The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 26, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1992
Dennis R Dietz, Littleton, CO (US);
Lawrence J Busse, Littleton, CO (US);
Tetrad Corporation, Englewood, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus that is useful in obtaining blood flow information. The device includes a carrier that, in preferred embodiments of the invention, includes either a catheter or guide wire. The device further includes at least one transducer that is capable of generating and/or receiving an ultrasonic signal that departs or is received, respectively, by the transducer at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow. One embodiment of the apparatus employs a transducer that is capable of generating a surface acoustic wave (SAW) that, upon contact with blood, is converted into a 'leaky' wave. Another embodiment of the device employs a transducer that utilizes the grating lobe effect to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals at an angle to the surface of the transducer that is exposed to the blood flow.