INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A device for ultrasonic imaging, and methods for the use and manufacture thereof, particularly of small coronary vessels. The device comprises an elongate member (26) with a distal end (28) that can be positioned within a small vessel of a patient's body while a proximal end (32) is located outside the body, a transducer located at a distal end of the elongate member and operable to scan the distal coronary vessels with ultrasonic pulses, and a signal processor (43) connected to a proximal end of the elongate member and to the transducer for generating and receiving pulses to and from the transducer. A motor (36) may also be connected to the proximal end of the elongate member for rotating the transducer. Control unit (38) operates the motor and the signal processor.