Method and apparatus for orienting a medical image

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for orienting image data derived from body tissue. An imaging assembly is introduced into the body of a patient and rotated about an axis. A tracking beam mechanically associated with the imaging assembly is generated, such that the tracking rotates about the axis in unison with the imaging assembly. An angle that the rotating tracking beam makes between a reference rotational orientation and a reference point is determined. The reference rotational orientation can be associated with a fiducial point within the ultrasound image data, such that the ultrasound image can be oriented based on the determined tracking beam rotation angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging catheter comprising:
 an elongate catheter configured for introduction into the body of a patient, the catheter defining at least one fluid receiving lumen; and   a plurality of single spaced-apart ultrasound transducer elements mounted at a distal end of the catheter, at least first and second of the ultrasound transducers having different fields of view.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the ultrasound transducers are rotationally offset from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first ultrasound transducer has a lateral field of view. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements is an imaging transducer. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein catheter includes an acoustic window disposed at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . An imaging medical probe, comprising:
 an elongate member configured for introduction into the body of a patient;   a rotatable imaging element mounted on the elongate member and being configured for transmitting an imaging beam having a first out-of-plane beamwidth; and   a diffraction grating slidably mounted on the elongate member and being configured to selectively mask the imaging element, so that the imaging element transmits a tracking beam having a second out-of-plane beamwidth greater than the first out-of-plane beamwidth.   
     
     
         7 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound transducer, and the diffraction grating comprises a sonotranslucent window through which the ultrasound transducer can transmit an ultrasound tracking beam. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound transducer, and the diffraction grating is composed of an air impregnated material. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking beam is fan-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking beam exhibits an in-plane beamwidth of less than ten degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking beam exhibits an in-plane beamwidth of less than five degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking beam exhibits an out-of-plane beamwidth greater than ninety degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking beam exhibits an out-of-plane beamwidth substantially equal to one hundred eighty degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate member is a catheter member. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging element and diffraction grating are mounted to a distal end of the elongate member. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging medical probe of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound imaging element.