Abstract: An instrument for and method of effectively treating the prostatic urethra so as to relieve the symptoms associated with an enlarged urethra is disclosed. The tissue of at least selected portions of the prostate are compressed (preferably with a balloon inserted into the prostatic urethra so as to enhance hemostasis) and at least selected portions of the compressed tissue are directly irradiated (preferably with a laser beam transmitted from within the passageway in selected radial directions and moved along the prostatic urethra while exposing the tissue) so as to cause coagulation necrosis of selected portions of the compressed tissue so that as the tissue heals, the necrosed tissue slowly sloughs off during normal urination through the urinary tract so as to effectively remove the constricted portions of the prostatic urethra. Ultrasonic transducers are used from within the prostatic urethra to image the tissue as it is irradiated so as to monitor the procedure to insure proper exposure to the laser beam.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for imaging internal features of a living body at a preselected site so that the data can be imaged in a quick, efficient and reliable manner with high resolution. The apparatus includes a catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end such that the catheter is adapted to be partially inserted into said living body so that said distal end is positioned relative to the preselected site and imaging data relating to the internal features can be acoustically provided at said distal end by moving said distal end through a plurality of positions relative to the site and generating an acoustic signal when the distal end is at each of said positions. The acoustic energy responsive to each acoustic signal at each of the positions is sensed so as to create a set of data. The location, including the orientation of said distal end of said catheter is sensed at each of said positions.