images of small, moving or stationary cavities and surrounding tissue structure. The imaging device includes a probe assembly of very small dimensions and preferably sufficiently small to fit within cavities having a diameter on the order of that of a human coronary artery. The probe assembly may be mounted to a positioning device such as a catheter, which allows for the use of, for example, conventional guiding catheters and guide wires.

Growing community of inventors

Davis, CA, United States of America

Douglas N Stephens