Rotational intravascular ultrasound probe

Abstract

A rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature and a method of manufacturing the same. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe comprises an elongate catheter having a flexible body and an elongate transducer shaft disposed within the flexible body. The transducer shaft comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a drive shaft extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, an ultrasonic transducer disposed near the distal end portion for obtaining a circumferential image through rotation, and a transducer housing molded to the drive shaft and the ultrasonic transducer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotational intravascular ultrasound probe, comprising:
 a catheter configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of a patient;   a drive cable disposed within the catheter and configured to rotate, wherein the drive cable comprises a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion, and a distal portion;   a housing disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable; and   an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the housing and configured to obtain a circumferential image of the blood vessel during rotation of the drive cable, wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a stack of layers extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and   wherein the housing physically contacts one or more of the stack of layers of the ultrasonic transducer.   
     
     
         2 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has at least one of a cylindrical shape, a linear shape, or a domed shape. 
     
     
         3 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a single ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         4 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ultrasonic transducer,
 wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a first ultrasonic transducer,   wherein the second ultrasonic transducer is diametrically opposed to the first ultrasonic transducer.   
     
     
         5 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 4 , wherein the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer are configured to operate at different frequencies. 
     
     
         6 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ultrasonic transducer and a third ultrasonic transducer,
 wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a first ultrasonic transducer,   wherein the first ultrasonic transducer, the second ultrasonic transducer, and the third ultrasonic transducer are circumferentially positioned 120° from one another.   
     
     
         7 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 6 , wherein the first ultrasonic transducer, the second ultrasonic transducer, and the third ultrasonic transducer are configured to operate at different frequencies. 
     
     
         8 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical cable in communication with the ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , further comprising a connector disposed at the proximal portion of the catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an injection molded polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 10 , wherein the injection molded polymer is at least one of a high-acoustic-impedance polymer, a high acoustic attenuation polymer, or a high-electron-density polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 10 , wherein the injection molded polymer comprises at least one of absorbers, scatterers, metal oxide particles, or hollow microspheres. 
     
     
         13 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises channels or receptacles configured to deliver or receive material within the blood vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein a front surface of the ultrasonic transducer is oriented in a plane that is 30 degrees, 45 degrees, or 60 degrees relative to a plane extending radially from a rotational axis of the ultrasonic transducer.