Patent · US Expired

Echogenic devices, material and method

US5201314A · kind A · utility

146Cited by
14References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 1992
Grant dateApr 13, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/3925
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Echogenic medical devices and methods of fabrication and of use are disclosed. The devices are adapted to be inserted into a patient. The device includes an elongated member including a material having an acoustic impedance different from that of the surrounding medium. The medium includes surrounding biological tissue or fluids surrounding the member when inserted into a passageway of the patient. The acoustic impedance of the elongated member is sufficiently different from the surrounding medium for enhancing an image produced in response to a sonic beam produced from imaging equipment. The elongated member also includes an interface layer of a high density metal of which the deposition on the base material of the member is ion beam assisted. The interface layer includes an outside surface having a plurality of particulate-type, discontinuous curved surfaces of partially spherical indentations formed therein or spheres extending therefrom. The difference between the acoustic impedances of the interface layer and the surrounding medium along with the discontinuous surfaces of the interface layer cooperate in response to a beam from sonic imaging equipment to significantly enhance …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.