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Abstract

A disposable interventional medical device assembly for use with a color ultrasonic imaging system or other ultrasonic systems sensitive to motion. The assembly includes an interventional medical device having an elongated member for insertion into an interior region of a body under investigation, and piezo driver assembly coupled to the member of the interventional medical device. The driver assembly produces a vibratory oscillation which causes the member to exhibit a flexural motion in response thereto, the flexural motion having a zero amplitude point and a maximum amplitude point, wherein the driver assembly is coupled to the member at a point located between the zero amplitude point and the maximum amplitude point of the member's flexural motion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interventional medical device can be a biopsy needle wherein the elongated member is the shaft of the biopsy needle. Also described is an ultrasonic imaging system which includes the earlier described disposable interventional medical device assembly and a scanner for detecting the flexural motion of the member of the disposable interventional medical device when the member is inserted into an interior region of a body under investigation. The system generate an image of the interior region of the body under investigation in which the flexural motion is locatively represented.

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First Claim