Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed herein is a catheter apparatus which supports high resolution imaging of the interior of a biological conduit. The apparatus includes an imaging atherectomy catheter of the type having a cutter housing attached to the distal end of a catheter. A tissue cutting member and an ultrasonic imaging transducer are disposed within the housing and are secured to the distal end of a rotatable torque cable. An elongated aperture formed along one side of the housing allows ultrasonic imaging and the intrusion of stenotic material which is removed by axially rotating and translating the cutting member. A miniature rotary encoder is slidably coupled to the end of the torque cable within the housing for precisely determining the rotational orientation of the ultrasonic imaging transducer with respect to the elongated aperture. The rotary encoder is read optically via a fiber optical cable which extends through the catheter. Placement of the rotary encoder at the imaging transducer overcomes distortions resulting from instantaneous speed variations between the two ends of the torque cable. The accurate rotational information permits use of ultrasonic imaging transducers having resolution better than 100 microns without significant image distortion.

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First Claim