US Patent No: 5,368,037

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Ultrasound catheter

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

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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.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
VOLCANO CORPORATIONRANCHO CORDOVA, CA148

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Eberle, Michael J Fair Oaks, CA 40 1072
Kiepen, Horst F Georgetown, CA 16 539
Rizzuti, Gary P Shingle Springs, CA 13 314

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC. (3)
4,771,782 Method and assembly for introducing multiple catheters into a biological vessel 100 1986
4,841,977 Ultra-thin acoustic transducer and balloon catheter using same in imaging array subassembly 230 1987
5,117,831 Vascular catheter having tandem imaging and dilatation components 93 1990
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (2)
4,211,949 Wear plate for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer arrays 65 1978
5,186,177 Method and apparatus for applying synthetic aperture focusing techniques to a catheter based system for high frequency ultrasound imaging of small vessels 114 1991
 
SCHNEIDER (USA) INC. (2)
4,665,925 Doppler catheter 95 1985
4,771,788 Doppler tip wire guide 82 1987
 
VOLCANO CORPORATION (2)
4,917,097 Apparatus and method for imaging small cavities 265 1987
5,167,233 Dilating and imaging apparatus 80 1991
 
ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC. (1)
5,046,503 Angioplasty autoperfusion catheter flow measurement method and apparatus 127 1989
 
BROWN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION (1)
4,456,013 Catheter 44 1981
 
Circulation Research Limited (1)
5,081,993 Methods and apparatus for the examination and treatment of internal organs 141 1990
 
FUJITSU LIMITED (1)
5,174,296 Ultrasonic probe having a piezoelectrical element 51 1991
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO (1)
4,274,423 Catheter tip pressure transducer 98 1978
 
Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (1)
4,191,193 Catheter head-type transducer 117 1977
 
North American Philips Corporation (1)
4,671,293 Biplane phased array for ultrasonic medical imaging 38 1985
 
PRUTECH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP II, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (1)
4,951,677 Acoustic imaging catheter and the like 303 1988
 
SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS, INC. (1)
4,794,931 Catheter apparatus, system and method for intravascular two-dimensional ultrasonography 437 1986
 
SENSOR ELECTRONICS, INC. (1)
5,199,437 Ultrasonic imager 66 1991
 
SIEMENS ELEMA AB (1)
4,237,900 Implantable calibration means and calibration method for an implantable body transducer 107 1979
 
SOUND PRODUCTS COMPANY, L.P., A DE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (1)
4,505,156 Method and apparatus for switching multi-element transducer arrays 28 1983
 
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH FOUNDATION (1)
4,589,419 Catheter for treating arterial occlusion 50 1984
 
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (1)
4,582,067 Method for endoscopic blood flow detection by the use of ultrasonic energy 135 1983
 
University Patents, Inc. (1)
4,641,657 Probe swivel mechanism 27 1985
 
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY (1)
4,817,616 Auto switch biplane prostate probe 31 1987
 
Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (2)
4,325,257 Real-time digital, synthetic-focus, acoustic imaging system 45 1980
4,576,177 Catheter for removing arteriosclerotic plaque 200 1983

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
VOLCANO CORPORATION (16)
5,603,327 Ultrasound catheter probe 43 1995
5,779,644 Ultrasound catheter probe 30 1996
7,226,417 High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate 3 1996
5,938,615 Ultrasound catheter probe 26 1997
6,238,347 Ultrasonic transducer array and method of manufacturing the same 98 1997
6,110,314 Ultrasonic transducer array and method of manufacturing the same 24 1997
6,049,958 High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate and method for manufacture thereof 39 1997
5,876,344 Modular imaging/treatment catheter assembly and method 23 1997
6,080,109 Modular imaging/treatment catheter assembly 24 1999
6,123,673 Method of making an ultrasound transducer assembly 17 1999
6,618,916 Method for manufacturing a high resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate 18 2000
6,283,920 Ultrasound transducer assembly 54 2000
6,962,567 Ultrasound transducer assembly 4 2001
6,776,763 Ultrasonic transducer array and method of manufacturing the same 6 2002
6,899,682 Intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate and method for manufacturing such assembly 10 2003
7,846,101 High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate 0 2007
 
SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC. (13)
5,954,654 Steering mechanism and steering line for a catheter-mounted ultrasonic transducer 50 1997
5,846,205 Catheter-mounted, phased-array ultrasound transducer with improved imaging 52 1997
5,797,848 Ultrasonic transducer assembly with improved electrical interface 28 1997
5,795,299 Ultrasonic transducer assembly with extended flexible circuits 30 1997
6,045,508 Ultrasonic probe, system and method for two-dimensional imaging or three-dimensional reconstruction 47 1997
5,876,345 Ultrasonic catheter, system and method for two dimensional imaging or three-dimensional reconstruction 95 1997
6,014,473 Multiple ultrasound image registration system, method and transducer 99 1997
5,938,616 Steering mechanism and steering line for a catheter-mounted ultrasonic transducer 33 1997
6,306,097 Ultrasound imaging catheter guiding assembly with catheter working port 39 1999
6,423,002 Intra-operative diagnostic ultrasound multiple-array transducer probe and optional surgical tool 32 1999
D455210 Ultrasonic transducer assembly controller 0 1999
6,589,182 Medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter with first and second tip portions 27 2001
D465024 Ultrasonic transducer assembly controller 3 2001
 
Vascular Imaging Corporation (9)
7,245,789 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging 16 2002
7,527,594 Optical-acoustic imaging device 5 2003
7,599,588 Optical imaging probe connector 4 2005
7,447,388 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging 9 2007
7,660,492 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging 6 2008
7,881,573 Optical imaging probe connector 3 2009
8,059,923 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging 3 2010
8,320,723 Optical imaging probe connector 2011
8,391,652 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging 0 2011
 
ACUSON CORPORATION (8)
6,171,248 Ultrasonic probe, system and method for two-dimensional imaging or three-dimensional reconstruction 37 1999
6,228,032 Steering mechanism and steering line for a catheter-mounted ultrasonic transducer 22 1999
6,201,900 Multiple ultrasound image registration system, method and transducer 31 1999
6,102,865 Multiple ultrasound image registration system, method and transducer 30 1999
6,132,376 Multiple ultrasonic image registration system, method and transducer 24 1999
6,464,645 Ultrasonic transducer assembly controller 22 1999
6,222,948 Multiple ultrasound image registration system, method and transducer 30 2000
6,360,027 Multiple ultrasound image registration system, method and transducer 69 2000
 
TeraTech Corporation (4)
5,690,114 Portable ultrasound imaging system 78 1996
6,106,472 Portable ultrasound imaging system 60 1998
7,500,952 Portable ultrasound imaging system 1 2000
8,241,217 Portable ultrasound imaging data 0 2007
 
VISUALSONICS INC. (3)
7,901,358 High frequency array ultrasound system 0 2006
7,830,069 Arrayed ultrasonic transducer 1 2007
8,316,518 Methods for manufacturing ultrasound transducers and other components 0 2009
 
CYBERSONICS, INC. (2)
6,689,087 Floating probe for ultrasonic transducers 14 2002
7,387,612 Floating probe for ultrasonic transducers 2 2003
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (2)
7,527,592 Ultrasound probe sub-aperture processing 5 2003
7,527,591 Ultrasound probe distributed beamformer 3 2003
 
WHITAKER CORPORATION, THE (2)
6,030,346 Ultrasound imaging probe assembly 7 1998
6,117,083 Ultrasound imaging probe assembly 15 1998
 
ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC. (1)
8,303,505 Methods and apparatuses for image guided medical procedures 0 2005
 
American Cardiac Ablation Co., Inc. (1)
5,733,281 Ultrasound and impedance feedback system for use with electrosurgical instruments 93 1996
 
DURECT CORPORATION (1)
6,440,102 Fluid transfer and diagnostic system for treating the inner ear 25 1998
 
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION (1)
6,029,671 System and methods for performing endovascular procedures 135 1996
 
ENDOSONCIS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORP. (1)
5,857,974 High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate 37 1997
 
FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD. (1)
6,017,311 Ultrasound probe having an insulating sleeve member 1 1998
 
FUJINON CORPORATION (1)
7,488,288 Ultrasonic endoscope 2 2005
 
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. (1)
5,488,954 Ultrasonic transducer and method for using same 126 1994
 
SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS, INC. (1)
7,887,488 Systems and methods for reducing noise in an imaging catheter system 0 2006
 
TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA (1)
5,738,100 Ultrasonic imaging catheter 26 1996
 
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY (1)
5,606,975 Forward viewing ultrasonic imaging catheter 41 1994