Abstract: Transducers to measure fluid flow using Doppler ultrasound that are suitable for integrating into or connecting to intravascular devices are disclosed. These transducers meet the requirement for long, thin, flexible transducers, and consist of one or more diffraction-grating transducers, with or without non-diffraction-grating transducers. An exemplary configuration of the transducers utilizes the diffraction caused by narrow transducers to produce beam overlap for Doppler detection of moving blood, and stripline transmission lines are used to bring energy to and receive energy from the transducers and may carry the disclosed transducer configurations as well as carry signals into and out of the blood vessels.

Abstract: Transducers to measure fluid flow using Doppler ultrasound that are suitable for integrating into or connecting to intravascular devices are disclosed. These transducers meet the requirement for long, thin, flexible transducers, and consist of one or more diffraction-grating transducers, with or without non-diffraction-grating transducers. An exemplary configuration of the transducers utilizes the diffraction caused by narrow transducers to produce beam overlap for Doppler detection of moving blood, and stripline transmission lines are used to bring energy to and receive energy from the transducers and may carry the disclosed transducer configurations as well as carry signals into and out of the blood vessels.

Abstract: A disposable interventional medical device assembly for use with a color ultrasonic imaging system or other ultrasonic systems sensitive to motion. The assembly includes an interventional medical device having an elongated member for insertion into an interior region of a body under investigation, and piezo driver assembly coupled to the member of the interventional medical device. The driver assembly produces a vibratory oscillation which causes the member to exhibit a flexural motion in response thereto, the flexural motion having a zero amplitude point and a maximum amplitude point, wherein the driver assembly is coupled to the member at a point located between the zero amplitude point and the maximum amplitude point of the member's flexural motion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interventional medical device can be a biopsy needle wherein the elongated member is the shaft of the biopsy needle.