Guided directional coronary atherectomy distal linear encoder

摘要

Disclosed herein is a catheter device for use in a biological conduit having an encoder structure for indicating linear movement of the work element. The work element includes an ultrasonic transducer along a linear axis of the catheter. The catheter has a housing for insertion in the biological conduit. The transducer transmits ultrasonic pulses and receives echoes in response thereto for imaging an inside wall of the conduit. The housing has a window formed therein to image the conduit inside wall. An encoder structure adjacent an area of the window determines distal movement and travel direction of the transducer through the window area along a linear axis of the catheter housing.