Acuson Corporation

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Vytronus, Inc.

John P Mohr, Iii

Sevig Ayter

Worth B Walters

John W Sliwa, Jr

Hira V Thapliyal

David A Gallup

James W Arenson

Vaughn R Marian

Robert Brommer

Tim Proulx

John Alexander Hossack

Samuel M Howard

Matthew T Spigelmyer

Michael H Ikeda

Rick L Edmiston

Champa G Sridhar

A method for creating a transmural lesion in tissue includes positioning a distal portion of a catheter near the tissue, where an ultrasound transducer is attached to the distal portion and is operatively coupled to a console and processor. The tissue is imaged by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a first power level to produce an ultrasound beam, where the imaging determines a thickness of the tissue, and a gap distance between the ultrasound transducer and the tissue. The tissue is ablated by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a second power level to produce the ultrasound beam. Energy delivered to the tissue during the ablating is controlled, using the processor, where the processor adjusts a speed of the ultrasound beam moving across the tissue based on the thickness and gap distance, to create the transmural lesion.

Methods for imaging and ablating body tissue

A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.

Systems and methods for imaging and ablating body tissue

Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are polymericly bonded together and electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Multi-layered transducer array and method for bonding and isolating

Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements are manufactured by one or more of: (1) stacking to form a multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional array where the layers are polymericly bonded and electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) using air or gas to separate at least two elements, (3) stacking an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) using multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Method of manufacturing a multi-dimensional transducer array

Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are polymericly bonded and electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Multi-layered transducer array and method having identical layers

Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers polymerically bonded together where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Multi-dimensional transducer array and method with air separation

A plurality of piezomaterial bodies, such as panels or slices, are merged together to form a larger piezomaterial body. For example, a 0.75&times;22 cm polycrystalline piezomaterial body is formed, where the distances are along lateral or footprint dimensions. The thickness of the piezomaterial body is substantially less than either of the distances along first and second lateral dimensions that define the footprint. Preferably, each piezomaterial body has a panel shape, and a plurality of panels are merged to form a large multi-panel.

Medical diagnostic ultrasound transducer and method of manufacture

Transducer array using multi-layered elements and a method of manufacture thereof

Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are poymericly electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Transducer array using multi-layered elements having an even number of elements and a method of manufacture thereof

A multilayered transducer assembly and the method of fabricating a multilayered transducer assembly using commercially available sheets of piezoelectric material and depositing electrodes thereon. The top and bottom surfaces of each layer have a major and a minor electrode formed thereon. The layers are stacked together so that the minority electrode formed on one layer is in contact with a minority layer formed on an adjacent layer and a majority layer formed on a surface is in contact with a majority electrode formed on an adjacent layer.

Multilayer transducer assembly and the method for the manufacture thereof

A low mass in the acoustic path flex circuit that has a thin metal layer in the acoustic path area and thicker electrical traces. The low mass flex circuit allows for mass termination of the signal and ground traces with the electrodes of the piezoelectric piezoelements. Regions that are to be diced are reduced in thickness to decrease the loading on the dicing blade during fabrication.

Low mass in the acoustic path flexible circuit interconnect and method

An ultrasound transducer comprising an array of individual piezoelectric transducer elements mounted upon an improved backing comprising rigid polymeric or polymer-coated particles fused into a macroscopically rigid structure having remnant tortuous permeability to provide high acoustic attenuation and to permit fluid passage into the backing structure during fabrication.

Ultrasound transducer with improved rigid backing

A method is described for making a piezoelectric composite for building an acoustic transducer from two or more pieces of piezoelectric material. Each piece of material is cut to form slots or trenches having a uniform pitch spacing and material portions of uniform width such that the material portions of one piece may be received within the slots or trenches of the other. The pieces are then interdigitated and joined to make the piezoelectric composite.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

John P Mohr, Iii