ULTRASCHALLBILDERZEUGUNGSSYSTEM

摘要

An ultrasonic imaging system (10) has an ultrasonic transducer (44) at a distal end thereof which produces acoustical signals in response to an electrical stimulus and generates electrical signals in response to receiving echoes of said produced acoustical signals returning from a vessel. A guide catheter (14) defines a catheter lumen and is adapted to being inserted into a vessel of a patient's vascular system. Torque cable means rotate the transducer (44) in a predetermined rotation direction. An ultrasonic transceiver (28) is operatively coupled to said ultrasonic transducer (44) and includes a transmitter (102) which generates said electrical stimulus, and a receiver (104) which receives said electrical signals produced by said ultrasonic transducer (44) and interprets said received electrical signals at a rate which is asynchronous relative to said generated electrical stimulus. Electrical cabling (26) establishes electrical communication between said ultrasonic transceiver (28) and said ultrasonic transducer (44) for supplying said electrical stimulus to said ultrasonic transducer (44) and for transmitting said electrical signals to said ultrasonic transceiver (28).