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:
Jun. 18, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 21, 1999
Don S. Mamayek, Mountain View, CA (US);
SCIMED Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides ultrasound transducer packages having off-aperture electrical connections, imaging assemblies employing such packages, and methods of making same. In one embodiment, a transducer package ( ) for an imaging catheter includes a transducer element ( ) and a matching layer ( ) operably attached to the transducer element to create an overhang portion ( ) of the matching layer. A lead ( ) is operably attached to the overhang portion. This arrangement permits the transmission of signals to, and receipt from, the transducer by establishing an electrical connection with the overhang portion via the lead. In another embodiment, the matching layer comprises a thermoplastic which can be tuned to have a desired acoustic impedance according to methods of the present invention.