Intravascular imaging devices having a low reverberation housing and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to intravascular imaging devices having a low reverberation housing and associated systems and methods. In some particular embodiments, the devices of the present disclosure include a transducer housing having a trough on the backside of the ultrasound transducer to deflect ultrasound signals away from the ultrasound transducer. For example, in some implementations an intravascular imaging device is provided that includes a catheter body; a drive cable extending through a lumen of the catheter body; a housing coupled to a distal section of the drive cable; and an ultrasound transducer mounted within the housing, wherein the housing includes a trough on a backside of the ultrasound transducer, the trough shaped to deflect ultrasound signals away from the ultrasound transducer. Methods of making such devices and systems are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravascular imaging device, comprising:
 a catheter body;   a single ultrasound transducer disposed within a lumen of the catheter body, wherein the single ultrasound transducer comprises a frontside and a backside, wherein single ultrasound transducer is configured to emit an ultrasound beam from the frontside while rotating within the lumen; and   molded backing material disposed on the backside of the single ultrasound transducer and configured to absorb acoustic waves propagating from the backside, wherein the molded backing material comprises a first surface in contact with the backside and an opposite, second surface comprising a curved shape.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the molded backing material conforms to a shape of the backside of the single ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating disposed on the second surface of the molded backing material. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive cable extending through the lumen of the catheter body. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 4 ,
 further comprising a housing coupled to a distal section of the drive cable,   wherein the ultrasound transducer is disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the housing comprises a trough configured to receive the molded backing material.   
     
     
         7 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit disposed within the lumen and electrically coupled to the single ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         8 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 7 , wherein the integrated circuit and the single ultrasound transducer are coplanar and longitudinally spaced from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 8 , wherein the molded backing material is disposed in a space between the integrated circuit and the single ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         10 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first side and an opposite, second side,   wherein the molded backing material is disposed on the second side of the integrated circuit.   
     
     
         11 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 10 , further comprising a coating disposed on the second surface of the molded backing material. 
     
     
         12 . The intravascular imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the molded backing material is tapered.