ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER HAVING A TILTED SUPPORT, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging assembly (80) includes a housing (82) having a longitudinal axis (88), a proximal end (86), and a distal ending (84) defining a receptacle (90). The imaging assembly includes a transducer package (60) having a central axis (62) and an imaging surface (66) positioned at a desired angle (106) relative to the central axis. The transducer package is at least partially disposed within the receptacle so that the central axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Such a configuration permits a relatively large percentage of the ultrasound signal to pass through a sheath (120) surrounding the imaging assembly and reduces assembly-to-assembly variations.