Abstract: A probe for ultrasonically removing unwanted biological material, for example, from a vessel in a patient's cardiovascular system, includes a catheter assembly having distal and proximal catheter sections, each defining a respective lumen. A subassembly is connected to and between these catheter sections and houses piezoceramic transducer elements which are adapted to vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies. An elongate flexible working element (e.g., one or more wire elements) is housed within the distal catheter section and projects beyond that section's distal end so as to be adapted to contact unwanted biological material. The proximal end of the working element is coupled to the transducer elements via ultrasonic coupling structures so as to responsively vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies.

Abstract: An array of miniature ultrasound crystals mounted on preassembled subassembly which is, in turn, mounted on a small lumen catheter provides dimensional and other quantitative information relating to arterial wall geometry and character at disease or obstruction sites. Balloons also mounted to the catheter make it possible to use the catheter for the angioplasty (PCTA) procedure while actually imaging, in real time, the artery being dilatated and unblocked by the procedure. Efficient, highly miniature transducers are presented along with several different configurations for catheter structure containing fluid lumen, through-lumen, and electrical microcable assemblies for conducting electrical signals to and from the transducers.