MEDICAL ACOUSTIC IMAGING

摘要

An ultrasound imaging device is disclosed having an elongated flexible tubular body (10), a rotatable drive shaft (12), and a nose member (26) located distally of the tubular body (10). The nose member (26) is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft (12) to rotate therewith, and an acoustic imaging instrument (16) is incorporated in the nose member (26) for producing acoustic images of adjacent tissue as the drive shaft (12) turns. The nose member (26) is covered with a biocompatible, acoustically transparent, lubricous coating of hydrophilic material (24) sufficient to shield and space the nose member (26) from the adjacent tissue.