Abstract: An in vivo imaging device is provided for producing real-time images of small, moving or stationary cavities and surrounding tissue structure. The imaging device includes a probe assembly of very small dimensions and preferably sufficiently small to fit within cavities having a diameter on the order of that of a human coronary artery. The probe assembly may be mounted to a positioning device such as a catheter, which allows for the use of, for example, conventional guiding catheters and guide wires.

Abstract: A system for dynamically focusing ultrasonic waves consisting of a housing filled with a liquid media, an ultrasonic transducer, a reflector, and a control device. The ultrasonic transducer, located within the housing, emits ultrasonic waves and detects echoes of the ultrasonic waves as they return from the object being scanned. The reflector is also located within the housing and is positioned so as to intercept and redirect the ultrasonic waves and the resulting echoes. The reflector consists of a flexible reflective membrane which is stretched across an air filled enclosure. The control device is located adjacent the housing and consists of a member adapted to variably compress the liquid media contained in the housing so as to provide pressure variations to the reflective membrane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sector scanner for producing a sector scan in an object to be examined in which one or more ultrasonic transducers are positioned to direct ultrasonic waves toward the surface of one or more movable reflectors. The movable reflectors traverse an arcuate path with respect to a stationary reflector which is positioned to receive the ultrasonic waves scanning the surface of the stationary reflector from each of the movable reflectors and converge such waves at a point in front of the stationary reflector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner for producing a sector scan in an object to be examined in which one or more ultrasonic transducers traverse an arcuate path with respect to a reflector which is positioned to receive the ultrasonic waves scanning the surface of the reflector from each of the transducers and converge such waves at a point of a preselected distance in front of the reflector. In general, the ultrasonic waves are converged at a point outside the scanner and inside the object to produce a sector scan in the object having its center at the convergence point. In one embodiment of the scanner the reflector only partially reflects the ultrasonic waves and an additional stationary transducer is provided which is positioned to produce ultrasonic waves which radiate through the reflector and coincide with one of the lines of the sector scan, thus permitting simultaneous M-mode or pulse Doppler echo information to be obtained in perfect registration with the sector scan lines.