Rotatable transducer array for volumetric ultrasound

Abstract

A rotating transducer assembly and method for use in volumetric ultrasound imaging and catheter-guided procedures are provided. The rotating transducer assembly comprises a transducer array mounted on a drive shaft and the transducer array is rotatable with the drive shaft, a motion controller coupled to the transducer array and the drive shaft for rotating the transducer, and at least one interconnect assembly coupled to the transducer for transmitting signals between the transducer and an imaging device, wherein the interconnection assembly is configured to reduce its respective torque load on the transducer and motion controller due to a rotating motion of the transducer.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The invention relates generally to a rotating transducer array system, and more particularly to a rotatable transducer array assembly for use in volumetric ultrasound imaging and catheter-guided treatment such as cardiac interventional procedures. [0002] Cardiac interventional procedures such as the ablation of atrial fibrillation are complicated due to the lack of an efficient method to visualize the cardiac anatomy in real-time. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has recently gained interest as a potential method to visualize interventional devices as well as cardiac anatomy in real-time. Current commercially available catheter-based intracardiac probes used for clinical ultrasound B-scan imaging have limitations associated with the monoplanar nature of the B-scan images. Real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) imaging may overcome these limitations. Existing one-dimensional (1D) catheter transducers have been used to make 3D ICE images by rotating the entire cathete...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In a first aspect of the invention, a rotating transducer assembly for use in volumetric ultrasound imaging and catheter-guided procedures is provided. The rotating transducer assembly comprises a transducer array mounted on a drive shaft, a motion controller coupled to the transducer array and the drive shaft for rota

Problems solved by technology

Cardiac interventional procedures such as the ablation of atrial fibrillation are complicated due to the lack of an efficient method to visualize the cardiac anatomy in real-time.

Current commercially available catheter-based intracardiac probes used for clinical ultrasound B-scan imaging have limitations associated with the monoplanar nature of the B-scan images.

Unfortunately, 2D array transducers require prohibitively large numbers of interconnections in order to adequately sample the acoustic aperture space to achieve sufficient spatial resolution and image quality.

In addition, other challenges exist with 2D arrays, such as low sensitivity due to the small element size, and increases in system cost and complexity.

Additionally, due to catheter size constraints, 2D arrays have fewer elements than desirable as well as small apertures thereby contributing to poor resolution and contrast and ultimately poor image quality.

The issue of acquiring three-dimensional volumes has been addressed with the advent of 2D array transducers (e.g., Philips X4 or GE 3V probes), however, their applicability to space-constrained applications such as intracardiac echocardiography is limited due to the unachievable number of signal conductors and / or beamforming electronics that are required in order to adequately sample the aperture space and generate images with sufficient resolution.

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