Ultrasound catheter with rotatable transducer

摘要

An ultrasound catheter assembly having a rotatable transducer assembly is disclosed. The ultrasound catheter assembly includes an elongate flexible shaft having a lumen and a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter assembly further includes a drive member that engages the transducer assembly at a distal end of the catheter. Rotation of the drive member in a first direction causes the transducer assembly to rotate in an oscillatory fashion in a second direction.

主权项

1. A method of imaging, comprising:
obtaining an ultrasound catheter assembly comprising:
an elongate flexible member having a lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;a collar coupled to the distal end of the elongate flexible member, wherein the collar includes an elongated opening and a circular opening extending through the collar opposite the elongated opening;a transducer housing rotatably mounted to the collar such that the transducer housing is configured to pivot about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lumen, a proximal portion of the transducer housing having a slot defined by a first wall portion and an opposing second wall portion, wherein the transducer housing includes a first pin and a second pin opposite the first pin, wherein the first pin is received within the elongated opening of the collar and the second pin is received within the circular opening of the collar, wherein the first pin is translated along the elongated opening of the collar from an insertion orientation extending at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lumen to an assembled orientation extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lumen such that the housing is configured to pivot about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lumen;at least one transducer element mounted in the transducer housing;a drive member extending within the lumen, the drive member comprising an elongated shaft having a bent distal portion defining a cam, the cam of the drive member engaged with the slot of the transducer housing such that rotation of the drive member about the longitudinal axis causes the transducer housing to rotate along the axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lumen through alternating interactions of the cam with the first and second wall portions defining the slot; andat least one tendon extending along the length of the elongate flexible member for moving a distal portion of the ultrasound catheter assembly in at least one direction; introducing the distal portion of the ultrasound catheter assembly into a vessel of a patient and causing rotation of the drive member to pivot the transducer housing about the axis transverse the longitudinal axis of the lumen to obtain an image.