MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE HAVING A FORWARD LOOKING FLOW DETECTOR

摘要

The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved medical imaging device. In one embodiment, an imaging device includes a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends receiv ed within the lumen; an imaging transducer coupled to the distal end of the dri ve shaft and positioned at the distal portion of the elongate member; and a flo w detector coupled to the imaging transducer. The flow detector may include a forward facing ultrasound transducer configured to emit energy in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the imaging device and detect a Dopple r shift in the received echoes. In the case where the imaging device is locate d in a vessel having blood flow, such information may be used to calculate the velocity of the blood flow. The imaging device may be configured to be locat ed in a catheter or guidewire.