Intravascular ultrasound imaging guidewire
US5660180A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/52017
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging guidewire apparatus for ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of blood vessels, comprising: an elongated, flexible, catheter guide (10) having a plurality of electrical conductors, a transducer seat (11), attached to transducer seat (11) an ultrasonic transducer (14), a flexible distal guidewire (12). Distal guidewire (12) may be ended at its distal end with a protective ball (23). A rotary drive unit (28) for rotation of imaging guidewire together with transducer (14), and an electronic computer (30) for processing signals, obtained by reflecting ultrasonic pulses from tissue of the vessel surrounding transducer (14), into cross-sectional images of vessels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.