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:
Feb. 12, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 12, 2004
Stephen W. Smith, Durham, NC (US);
Matthew Fronheiser, Bally, PA (US);
Rebecca Booi, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Patrick D. Wolf, Durham, NC (US);
Stephen W. Smith, Durham, NC (US);
Matthew Fronheiser, Bally, PA (US);
Rebecca Booi, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Patrick D. Wolf, Durham, NC (US);
Duke University, Durham, NC (US);
Abstract
An oscillating shaft is scanned to provide images including the oscillating shaft in vivo in real-time with a real-time three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound scanner. An interventional device can be guided in vivo using an ultrasound scanner and includes a sheath having a bore therethrough from a proximal portion to a spaced-apart distal portion. A shaft has a proximal portion and a spaced-apart distal portion and is configured for insertion into the bore of the sheath. A vibrator is coupled to the proximal portion of the shaft and is configured to cause the distal portion of the shaft to oscillate at a shaft frequency. An isolator is coupled to the proximal portion of the sheath and to the vibrator, wherein the isolator is configured to reduce damping of an oscillation of the shaft by the sheath.