Abstract: An ultrasound transducer assembly of the present invention includes a flexible circuit to which an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry are attached during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly. Integrated circuitry and transducer elements are attached to the flexible circuit while the flexible circuit is in a substantially flat shape. The contacts of the transducer elements are positioned on substantially the same plane such that electrical contact with signal and ground lines on the flexible circuit is established without the need for conductive bridges to physically remote electrodes. In an embodiment of the invention wherein the transducer elements are arranged in a cylindrical array, gaps are entirely filled with backing material having a relatively low acoustic impedance. Structure integrity is enhanced and a path to ground facilitated by electrically conductive disks attached to the ends of the transducer assembly.

Abstract: An optical pullback sensor assembly is disclosed that facilitates measuring displacement of a flexible elongate member, such as an ultrasound catheter probe that is inserted within a body. The disclosed embodiments of the optical pullback sensor assembly include a light source that illuminates a target surface that reflects at least a portion of light received from the light source. An optical sensor array including a set of sensor cells is arranged opposite the target surface to receive light reflected by the target surface. The optical sensor array is oriented to render image frames that are utilized to determine displacement of the flexible elongate member. A tracking guide on the pullback sensor assembly confines relative movement between the target surface and the optical sensor array in a direction of measured displacement of the optical sensor array. The measured displacement of the target surface in relation to the optical sensor represents displacement of the flexible elongate member.

Abstract: Several methods for fabricating an ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible circuit are provided. Preferably, the method comprises attaching an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry to the flexible circuit during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly while the flexible circuit is in a:substantially flat shape. The contacts of the transducer elements are positioned on substantially the same plane such that electrical contact with signal and ground lines on the flexible circuit is established without the need for conductive bridges to physically remote electrodes.

Abstract: A signal conditioning device is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, to physiology monitors. The signal conditioning device includes a processor for controlling sensor excitation and signal conditioning circuitry within the signal conditioning device. The processor also supplies signals to an output stage on the signal conditioning device representative of processed sensor signals received by a sensor interface of the signal conditioning device. Power for the signal conditioning device processor is supplied by an excitation signal received from a physiology monitor that drives the output stage. In addition, a temperature compensating current source provides an adjustment current to at least one of a pair of resistive sensor elements to compensate for differences between temperature change upon the pair of resistive sensor elements, thereby facilitating nullifying temperature effects upon the resistive sensor elements.

Abstract: A signal conditioning device is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, to physiology monitors. The signal conditioning device includes a processor for controlling sensor excitation and signal conditioning circuitry within the signal conditioning device. The processor also supplies signals to an output stage on the signal conditioning device representative of processed sensor signals received by a sensor interface of the signal conditioning device. Power for the signal conditioning device processor is supplied by an excitation signal received from a physiology monitor that drives the output stage.

Abstract: A flexible elongate member such as a pressure guide wire (1000) includes an electrical device such as a pressure sensor (1002). The pressure sensor (1002) is electrically connected to conductive bands (304), (306) and (308) located on electrical connector (300). The electrical connector is attached to core wire (602) and shaft or hypotube (704). The use of electrical connector (300) helps minimize the assembly time of pressure guide wire (1000), as well as minimize some of the assembly problems associated with prior art designs such as pressure guide wire (100).

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuit of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: A flexible elongate member such as a pressure guide wire (1000) includes an electrical device such as a pressure sensor (1002). The pressure sensor (1002) is electrically connected to conductive bands (304), (306) and (308) located on electrical connector (300). The electrical connector is attached to core wire (602) and shaft or hypotube (704). The use of electrical connector (300) helps minimize the assembly time of pressure guide wire (1000), as well as minimize some of the assembly problems associated with prior art designs such as pressure guide wire (100).

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: Catheter assembly in which an imaging transducer is positioned proximally of a treatment device at the distal end of a catheter. Unrestricted flow between a fluid lumen in the catheter and the treatment device is provided by an annular passageway formed between the walls of a marker tube which extends through the transducer and a guide wire tube which passes through the marker tube, and by a plenum chamber which is formed between the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the marker tube in communication with the fluid lumen and the flow passageway. The catheter, the treatment device, and the transducer are all constructed as individual modular units which can be assembled together as desired to form the assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer assembly of the present invention includes a flexible circuit to which an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry are attached during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly. Integrated circuitry and transducer elements are attached to the flexible circuit while the flexible circuit is in a substantially flat shape. The contacts of the transducer elements are positioned on substantially the same plane such that electrical contact with signal and ground lines on the flexible circuit is established without the need for conductive bridges to physically remote electrodes. In an embodiment of the invention wherein the transducer elements are arranged in a cylindrical array, gaps are entirely filled with backing material having a relatively low acoustic impedance. Structure integrity is enhanced and a path to ground facilitated by electrically conductive disks attached to the ends of the transducer assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: A blood flow detection and imaging method and system is described for displaying images in accordance with signals transmitted from an intravascular ultrasound transducer probe. The image processor includes means for independently designating persistence factors for smoothing calculated speed and power of the dynamic portion of a field of view within a vasculature. Furthermore, the designation of a particular image point within a field of view as a dynamic image point (such as a blood flow region) as opposed to a static image point (such as a tissue region) is determined by averaging signal values for image points proximate to an image point of interest over both time and space.

Abstract: Catheter assembly and method in which an imaging transducer is positioned proximally of a treatment device at the distal end of a catheter. Unrestricted flow between a fluid lumen in the catheter and the treatment device is provided by an annular passageway formed between the walls of a marker tube which extends through the transducer and a guide wire tube which passes through the marker tube, and by a plenum chamber which is formed between the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the marker tube in communication with the fluid lumen and the flow passageway. The catheter, the treatment device, and the transducer are all constructed as individual modular units which can be assembled together as desired to form the assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer assembly of the present invention includes a flexible circuit to which an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry are attached during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly. Integrated circuitry and transducer elements are attached to the flexible circuit while the flexible circuit is in a substantially flat shape. The contacts of the transducer elements are positioned on substantially the same plane such that electrical contact with signal and ground lines on the flexible circuit is established without the need for conductive bridges to physically remote electrodes. In an embodiment of the invention wherein the transducer elements are arranged in a cylindrical array, gaps are entirely filled with backing material having a relatively low acoustic impedance. Structure integrity is enhanced and a path to ground facilitated by electrically conductive disks attached to the ends of the transducer assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for imaging blood flow from within a vasculature. An ultrasound catheter probe carrying an ultrasound transducer array is inserted within a blood vessel. The transducer array emits ultrasound excitation signals and receives ultrasound echo waveforms reflected from blood and tissue in a region of the vasculature. A series of the echo waveforms resulting from a series of excitation signals are combined in a manner such that the echo signals from static features in the region, such as tissue and plaque, are significantly attenuated. The combined signal primarily represents the relatively dynamic features in the region (i.e. the blood flow). A blood flow image is constructed from the combined signal. The blood flow image is colorized and combined with an image of the relatively static features in the region. Thereafter, the combined image is displayed on a video display.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.