Katheter zur Bilderzeugung mittels Ultraschall

摘要

Ultrasound imaging guidewire a medical guidewire (28) incorporates means (23) for lateral acoustic scanning. The guidewire comprises an extended main guidewire body portion and a floppy tip portion (26). The main body portion comprises an outer wall including means capable of transmitting torque. Within the outer wall is an elongate shaft (1) rotatable relative to the outer wall. A distally positioned acoustic imaging transducer (23) is mounted on the shaft (1). The outer wall includes a torsion-transmitting multifilar helical coil (110). A distal portion of the coil extends over the region (31) occupied by the rotatable transducer. The filaments (110) of the coil in this region are substantially spread apart for providing a substantially sonolucent window (31) for the transducer. Extremities of the filaments (150) of the coil located distally of the transducer are secured to transmit torque to the floppy tip portion.