Method for manufacturing an end portion surrounding a catheter-mounted phased-array ultrasound transducer
US6149599A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00916
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The preferred embodiments include a method for manufacturing an end portion surrounding a catheter-mounted phased-array ultrasound transducer. The material used for the end portion can be altered to give the end portion focusing, defocusing, or non-focusing characteristics. In one preferred embodiment, a thermoplastic material is injection molded or insert molded around a phased-array ultrasound transducer carried at a distal end of a catheter. In another preferred embodiment, a thermoset material is used to form the end portion using a casting or transfer molding technique. In yet another preferred embodiment, the phased-array ultrasound transducer is placed into a pre-formed end portion. The pre-formed end portion can be adhesively-attached to the phased-array transducer and catheter. If the pre-formed end portion is made from a thermoplastic material, the end portion can be thermally melted to attach the end portion to the phased-array transducer and catheter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.