Abstract: An intraluminal forward-looking image producing device and associated methods of use and construction is disclosed. In particular, the device of the present invention is an intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device. The invention also encompasses methods of using the intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device to image objects and material in a forward direction. The disclosed methods also involve manufacturing the intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device including the piezoelectric transducer. The resulting device is an elongated body configured to fit within the lumen of a vessel and having an imaging sensor located on the distal end of the elongated body configured to image objects and material in a forward direction.

Abstract: An intraluminal forward-looking image producing device and associated methods of use and construction is disclosed. In particular, the device of the present invention is an intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device. The invention also encompasses methods of using the intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device to image objects and material in a forward direction. The disclosed methods also involve manufacturing the intraluminal forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image producing device including the piezoelectric transducer. The resulting device is an elongated body configured to fit within the lumen of a vessel and having an imaging sensor located on the distal end of the elongated body configured to image objects and material in a forward direction.

Abstract: In known filter-drier cases for refrigerant circuits, the refrigerant flows through filter and drying means in a serial manner. During operation of the refrigerant circuit, this causes an undesirably large pressure drop. It is the task of the invention to provide an improved filter-drier arrangement (1, 1?) with a smaller pressure drop. For this purpose, it is proposed to design the filter-drier arrangement so that a part of the refrigerant flows in parallel through the filter (21, 43) and the drying means (17, 43).