GB2208138A - Ultrasonic transducer array around a flexible tube - Google Patents

Ultrasonic transducer array around a flexible tube Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2208138A
GB2208138A GB8714450A GB8714450A GB2208138A GB 2208138 A GB2208138 A GB 2208138A GB 8714450 A GB8714450 A GB 8714450A GB 8714450 A GB8714450 A GB 8714450A GB 2208138 A GB2208138 A GB 2208138A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
transducer
catheter
ultrasonic transducer
probe
ultrasonic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8714450A
Other versions
GB2208138B (en
GB8714450D0 (en
Inventor
Martin Terry Rothman
Keith Straughan
Richard Ian Kitney
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Circulation Research Ltd
Original Assignee
Circulation Research Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Circulation Research Ltd filed Critical Circulation Research Ltd
Priority to GB8714450A priority Critical patent/GB2208138B/en
Publication of GB8714450D0 publication Critical patent/GB8714450D0/en
Publication of GB2208138A publication Critical patent/GB2208138A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2208138B publication Critical patent/GB2208138B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/26—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor
    • G01N29/262—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/06—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
    • B06B1/0607—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements
    • B06B1/0622—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements on one surface
    • B06B1/0633—Cylindrical array

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

A tubular probe carries round its circumference a transducer arrangement 3 of ultrasonic transducer segments T1-T12 capable of transmitting ultrasonic pulses and receiving echoes. The transducer segments are connected to a multiplexer/demultiplexer and to an image processor device. The probe may be in the form of a catheter for use within blood vessels or it may be used inside pipes. In other arrangements, the transducer segments may be formed by a toroid of piezoelectric material with inner and outer electrodes or by a solid annulus of such material scored along lines parallel to the tube axis. The probe may be combined with another ultrasonic transducer powerful enough to destroy plaque within an artery. <IMAGE>

Description

TUBULAR PROBE This invention relates to a tubular probe and has particular application, but not exclusively, in the medical field as a catheter for insertion into, for scanning, hollow body parts such as blood vessels in order to detect abnormalities.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a tubular probe including a tube at least a section of which carries round its circumference a transducer arrangement comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducer segments capable of transmitting ultrasonic pulses and receiving echoes due to reflection of the pulses within respective sectors centred on the longitudinal axis of the tube.
Preferably, the segments of the transducer arrangement subtend substantially equal sectors of the scanned area so that the latter covers a complete disc, means being provided for triggering pulse transmission by the transducers in a predetermined sequence or combinations of the latter.
Conveniently, a multiplexer/demultiplexer arrangement may be provided in the probe tube adjacent and connected to the transducer arrangement so as to time-division-multiplex the signals to and from the transducer arrangement in order to minimise the number of connections which must pass along the lumen of the probe so that the diameter of the latter can be kept to a minimum.
In use, the probe may be connected to apparatus for processing the echo signals provided by the transducer so as to provide a two-dimensional image of the cross-sectional area scanned by means of the one or more transducers.
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a tubular probe, one end of which is provided with an ultrasonic transducer arranged for the transmission of ultrasound for breaking up an obstruction in a tubular cavity into which the catheter has been introduced.
Preferably, a probe according to said one aspect is provided with an obstruction-removing transducer to form a probe according to said other aspect.
Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a catheter embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an end view of the catheter shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic, partly sectional, diagram illustrating a use of the catheter shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are respective schematic diagrams of two alternative forms of a portion of the catheter shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a block circuit diagram of the scanning and image processing apparatus associated with the catheter shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a side view of a surgical catheter in a further embodiment of this invention.
Referring to the drawings, a scanning catheter 1 comprises a flexible tube 2, one end of which is provided with a transducer arrangement 3 comprising a ring of individual ultrasonic transducers T1 to T12 arranged around the circumference of the end portion of the catheter. The twelve transducers are connected to a multiplexer/demultiplexer 4 arranged within the catheter adjacent the transducer arrangement. Preferably, a smooth sheath of substantially ultrasonically-transparent material covers the transducer arrangement 3 to facilitate the passage of the catheter into and through the cavities to be scanned.
In use, the catheter is inserted into a hollow part B (Fig.
3) of a human or animal body such as an artery or colon and trigger signals are supplied to the transducers in a sequence determined by the multiplexer/demultiplexer 4 in order to stimulate the emission of ultrasonic pulses from the transducers in turn towards the inner wall of the hollow body part B. After such pulse emission, each transducer is immediately enabled to receive echo signals due to the reflection of the emitted pulses from acoustic interfaces (i.e. surfaces, e.g.
artery walls, at which a relatively abrupt change takes place in the acoustic impedance of the medium surrounding the transducer). The echo signals are transmitted in turn via the multiplexer/demultiplexer 4 to an image processing device 5 which is arranged to form a two-dimensional image of the cross-sectional area scanned by the transducer arrangement 3.
The reception and processing of ultrasonic images has already been rendered possible in other ultrasonic scanning arrangements not employing a catheter and, since only minor straightforward modifications will be required in such an image processing device to produce an appropriate two-dimensional image which will show up the presence of irregularities and obstructions in the tubular body part B to assist in diagnosis of medical problems, the device 5 will not be described further.
Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown an alternative transducer arrangement 30 in which a single toroid 31 of piezo-electric material is provided on its inner and outer cylindrical faces 302,303 with electrically conductive layers 304,305. A plurality of segments corresponding to the individual transducers of the transducer arrangement 3 is then provided by
electrical connectionskdistributed around the circumference of the toroid.
Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a further alternative form of segmented transducer arrangement 300 in which a solid annulus of piezo-electric material has been scored along lines 301 in a direction parallel with the axis of the catheter so as to enable segmented transmission and reception of signals in a similar manner to that described for the transducer arrangement 30.
Clearly, the arrangements shown in Figs. 4 and 5 provide greater scope for enhancing resolution than the transducer arrangement 3 since the resolution increases with the number of transducer segments.
Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown a catheter 100 having at one end an ultrasonic transducer arrangement 101 arranged for the transmission of ultrasound at a frequency and power calculated to destroy plaque within arteries of the human or animal body. Such an arrangement may be combined with the catheter 1 shown in Fig. 1 in conjunction with the transducer arrangement 3 (or 30 or 300) to provide both a diagnostic and surgical instrument (as indicated in Fig. 1 by the broken line portion 11). By appropriate alteration of the frequency and power of the energy transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer arrangement 101 (or 11), obstructions of various kinds can be softened and/or broken up in various types of tubular body parts.
Although the tubular probes described above have been described as catheters in relation to their use in medical diagnosis and treatment, they could, possibly with adaptation, also be used in any application where access is required into an otherwise inaccessible cavity, for example for scanning and/or clearing pipes of various kinds of apparatus where other methods of scanning and/or obstruction clearance would present problems.
The operational frequency of the transducers used in the medical applications described above would probably lie in the range 1 to 20 MHz, whereas for the alternative applications in relation to pipes and other devices the operational frequency might be as low as 50 KHz or even lower in some cases.
Also, while the tubular probe 1 described above has been described as having twelve transducers in its transducer arrangement, the number of such transducers may vary and be less than or more than twelve. Clearly, the higher the number of transducers the better the resolution of the probe.

Claims (2)

CLAIMS:
1. A tubular probe including a tube at least a section of which carries round its circumference a transducer arrangement comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducer segments capable of transmitting ultrasonic pulses and receiving echoes due to reflection of the pulses within respective sectors centred on the longitudinal axis of the tube.
2. A tubular probe, one end of which is provided with an ultrasonic transducer arranged for the transmission of ultrasound for breaking up an obstruction in a tubular cavity into which the catheter has been introduced.
GB8714450A 1987-06-19 1987-06-19 Tubular probe Expired - Lifetime GB2208138B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8714450A GB2208138B (en) 1987-06-19 1987-06-19 Tubular probe

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8714450A GB2208138B (en) 1987-06-19 1987-06-19 Tubular probe

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8714450D0 GB8714450D0 (en) 1987-07-22
GB2208138A true GB2208138A (en) 1989-03-01
GB2208138B GB2208138B (en) 1991-08-07

Family

ID=10619243

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8714450A Expired - Lifetime GB2208138B (en) 1987-06-19 1987-06-19 Tubular probe

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2208138B (en)

Cited By (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0346891A2 (en) * 1988-06-15 1989-12-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic probe and method of manufacturing the same
FR2670898A1 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-06-26 Framatome Sa DEVICE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE ULTRASONIC TESTING OF ELONGATE ELEMENTS WITH SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SECTION.
US5135001A (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-08-04 C. R. Bard, Inc. Ultrasound sheath for medical diagnostic instruments
US5226847A (en) * 1989-12-15 1993-07-13 General Electric Company Apparatus and method for acquiring imaging signals with reduced number of interconnect wires
GB2267035A (en) * 1992-05-19 1993-11-24 Univ Arizona Ultrasonic catheter for intra-cardiac ablation
US5324255A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-06-28 Baxter International Inc. Angioplasty and ablative devices having onboard ultrasound components and devices and methods for utilizing ultrasound to treat or prevent vasopasm
US5342292A (en) * 1991-11-04 1994-08-30 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation device adapted for guidewire passage
US5368557A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-11-29 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation catheter device having multiple ultrasound transmission members
US5368558A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-11-29 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation catheter device having endoscopic component and method of using same
US5380274A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-01-10 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasound transmission member having improved longitudinal transmission properties
US5382228A (en) * 1992-07-09 1995-01-17 Baxter International Inc. Method and device for connecting ultrasound transmission member (S) to an ultrasound generating device
US5390678A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-02-21 Baxter International Inc. Method and device for measuring ultrasonic activity in an ultrasound delivery system
US5397301A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-03-14 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic angioplasty device incorporating an ultrasound transmission member made at least partially from a superelastic metal alloy
US5405318A (en) * 1992-05-05 1995-04-11 Baxter International Inc. Ultra-sound catheter for removing obstructions from tubular anatomical structures such as blood vessels
US5417672A (en) * 1993-10-04 1995-05-23 Baxter International Inc. Connector for coupling an ultrasound transducer to an ultrasound catheter
US5456259A (en) * 1991-07-30 1995-10-10 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic transducer arrangement and catheter
US5457359A (en) * 1993-08-06 1995-10-10 Olin Corporation Control for electroluminescent loads
EP0702247A2 (en) * 1994-09-15 1996-03-20 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualisation method and apparatus
US5590659A (en) * 1994-09-15 1997-01-07 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualization method and apparatus
US5603327A (en) * 1993-02-01 1997-02-18 Endosonics Corporation Ultrasound catheter probe
US5857974A (en) * 1997-01-08 1999-01-12 Endosonics Corporation High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate
US5957882A (en) * 1991-01-11 1999-09-28 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Ultrasound devices for ablating and removing obstructive matter from anatomical passageways and blood vessels
US5993393A (en) * 1992-07-14 1999-11-30 Intravascular Research Limited Methods and apparatus for the examination and treatment of internal organs
US6254542B1 (en) 1995-07-17 2001-07-03 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualization method and apparatus
US6689086B1 (en) 1994-10-27 2004-02-10 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Method of using a catheter for delivery of ultrasonic energy and medicament
US6758830B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2004-07-06 Atrionix, Inc. Catheter positioning system
CN100399595C (en) * 2003-03-12 2008-07-02 中国科学院声学研究所 Wheeled scanning proe for scanning imager
US7881807B2 (en) 1999-05-11 2011-02-01 Schaer Alan K Balloon anchor wire
CN102411029A (en) * 2010-09-26 2012-04-11 宝山钢铁股份有限公司 Method for examining steel tube defects through ultrasonic interference imaging

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6514249B1 (en) 1997-07-08 2003-02-04 Atrionix, Inc. Positioning system and method for orienting an ablation element within a pulmonary vein ostium

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2073418A (en) * 1980-03-31 1981-10-14 Univ Toronto Apparatus and method for examination of the gastro intestinal tract
EP0123455A2 (en) * 1983-04-20 1984-10-31 Halliburton Company Acoustic receiver transducer

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2073418A (en) * 1980-03-31 1981-10-14 Univ Toronto Apparatus and method for examination of the gastro intestinal tract
EP0123455A2 (en) * 1983-04-20 1984-10-31 Halliburton Company Acoustic receiver transducer

Cited By (46)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0346891A3 (en) * 1988-06-15 1991-05-29 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic probe and method of manufacturing the same
EP0346891A2 (en) * 1988-06-15 1989-12-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic probe and method of manufacturing the same
US5226847A (en) * 1989-12-15 1993-07-13 General Electric Company Apparatus and method for acquiring imaging signals with reduced number of interconnect wires
US5135001A (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-08-04 C. R. Bard, Inc. Ultrasound sheath for medical diagnostic instruments
US5454267A (en) * 1990-12-21 1995-10-03 Framatome Multi-element ultrasonic probe for electronic scanning
FR2670898A1 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-06-26 Framatome Sa DEVICE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE ULTRASONIC TESTING OF ELONGATE ELEMENTS WITH SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SECTION.
EP0493146A1 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-07-01 Framatome Apparatus for non-destructive ultrasonic testing of elongated elements with an approximately constant section
US5397301A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-03-14 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic angioplasty device incorporating an ultrasound transmission member made at least partially from a superelastic metal alloy
US5474530A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-12-12 Baxter International Inc. Angioplasty and ablative devices having onboard ultrasound components and devices and methods for utilizing ultrasound to treat or prevent vasospasm
US5368557A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-11-29 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation catheter device having multiple ultrasound transmission members
US5368558A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-11-29 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation catheter device having endoscopic component and method of using same
US5380274A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-01-10 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasound transmission member having improved longitudinal transmission properties
US5957882A (en) * 1991-01-11 1999-09-28 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Ultrasound devices for ablating and removing obstructive matter from anatomical passageways and blood vessels
US5324255A (en) * 1991-01-11 1994-06-28 Baxter International Inc. Angioplasty and ablative devices having onboard ultrasound components and devices and methods for utilizing ultrasound to treat or prevent vasopasm
US5456259A (en) * 1991-07-30 1995-10-10 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic transducer arrangement and catheter
US5342292A (en) * 1991-11-04 1994-08-30 Baxter International Inc. Ultrasonic ablation device adapted for guidewire passage
US5405318A (en) * 1992-05-05 1995-04-11 Baxter International Inc. Ultra-sound catheter for removing obstructions from tubular anatomical structures such as blood vessels
GB2267035A (en) * 1992-05-19 1993-11-24 Univ Arizona Ultrasonic catheter for intra-cardiac ablation
US5382228A (en) * 1992-07-09 1995-01-17 Baxter International Inc. Method and device for connecting ultrasound transmission member (S) to an ultrasound generating device
US5993393A (en) * 1992-07-14 1999-11-30 Intravascular Research Limited Methods and apparatus for the examination and treatment of internal organs
US5603327A (en) * 1993-02-01 1997-02-18 Endosonics Corporation Ultrasound catheter probe
US6962567B2 (en) 1993-02-01 2005-11-08 Volcano Therapeutics, Inc. Ultrasound transducer assembly
US6283920B1 (en) 1993-02-01 2001-09-04 Endosonics Corporation Ultrasound transducer assembly
US5779644A (en) * 1993-02-01 1998-07-14 Endosonics Coporation Ultrasound catheter probe
US6123673A (en) * 1993-02-01 2000-09-26 Endosonics Corporation Method of making an ultrasound transducer assembly
US5938615A (en) * 1993-02-01 1999-08-17 Endosonics Corporation Ultrasound catheter probe
US5457359A (en) * 1993-08-06 1995-10-10 Olin Corporation Control for electroluminescent loads
US5417672A (en) * 1993-10-04 1995-05-23 Baxter International Inc. Connector for coupling an ultrasound transducer to an ultrasound catheter
US5390678A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-02-21 Baxter International Inc. Method and device for measuring ultrasonic activity in an ultrasound delivery system
US5590659A (en) * 1994-09-15 1997-01-07 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualization method and apparatus
EP0702247A3 (en) * 1994-09-15 1998-02-04 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualisation method and apparatus
EP0702247A2 (en) * 1994-09-15 1996-03-20 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualisation method and apparatus
US5935072A (en) * 1994-09-15 1999-08-10 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualisation method and apparatus
US6689086B1 (en) 1994-10-27 2004-02-10 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Method of using a catheter for delivery of ultrasonic energy and medicament
US6254542B1 (en) 1995-07-17 2001-07-03 Intravascular Research Limited Ultrasonic visualization method and apparatus
US6899682B2 (en) 1997-01-08 2005-05-31 Volcano Therapeutics, Inc. Intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate and method for manufacturing such assembly
US6049958A (en) * 1997-01-08 2000-04-18 Endosonics Corporation High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate and method for manufacture thereof
US5857974A (en) * 1997-01-08 1999-01-12 Endosonics Corporation High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate
US6618916B1 (en) 1997-01-08 2003-09-16 Jomed Inc. Method for manufacturing a high resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate
US6811544B2 (en) 1999-05-11 2004-11-02 Alan K. Schaer Catheter positioning system
US6758830B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2004-07-06 Atrionix, Inc. Catheter positioning system
US7731681B2 (en) 1999-05-11 2010-06-08 Atrionix, Inc. Catheter positioning system
US7881807B2 (en) 1999-05-11 2011-02-01 Schaer Alan K Balloon anchor wire
CN100399595C (en) * 2003-03-12 2008-07-02 中国科学院声学研究所 Wheeled scanning proe for scanning imager
CN102411029A (en) * 2010-09-26 2012-04-11 宝山钢铁股份有限公司 Method for examining steel tube defects through ultrasonic interference imaging
CN102411029B (en) * 2010-09-26 2013-02-06 宝山钢铁股份有限公司 Method for examining steel tube defects through ultrasonic interference imaging

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2208138B (en) 1991-08-07
GB8714450D0 (en) 1987-07-22

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732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Effective date: 20070618