Acuson Corporation

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Acounson Corporation

Vaughn R Marian

Amin M Hanafy

Jay Sterling Plugge

David Joseph Rosa

John W Sliwa, Jr

John W Eaton

John P Mohr, Iii

Richard Demartini

John Alexander Hossack

James W Arenson

William John Park

David A Petersen

Sevig Ayter

Richard W Henderson

Stephen Roy Barnes

Worth B Walters

Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh

Robert Mesaros

Michael G Curley

John J Cabrall

Todor Sheljaskow

Richard James Stevens

Richard A Lyon

Matthew T Spigelmyer

Donald R Mullen

Douglas M Bruce

Rick L Edmiston

Mirsaid S Boloforosh

David I Bruce

Paul E Cayer

Jean S Polinger

Tim Thigpen

A position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter or other probe is aligned with tissue of interest. Ultrasound tissue images may be registered to the catheter position with minimal rotational ambiguity. The spatial position of an ablation catheter or other device with respect to the imaging plane is more accurately determined, allowing a physician to identify specific anatomy in the relative location of a catheter or catheters. Another alternative or additional approach to determining the position of an imaging plane is to determine the relative position of two or more catheters. A catheter associated with imaging is then moved or bent in a direction having a known spatial relationship with the imaging plane. The position of the catheter is relative to each is then determined again to determine the angle or position of the imaging plane. In addition or as an alternative to determining an angular position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter, an ultrasound image of tissue is generated with acoustic elements for position identification. The acoustic elements are used as an imaging transducer array as well as devices for determining relative positions of the catheters.

Image plane sensing methods and systems for intra-patient probes

An ultrasound transducer assembly is disclosed having a housing, a transducer array mounted in the housing and an electronics assembly mounted in the housing, the electronics assembly including one or more sub-assemblies having heat generating components disposed thereon. The electronics sub-assemblies further include thermal conducting features which conduct heat generated by the heat generating components out of the electronics assembly where it can be further removed by other thermal management techniques. These other thermal management techniques may include techniques utilized to cool the transducer array.

System and method for actively cooling transducer assembly electronics

The preferred embodiments described herein provide electrical and mechanical enhancements for a modular transducer system. In one preferred embodiment, a multiplexer is provided to reduce the number of circuits required to support a given transducer configuration. The multiplexer can be integrated into the scan head or the receptacle assembly of the modular transducer system. In another preferred embodiment, a scan head is provided with circuitry operative to compensate for mismatch in electrical impedance by increasing energy transfer between the transducer array and the cable assembly. In yet another preferred embodiment, a scan head is provided with circuitry operative to form a band pass filter programmable by the medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system. With a further preferred embodiment, a scan head is provided with a non-volatile memory device. Some other preferred embodiments describe mechanical enhancements for the modular transducer system. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Electrical and mechanical enhancements for a modular transducer system

An intraoperative or endocavity ultrasound probe for insertion into a patient is provided. An adaptable or adjustable section is provided between the handle and the transducer for rotating the transducer relative to the handle prior to insertion within the patient. The adjustable or adaptable section maintains the adjusted or rotated position while the probe is in use within the patient. The adjustable or adaptable section stays in the same pre-bent position, such as by using a memory-less device or material, and is free of user adjustment while the probe is in use.

Adaptable intraoperative or endocavity ultrasound probe

The present invention is an ultrasound imaging system comprising a transducer assembly having a scan-head, a non-volatile means for storing data related to transducer usage, user comments, technical support, maintenace of the transducer assembly, operational imaging system software for at least one imaging system, transducer assembly identification, and settings of an ultrasound imaging apparatus coupled with the transducer assembly. The transducer assembly and ultrasound imaging apparatus may commuicate with each other.

System and method for using an ultrasound transducer with an integrated transducer information system

The preferred embodiments described herein provide medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system transmitter control in a modular transducer system. With these preferred embodiments, transmitters in a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system are enabled only when contacts in a scan head are electrically coupled with contacts in a receptacle assembly of a modular transducer system. This prevents high voltages from developing in the receptacle assembly when the scan head is removed from or is not fully engaged with the receptacle assembly. In one preferred embodiment, a detector is used to detect movement of a member comprising the contacts in the receptacle assembly. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system transmitter control in a modular transducer system

A system and method for diagnostic ultrasound imaging with a probe combining one or more ultrasound imaging transducer elements and a body-tissue parameter measurement mechanism to detect body-tissue properties. At least one ultrasound transducer element provides an ultrasound image field of view of at least a portion of the body-tissue being measured by the parameter measurement mechanism. The parameter measurement mechanism is typically a mechanically or electrically operated mechanism attached to the probe near at least one ultrasound transducer element in order to combine information from the body-tissue parameter measurement mechanism and ultrasound transducer element for easier identification of abnormal body-tissue properties (e.g., tumors, dead, or diseased body-tissue).

System and method for assessing body-tissue properties using a medical ultrasound transducer probe with a body-tissue parameter measurement mechanism

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

An ultrasonic transducer includes an elongated catheter that carries a phased linear array of ultrasonic transducer elements at a distal end. This array is aligned with the azimuthal axis of the array oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter near the distal end. Two sets of steering lines are carried by the catheter and coupled to the catheter near the distal end. The first set of steering lines is effective to steer the distal end in a first plane, and the second set of steering lines is effective to steer the distal end in a second plane, transverse to the first plane.

Steering mechanism and steering line for a catheter-mounted ultrasonic transducer

An ultrasound transducer having a field of view greater than 180.degree., and having a physical shape which permits it to be employed in the investigation and observation of the anatomy, or other body, object or region of interest, having limited access. A plurality of ultrasound transducer arrays are provided, each having a field of view defining an image plane, wherein the axis of each transducer array lies within its corresponding defined image plane. Preferably, the plurality of transducer arrays are positioned end-to-end and nonaxially aligned with the image planes of all transducer arrays coincident, and with each transducer array having a field of view of about 90.degree., whereby a resulting combined field of view greater than 90.degree. is produced.

Multi-array pencil-sized untrasound transducer and method of imaging and

Multi-array pencil-sized ultrasound transducer and method of imaging and

A steering mechanism for an ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis that extends generally parallel to the proximal end of a catheter. An annular steering ring is mounted to the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis, and a steering hub is mounted for rotation in the housing and coupled to the steering ring such that rotation of the steering ring with respect to the housing causes rotation of the steering hub. A steering line is secured adjacent the steering hub and extends to the distal end of the catheter such that rotation of the steering hub alters the effective length of the steering line to steer the distal end. The steering line is preferably formed of a stranded polymer such as a gel spun polyethylene.

Steering mechanism and steering line for a catheter-mounted ultrasonic

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

There is provided a two-dimensional array for use in an acoustic imaging system which comprises a plurality of transducer segments each having a trace for exciting an electrode on each of the transducer segments, the trace and the electrode being formed of the same material. The two-dimensional array disclosed is capable of imaging deeper in the human body at higher frequencies and provides more reliable lead attachments to the respective segments forming the array. Methods of manufacturing the two-dimensional array are further provided.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Vaughn R Marian