Forward-scanning ultrasound catheter probe
US6200269A · kind A · utility
52Cited by
7References
31Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/4461
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A forward-scanning ultrasound catheter probe. An ultrasound catheter probe includes a forward-scanning transducer positioned at the tip of the probe. As such, the forward-scanning transducer may provide images of structures that may lie ahead of the tip of the probe. Furthermore, the forward-scanning transducer is repositioned by a drive mechanism coupled to the front-scanning transducer to provide a sector scan. In one embodiment, a bimorph piezoelectric drive is utilized to sweep the forward-scanning transducer across an arc to provide an imaging area associated with a sector scan.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.