Catheter for intravascular ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging
US8932223B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B18/245
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A design and a fabrication method for an intravascular imaging and therapeutic catheters for combined ultrasound, photoacoustic, and elasticity imaging and for optical and/or acoustic therapy of hollow organs and diseased blood vessels and tissues are disclosed in the present invention. The invention comprises both a device—optical fiber-based intravascular catheter designs for combined IVUS/IVPA, and elasticity imaging and for acoustic and/or optical therapy—and a method of combined ultrasound, photoacoustic, and elasticity imaging and optical and/or acoustic therapy. The designs of the catheters are based on single-element catheter-based ultrasound transducers or on ultrasound array-based units coupled with optical fiber, fiber bundles or a combination thereof with specially designed light delivery systems. One approach uses the side fire fiber, similar to the one utilized for biomedical optical spectroscopy. The second catheter design uses the micro-optics in the manner of a probe for optical coherent tomography.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.