Abstract: An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Abstract: Described herein are rotary transformers for coupling signals between components that rotate relative to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, a rotary transformer comprises a rotary shaft, a first magnetic core on the rotary shaft, and a first winding wound around the first magnetic core. The rotary transformer further comprises a hollow second magnetic core, and a second winding wound along the inner wall of the second magnetic core. During operation, the first winding on the rotary shaft rotates within the second winding with the magnetic cores magnetically coupling signals between the two windings. Also, the first and second windings are closely spaced to provide capacitive coupling between the windings that extends the frequency response of the transformer. In one embodiment, the windings comprises substantially flat conductors wound in the shape of the windings. In another embodiment, each of the windings comprises circular loops connected by jogs.

Abstract: An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Abstract: An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for locking and detecting the presence of a catheter. In an embodiment, a catheter system comprises a catheter and a magnet attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The catheter system further comprises a lock receptacle configured to receive and lock the proximal end of the catheter therein, and a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnet, and hence the catheter, when the catheter is locked in the lock receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Abstract: An electrical connector is described. In one implementation, the connector includes a female portion including one or more electrical contacts and a male portion including one or more electrical contacts. The female portion and the male portion each have a self-orientating geometry that allows the male portion to be mated with the female portion in any rotational position along 360 degrees of rotation. When mated, the electrical contacts of the female portion mate with corresponding one or more electrical contacts of the male portion to form one or more electrical connections between two electronic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for reducing noise in an imaging catheter system. In an embodiment, a catheter comprises an imaging transducer and a transmission line within the catheter to transmit signals to and from the transducer. To reduce noise caused by exposure of the transmission line to external interference, a choke balun is coupled to the transmission line. In another embodiment, the signal from a rotating imaging transducer of the catheter is coupled to a motor drive unit by a slip ring assembly. The transducer signal is passed through first and second transformers placed on opposite sides of the slip ring assembly to reduce noise from the slip ring assembly. In another embodiment, the catheter includes a position sensor to track the position of the catheter. The position sensor is coupled to a second choke balun to further reduce noise.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Abstract: A combination catheter includes an ultrasound transducer and RF ablation electrode. The ultrasound transducer transmits ultrasound signals into and receives echo signals from a vessel. The echo signals are processed and used to produce an image of the tissue surrounding the catheter. A driveshaft rotates the ultrasound transducer to obtain a 360° view of the vessel wall. At the distal end of the driveshaft is an electrode. An RF generator is electrically coupled to the driveshaft to deliver RF energy to the electrode at the distal end of the driveshaft to ablate occluding material in the vessel. The electrode may have a variety of tip shapes including concave, roughened, or expandable configurations, depending on the size of the vessel and composition of the occluding material to be ablated.

Abstract: A diagnostic and/or therapeutic catheter having a plurality of ultrasound transducers. In a first embodiment, the center frequencies of the second and third transducers may be substantially equal to a fundamental harmonic and a second harmonic, respectively, of ultrasound waves created by the first transducer. In second embodiment, the second transducer transmits waves with a center frequency substantially equal to the center frequency of the first transducer. In third embodiment, the second transducer has a center frequency that differs from the center frequency of the first transducer and the center frequency of the third transducer may be substantially equal to a difference between the fundamental harmonic of the ultrasound waves transmitted by the first transducer and a fundamental harmonic of ultrasound waves produced by the second transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed wherein a rotatable transducer couples to the input of a preamplifier. Protection circuits at the input and output of the preamplifier protect the preamplifier from the transducer excitation signal. The preamplifier couples to the distal end of a transmission line. In an alternate embodiment, at least one switch responds to the presence of the transducer excitation signal by coupling the transducer excitation signal to the rotatable transducer and protecting the preamplifier from the transducer excitation signal. The at least one switch responds to the absence of the transducer excitation signal by coupling a received signal produced by the rotatable transducer to the input of the preamplifier. The at least one switch further responds to the absence of the transducer excitation signal by coupling the output of the preamplifier to the distal end of the transmission line.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electromagnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electromagnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Abstract: A combination catheter includes an ultrasound transducer and RF ablation electrode. The ultrasound transducer transmits ultrasound signals into and receives echo signals from a vessel. The echo signals are processed and used to produce an image of the tissue surrounding the catheter. A driveshaft rotates the ultrasound transducer to obtain a 360° view of the vessel wall. At the distal end of the driveshaft is an electrode. An RF generator is electrically coupled to the driveshaft to deliver RF energy to the electrode at the distal end of the driveshaft to ablate occluding material in the vessel. The electrode may have a variety of tip shapes including concave, roughened, or expandable configurations, depending on the size of the vessel and composition of the occluding material to be ablated. Alternatively, the RF ablation energy may be delivered to a guidewire that is used to route the ultrasound catheter through a patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A diagnostic and/or therapeutic catheter for a medical ultrasound system providing a plurality of ultrasound transducers and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In the first embodiment, the catheter comprises a drive shaft, a first ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound waves, and a second ultrasound transducer and a third ultrasound transducer both for receiving ultrasound waves. The ultrasound transducers each are mounted on a distal end of the drive shaft, are oriented to transmit or receive ultrasound waves in a substantially equal preselected plane, and have a preselected center frequency. The center frequency of the second ultrasound transducer and the center frequency of the third ultrasound transducer may be substantially equal to a fundamental harmonic and a second harmonic, respectively, of ultrasound waves created by the first ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: A combination catheter includes an ultrasound transducer and RF ablation electrode. The ultrasound transducer transmits ultrasound signals into and receives echo signals from a vessel. The echo signals are processed and used to produce an image of the tissue surrounding the catheter. A driveshaft rotates the ultrasound transducer to obtain a 360° view of the vessel wall. At the distal end of the driveshaft is an electrode. An RF generator is electrically coupled to the driveshaft to deliver RF energy to the electrode at the distal end of the driveshaft to ablate occluding material in the vessel. The electrode may have a variety of tip shapes including concave, roughened, or expandable configurations, depending on the size of the vessel and composition of the occluding material to be ablated. Alternatively, the RF ablation energy may be delivered to a guidewire that is used to route the ultrasound catheter through a patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A diagnostic and/or therapeutic catheter for a medical ultrasound system providing a plurality of ultrasound transducers and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In the first embodiment, the catheter comprises a drive shaft, a first ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound waves, and a second ultrasound transducer and a third ultrasound transducer both for receiving ultrasound waves. The ultrasound transducers each are mounted on a distal end of the drive shaft, are oriented to transmit or receive ultrasound waves in a substantially equal preselected plane, and have a preselected center frequency. The center frequency of the second ultrasound transducer and the center frequency of the third ultrasound transducer may be substantially equal to a fundamental harmonic and a second harmonic, respectively, of ultrasound waves created by the first ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system with a slewing bandpass filter is disclosed for selective passage of time varying acoustic signals. The bandpass filter includes an input node to receive unprocessed signals at a certain frequency, with the unprocessed signals constituting an input signal. A signal source is configured to provide a reference signal, and a mixer is configured to receive the input signal and the reference signal, and to mix the input signal and the reference signal to a desired frequency range. A fixed bandpass filter is configured to have a passband frequency above or below the frequency range and to provide a filtered output signal with a scannable bandwidth passband characteristic useful for examining the time varying characteristics of the input signal. A controller is provided to control the signal source in accordance with time-varying characteristics of interest.