Acist Medical Systems, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Richard A Bautista

Robert Zelenka

David Allan White

Donald S Mamayek

Isaac J Kim

Thomas C Moore

Veijo T Suorsa

Kendall R Waters

Dennis M Mendoza

David Johnson

A catheter extension can include an extension body with a sheath defining a lumen, a cable extending within the lumen, a proximal connector attached to the sheath and configured to couple to a catheter drive mechanism, and a distal connector attached to the sheath and configured to couple to a catheter. An axial biasing member can be coupled to the cable and integrated into either the proximal or distal connector and configured to exert a force on the cable in a first axial direction and permit movement of the cable in a second axial direction. An axial key can be coupled to the cable and integrated into the connector opposite the axial biasing member. The axial key can include a tab attached to the cable and a slot with an inner profile that complements a tab outer profile that can permit the tab to move in within the slot.

Catheter extension

An ultrasonic transducer includes a backing element, an active element overlying the backing layer, and a matching element overlying the active element, the matching element having an inner surface that contacts the active element and an outer surface with a non-homogeneous texture and/or material composition. The matching element may be formed by subtractive or deposition techniques.

Ultrasound transducer and processing methods thereof

An ultrasound catheter includes an elongated body, a first and second ablation element each configured to ablate soft tissue and an imaging core having an ultrasound transducer. In another example, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongated body, a RF ablator configured to ablate soft tissue at a frequency less than 1 MHz, and an ultrasound transducer configured to image at a frequency greater than or equal to 10 MHz. In another example, an ultrasound catheter apparatus includes an ultrasound catheter having an ablator and an ultrasound transducer, and a graphical user interface displayed using a computer processor. The graphical user interface displays a real-time image of a treatment area and the ultrasound catheter, and a chart displaying ablation as a function of time, the chart being updated in real-time.

Catheters for imaging and ablating tissue

The present invention provides ultrasound transducers, and imaging assemblies and catheters employing such transducers, that provide improved imaging capabilities. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging assembly (,) includes a housing having a distal end (,), a proximal end (,) and a longitudinal axis. A transducer element (,) is included having an outer face. The outer face has a first radius of curvature along a first axis and a second radius of curvature along a second axis. The transducer element is operably attached to the distal end to position the first axis to be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to provide improved cross-plane resolution.

Focused ultrasound transducers and systems

In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging assembly (,) includes a housing (,) having a longitudinal axis (,), a proximal end (,), and a distal ending (,) defining a receptacle (,). The imaging assembly includes a transducer package (,) having a central axis (,) and an imaging surface (,) positioned at a desired angle (,) relative to the central axis. The transducer package is at least partially disposed within the receptacle so that the central axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Such a configuration permits a relatively large percentage of the ultrasound signal to pass through a sheath (,) surrounding the imaging assembly and reduces assembly-to-assembly variations.

Machined tilt transducer and methods of making

In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging assembly (80) includes a housing (82) having a longitudinal axis (88), a proximal end (86), and a distal ending (84) defining a receptacle (90). The imaging assembly includes a transducer package (60) having a central axis (62) and an imaging surface (66) positioned at a desired angle (106) relative to the central axis. The transducer package is at least partially disposed within the receptacle so that the central axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Such a configuration permits a relatively large percentage of the ultrasound signal to pass through a sheath (120) surrounding the imaging assembly and reduces assembly-to-assembly variations.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Richard A Bautista