A coupled fluid compensation device, an imaging catheter, and an ultrasound imaging device

Abstract

The imaging catheter provided in the application comprises a coupling liquid compensation device, a driving member, a sheath tube, an imaging shaft and an imaging sensor; the coupling liquid compensation device comprises a main body part, an extension tube and a first compensation shaft sealing member; the main body part is provided with a first accommodating cavity and a second accommodating cavity; one end of the extension tube is arranged in the first accommodating cavity, and the other end of the extension tube extends out of the first accommodating cavity and is connected with the driving member; the first compensation shaft sealing member is in sliding connection with the inner wall of the second accommodating cavity and forms a coupling liquid compensation cavity with the second accommodating cavity; the first accommodating cavity and the coupling liquid compensation cavity are in communication through a lead-through structure; the sheath tube is in sealed connection with the first accommodating cavity; one end of the imaging shaft is arranged in the sheath tube and is connected with the imaging sensor, and the other end of the imaging shaft extends out of the extension tube and is connected with the driving member. The extension tube moves under the driving of the driving member, the first compensation shaft sealing member moves synchronously, and the mutual compensation of the coupling liquid in the first accommodating cavity and the coupling liquid compensation cavity is realized through the lead-through structure, so that the imaging quality of the imaging catheter is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to coupling fluid compensation devices for imaging catheters and ultrasound imaging equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Imaging catheters are specialized catheters used in the medical field to acquire imaging data within the body, typically during minimally invasive surgery or diagnostic procedures. Imaging catheters include ultrasound imaging catheters and optical imaging catheters. The imaging sensors (such as ultrasound transducers and optical sensors) within imaging catheters are usually small. To achieve a wide scanning range, the imaging sensors often need to perform retraction or forward thrust movements to cover a larger imaging area. Since sound waves attenuate significantly when propagating through air, a coupling fluid is generally used within the catheter to create a continuous medium, ensuring that sound waves can be efficiently transmitted from the catheter to the target tissue while simultaneously transmitting the signal back to the imaging sensor, thus obtaining a clear image. Ultrasound imaging catheters include intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters and intracardiac imaging catheters. Taking intravascular ultrasound catheters as an example, in the existing IVUS catheter design, the catheter generally consists of an inner tube and an outer tube. The outer tube is fixed, while the inner tube has a transducer that can slide inside the outer tube under the pulling or pushing force of the drive unit. In order to ensure the transmission effect of ultrasound waves, the space between the outer tube and the inner tube is usually filled with coupling fluid and the air is purged. The cavity between the outer tube and the inner tube is sealed.

[0003] However, this sealed cavity structure has a series of problems. For example, when the inner tube retracts, part of the inner tube that was originally inside the outer tube cavity is pulled out of the outer tube cavity, causing the volume of the inner tube cavity inside the outer tube to decrease. Since the volume of the coupling fluid remains unchanged, the volume of the outer tube cavity is greater than the sum of the volume of the inner tube cavity and the volume of the coupling fluid. At this time, if the outer tube is relatively soft, it may deform and become concave, which may even trap the inner tube; if the outer tube is relatively hard, the unbalanced pressure difference will significantly increase the resistance to the movement of the inner tube, until it is completely impossible to pull back. To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies have proposed a solution for IVUS catheters that does not seal the outer tube. A small hole is created at the very tip of the outer tube. When withdrawing, blood outside the tube is drawn into the outer tube through the small hole to compensate for the reduction in the volume of the inner tube lumen. When pushing forward, the fluid inside the tube is pushed out of the small hole to the outside of the outer tube (inside the blood vessel) to compensate for the increase in the volume of the inner tube lumen. In this approach, blood is drawn into the catheter and mixed with the fluid inside the tube. The mixed fluid is then pushed back into the blood vessel. The sterilization level and residues inside the blood vessel pose a significant risk to the patient's safety. Furthermore, before using the catheter, water needs to be injected into the catheter through the injection port to expel air. During this process, excess water is squeezed out through the small hole until all the air in the outer tube is completely expelled. Only after completing this necessary preparation can the catheter be advanced to the vicinity of the examination area. The preparation process is complex and time-consuming, and the quality of air expulsion is directly related to the skill of the medical staff. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, the purpose of this application is to provide a coupling fluid compensation device, an imaging catheter, and an imaging device to solve the problem of changes in the volume of the outer tube caused by the retraction or forward movement of the inner tube. At the same time, it can avoid the contamination problem of the inner tube cavity being connected to the blood vessel in the prior art, so that the cavity containing the coupling fluid can achieve automatic compensation of the coupling fluid under sealed conditions, and eliminate the tedious work of air venting by medical personnel before use.

[0005] This application provides an imaging catheter, including a coupling fluid compensation device, a drive component, a sheath, an imaging shaft, and an imaging sensor. The coupling fluid compensation device includes a main body, a telescopic tube, and a first compensation shaft seal. The main body has a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity. One end of the telescopic tube is disposed in the first receiving cavity, and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity and is connected to the drive component. The first compensation shaft seal is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity and forms a coupling fluid compensation cavity with the second receiving cavity. The first receiving cavity and the coupling fluid compensation cavity are connected through a conductive structure. The sheath is sealed to the first receiving cavity. One end of the imaging shaft is disposed in the sheath and connected to the imaging transducer, and the other end extends out of the telescopic tube and is connected to the drive component.

[0006] This application provides a coupling fluid compensation device for use in an imaging catheter. The coupling fluid compensation device includes: a main body having a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity; a telescopic tube having one end disposed in the first receiving cavity and the other end extending out of the first receiving cavity and connected to a drive member of the imaging catheter; a first compensation shaft seal slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity, forming a coupling fluid compensation cavity with the second receiving cavity; the first receiving cavity and the coupling fluid compensation cavity are connected by a conductive structure; the telescopic tube moves under the drive member, and the first compensation shaft seal moves synchronously to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity and the coupling fluid compensation cavity.

[0007] This application also provides a coupling fluid compensation device for use in an imaging catheter. The coupling fluid compensation device includes: a main body having a first accommodating cavity and a second accommodating cavity arranged side by side; a telescopic tube, one end of which is disposed in the first accommodating cavity and the other end of which extends out of the first accommodating cavity and is connected to a drive member of the imaging catheter; a compensation shaft, one end of which is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second accommodating cavity through a first compensation shaft seal and the other end of which extends out of the second accommodating cavity and is connected to the drive member; the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity are provided with a first communicating hole at the end near the drive member; the telescopic tube and the compensation shaft move in the same direction under the drive member, and the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity exchange coupling fluid through the first communicating hole to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity.

[0008] This application provides an ultrasound imaging device, including a main unit, a driver, and an imaging catheter as described above, wherein the imaging catheter is mechanically connected to the driver, and the main unit is communicatively connected to the driver and the imaging catheter.

[0009] The imaging catheter of this application includes a sheath, an imaging shaft, an imaging sensor, a driving component, and a coupling fluid compensation device. By setting a first and a second accommodating cavity (coupling fluid compensation cavity) that are connected and sealed on the main body of the coupling fluid compensation device, the driving component drives the telescopic tube in the first accommodating cavity to move, and the sealing component of the first compensation shaft moves synchronously. The first accommodating cavity and the coupling fluid compensation cavity exchange coupling fluid through a conductive structure to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the sheath, the first accommodating cavity, and the coupling fluid compensation cavity. This satisfies the amount of coupling fluid required by the imaging transducer in the sheath, ensuring the imaging quality of the imaging catheter, and preventing deformation of the coupling fluid compensation device, which would affect its use. It also eliminates the need for other cumbersome work such as venting before use, reducing the complexity of operating the imaging catheter and making it more convenient to use. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a coupling fluid compensation device in an imaging catheter in one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a coupling fluid compensation device in an imaging catheter in one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a limiting element in an imaging catheter coupling fluid compensation device in one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main body of the coupling fluid compensation device along the DD and D'D' directions in one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the imaging catheter in one embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the imaging catheter in one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the imaging catheter in another embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the imaging catheter along the DD direction in one embodiment.

[0018] Reference numerals: 100, Coupling fluid compensation device; 110, Main body; 111, First receiving cavity; 112, Second receiving cavity; 113, Conductive structure / First connecting hole; 120, Telescopic tube; 121, Protrusion; 130, Compensation shaft; 131, First compensation shaft seal; 132, Coupling fluid compensation cavity; 140, Limiting element; 141, First through hole; 1411, First annular groove; 1412, First telescopic tube seal; 142, Second through hole; 1421, Second annular groove; 1422, Second compensation shaft seal; 143, Recess; 1431, Side wall; 1432, Bottom; 144, Connecting groove; 150, Positioning element; 200. Driving component; 210. Base body; 2101. First fixing groove; 2102. Second fixing groove; 211. Water inlet; 212. Water inlet groove; 213. First mating component; 2131. Mating groove; 2132. First base seal; 2133. Through hole; 214. Second sleeve; 300. Sheath; 301. First sleeve; 3011. Second connecting hole; 400. Imaging axis; 401. Coaxial line; 402. Flexible tube; 500. First connector; 501. First annular groove; 502. First connecting hole; 503. Second annular groove; 504. Second connecting hole; 505. Groove; 600. Imaging sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0020] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0021] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0022] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0024] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0025] One embodiment of this application discloses a coupling fluid compensation device applied to an imaging catheter. The coupling fluid compensation device includes: a main body 110, a telescopic tube 120, and a first compensation shaft seal 131; the main body 110 is provided with a first receiving cavity 111 and a second receiving cavity 112; preferably, the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 are arranged side by side or parallel; one end of the telescopic tube 120 is disposed in the first receiving cavity 111, and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity 111 and is connected to the driving member 200 of the imaging catheter; the first compensation shaft seal 131 and the first compensation shaft seal 131 are connected to the first receiving cavity 111. The inner walls of the two receiving cavities 112 are slidably connected, forming a coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 with the second receiving cavity 112. The first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 are connected by a conductive structure 113. The conductive structure 113 can be a conduit or a connecting hole, as long as it can achieve communication between the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132. The telescopic tube 120 moves under the drive of the driving member 200, and the first compensation shaft seal 131 moves synchronously to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132. This structure will not cause deformation of the coupling fluid compensation device, nor will it require other cumbersome work such as venting before use, making operation more convenient and reliable.

[0026] Specifically, the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 are arranged in parallel. A telescopic tube receiving cavity is provided in the second receiving cavity 112. One end of the telescopic tube 120 is located in the first receiving cavity 111, and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity 111 and is connected to the driving member 200 of the imaging guide tube. Furthermore, the end of the telescopic tube 120 extending out of the first receiving cavity 111 also extends out of the telescopic tube receiving cavity in the second receiving cavity 112. The first compensation shaft seal 131 is disposed between the second receiving cavity 112 and the telescopic tube receiving cavity. A coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 is formed between the first compensation shaft seal 131 and the second receiving cavity 112, and is slidably connected to the inner wall of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132. The telescopic tube receiving cavity is a cavity for the telescopic tube 120 to pass through, and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 is a chamber for accommodating the coupling agent between the second receiving cavity 112 and the telescopic tube receiving cavity. The first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 are connected through a conduit. The coupling fluid compensation device may also include a compensation shaft 130, one end of which is connected to the first compensation shaft seal 131, and the other end is connected to the driving member 200 of the imaging conduit. The telescopic tube 120 and the compensation shaft 130 move under the drive of the driving member 200, and the first compensation shaft seal 131 moves synchronously to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132. Alternatively, the compensation shaft 130 may not be provided, and the first compensation shaft seal 131 may be a movable seal. When there is a pressure difference caused by volume change in the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132, the movable seal will be pushed by the pressure to automatically compensate, thereby achieving mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132.

[0027] A schematic diagram of the coupling fluid compensation device for the imaging catheter in another embodiment of this application is shown below. Figure 1 The coupling fluid compensation device 100 provided in this application includes a main body 110, a telescopic tube 120, and a compensation shaft 130. The main body 110 has a first receiving cavity 111 and a second receiving cavity 112 arranged in parallel. One end of the telescopic tube 120 is disposed in the first receiving cavity 111, and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity 111 and is connected to the driving member 200 of the imaging guide tube. One end of the compensation shaft 130 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 112 through a first compensation shaft seal 131, and the other end extends out of the second receiving cavity 112 and is connected to the driving member 200. The first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 are provided with a first connecting hole 113 at the end near the driving member 200. The telescopic tube 120 and the compensation shaft 130 move in the same direction under the drive of the driving member 200, and the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 exchange coupling fluid through the first connecting hole 113 to realize mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112. Alternatively, the compensation shaft 130 can be omitted, and the first compensation shaft seal 131 can be a floating seal.

[0028] Specifically, the main body 110 is provided with a first receiving cavity 111 and a second receiving cavity 112 along the length of the imaging conduit. The first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 are arranged side by side along a direction perpendicular to the length of the conduit, such as being arranged side by side along the radial direction of the conduit. Coupling fluid is disposed in the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112. A first compensation shaft seal 131 is sleeved on the end of the compensation shaft 130 away from the driving member 200. Preferably, a compensation shaft groove is provided on the end of the compensation shaft 130 away from the driving member 200, and the first compensation shaft seal 131 is disposed on the compensation shaft groove; or a protrusion is provided on the end of the compensation shaft 130 away from the driving member 200, the protrusion is clearance-fitted with the second receiving cavity 112, and a compensation seal is provided on the protrusion. The shaft groove has a first compensating shaft seal 131 disposed on it. The coupling fluid in the second receiving cavity 112 is contained in the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 formed by the compensating shaft seal 131, the compensating shaft 130, and the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 112. When the compensating shaft 130 moves in the second receiving cavity 112, the size of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 is dynamically adjusted by the first compensating shaft seal 131. At the same time, the first compensating shaft seal 131 can prevent the coupling fluid in the second receiving cavity 112 from flowing out from the side of the first compensating shaft seal 131. The first compensating shaft seal 131 can be a sealing ring, including rubber sealing rings, polyurethane sealing rings, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing rings, composite material sealing rings, etc., preferably rubber sealing rings.The telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 are connected to the driving member 200. When the driving member 200 moves the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 away from the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 (i.e., during retraction), the first receiving cavity 111 requires more coupling fluid to compensate for the volume removed due to the removal of the telescopic tube. Meanwhile, in the second receiving cavity 112, the first compensating shaft seal 131 moves along with the removal of the compensating shaft 130, causing the chamber of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 to shrink. The coupling fluid flows in the direction of removal and flows into the first receiving cavity 111 through the first connecting hole 113 between the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 to replenish the coupling fluid requirement of the first receiving cavity 111. When the driving member 200 moves the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 closer to the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112... When the second receiving cavity 112 moves (i.e., when it is pushed forward), the volume of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 is reduced due to the retraction of the telescopic tube 120, causing the coupling fluid to be squeezed out. Simultaneously, the volume of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 in the second receiving cavity 112 increases due to the retraction of the compensation shaft 130. The coupling fluid squeezed out of the first receiving cavity 111 then flows back into the second receiving cavity 112 through the first connecting hole 113. The structure of the coupling fluid compensation device for the imaging catheter of this application achieves mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112, thus balancing the coupling fluid demand during use. This avoids deformation of the coupling fluid compensation device or its inability to function due to pressure differences, and eliminates the need for external liquid compensation. The coupling fluid can be any liquid capable of coupling, such as water, physiological saline, glycerin, propylene glycol, or mineral oil-based coupling fluid.

[0029] Where the number of first receiving cavities 111 is one, the number of second receiving cavities 112 can be at least one, such as Figure 4 The second receiving cavity 112 shown can be one or two, or more. The specific number can be set according to actual needs, as long as the above content is achieved.

[0030] Preferably, the coupling fluid compensation device 100 further includes a limiting member 140. One end of the limiting member 140 is connected to the outer wall of the main body 110, and the other end is provided with a first through hole 141 and a second through hole 142 corresponding to the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112, respectively. The first through hole 141 is used for the telescopic tube 120 to extend and connect with the driving member 200, and the second through hole 142 is used for the compensation shaft 130 to extend and connect with the driving member 200.

[0031] Specifically, such as Figure 2As shown, the limiting member 140 includes a recessed portion 143 that matches the outer wall of the main body 110. The recessed portion 143 includes a side wall 1431 and a bottom 1432. One end of the side wall 1431 is sleeved on the outer wall of the main body 110 and is sealed to the outer wall of the main body 110. The connection method includes, but is not limited to, adhesive bonding, heat fusion, etc. The first through hole 141 and the second through hole 142 are provided on the bottom 1432. The first through hole 141 is used for the telescopic tube 120 to extend and connect with the driving member 200, and the second through hole 142 is used for the compensation shaft 130 to extend and connect with the driving member 200.

[0032] Preferably, the limiting member 140 further includes a first annular groove 1411 and a second annular groove 1421 extending radially along the first through hole 141 and the second through hole 142, respectively; a first telescopic tube seal 1412 and a second compensating shaft seal 1422 are respectively provided in the first annular groove 1411 and the second annular groove 1421; the telescopic tube 120 extends out of the first telescopic tube seal 1412 and connects to the driving member 200, and the compensating shaft 130 extends out of the second compensating shaft seal 1422 and connects to the driving member 200. The first telescopic tube seal 1412 and the second compensating shaft seal 1422 can both be sealing rings, including rubber sealing rings, polyurethane sealing rings, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing rings, composite material sealing rings, etc., preferably rubber sealing rings. The first telescopic tube seal 1412 and the second compensation shaft seal 1422 are used to seal the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112; further, the end of the first receiving cavity 111 away from the limiting member 140 is sealed to the sheath in the imaging catheter, so that the coupling agent in the main body 110 of the coupling fluid compensation device 100 is sealed in the cavity.

[0033] Preferably, the limiting member 140 is further provided with a positioning member 150 connected to the outer wall of the recess 143. The positioning member 150 is used to connect with other fixing members to fix the coupling fluid compensation device of the conduit in a certain position.

[0034] Preferably, the first connecting hole 113 is disposed on the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112, such as... Figure 1-3As shown, a first connecting hole 113 connects the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112. The first connecting hole 113 is provided at the end of the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 near the driving member 200. The first connecting hole 113 can be a cylindrical hole, a semi-cylindrical hole, a cube, or a hemisphere. The direction of the first connecting hole 113 can be perpendicular to the direction of the first through hole 141 or the second through hole 142. The first connecting hole 113 can also be provided on the limiting member 140. The bottom 1432 of the limiting member can be provided with a connecting groove 144 at the junction of the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112. The connecting groove communicates with the first through hole 141 and the second through hole 142. The connecting groove 144 is used for the exchange of coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112. The connecting groove 144 is the first connecting hole 113.

[0035] Preferably, a protrusion 121 is provided on the outer wall of the end of the telescopic tube 120 away from the driving member 200. The protrusion 121 moves synchronously with the telescopic tube 120 in the first receiving cavity 111. The limiting member 140 is used to limit the movement distance of the protrusion 121. Specifically, a protrusion 121 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the telescopic tube 120. The protrusion 121 is located between the telescopic tube 120 and the inner wall of the first receiving cavity 111. When the telescopic tube 120 moves outward under the drive of the drive member 200, the protrusion 121 also moves. When the protrusion 121 moves to abut against the bottom 1432 of the limiting member, the protrusion 121 will be unable to move further, and the telescopic tube 120 will also be unable to move further outward, thus preventing the telescopic tube 120 from detaching from the first receiving cavity 111 during the outward movement. The protrusion 121 can be a columnar protrusion, a strip-shaped protrusion, etc., as long as it can prevent the telescopic tube 120 from detaching from the first receiving cavity 111 during the outward movement. The protrusion 121 can be integrally formed with the telescopic tube 120 or it can be an independent structure.

[0036] Preferably, there can be one drive component 200, which controls the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 to move in the same direction at the same speed; alternatively, there can be two drive components 200, with one drive component 200 connected to each of the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130, and different drive components 200 can control the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 to move in the same direction at the same or different speeds. Specifically, it can be set according to actual needs.

[0037] This application also relates to an imaging catheter, which can be used for intravascular ultrasound imaging. It transmits and receives ultrasound waves through a transducer to generate high-resolution images of the cross-section and longitudinal section of the blood vessel. The coupling fluid, as a medium for sound wave transmission, ensures that ultrasound waves are efficiently transmitted from the transducer within the catheter to the vessel wall and receives the reflected sound wave signals. To obtain images over a wider range, the transducer typically needs to move within the sheath. In existing intravascular imaging catheters, the movement of the transducer causes changes in the volume of the coupling fluid within the chamber containing the transducer, leading to deformation of the coupling fluid compensation device structure, affecting the continued application of the product, and causing the termination of the examination.

[0038] To address this issue, the imaging catheter of this application incorporates the structure of the coupling fluid compensation device described above, thus effectively solving the problem.

[0039] Combination Figure 5-6 The diagram shows a cross-sectional schematic of an imaging catheter according to an embodiment of this application. The imaging catheter in the embodiment includes a coupling fluid compensation device 100, a drive unit 200, a sheath 300, an imaging axis 400, and an imaging sensor 600. The structure of the coupling fluid compensation device 100 is as described in the previous embodiment. The imaging sensor 600 includes an ultrasonic transducer and an optical sensor (such as a fiber optic sensor or an optical probe).

[0040] The coupling fluid compensation device includes: a main body 110, a telescopic tube 120, and a first compensation shaft seal 131; the main body 110 is provided with a first receiving cavity 111 and a second receiving cavity 112; one end of the telescopic tube 120 is disposed in the first receiving cavity 111, and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity 111 and is connected to the drive member 200; the first compensation shaft seal 131 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 112, and forms a coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 with the second receiving cavity 112; the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 are connected through a conductive structure 113.

[0041] The sheath 300 is sealed to the first receiving cavity 111; one end of the imaging shaft 400 is located inside the sheath 300 and connected to the imaging sensor 600, and the other end extends out of the telescopic tube 120 and is connected to the drive component 200.

[0042] Specifically, the outer wall of the sheath 300 is sealed to the inner wall of the first receiving cavity 111, or the inner wall of the sheath 300 is sealed to the outer wall of the first receiving cavity 111. The sheath 300 communicates with the first receiving cavity 111. The coupling fluid is sealed within the sheath 300 and the first receiving cavity 111. One end of the imaging axis 400 is disposed within the sheath 300 and connected to the imaging sensor 600 for controlling the movement and imaging of the imaging sensor 600. The other end extends out of the telescopic tube 120 and is connected to the drive member 200. The imaging axis 400 moves under the drive of the drive member 200, causing the imaging sensor 600 to move within the sheath, increasing the imaging range of the imaging sensor 600. The imaging axis 400 includes a coaxial line 401 and a flexible... The flexible tube 402 is electrically connected to the coaxial line 401 and the imaging sensor 600, used to transmit control signals and image data acquired by the imaging sensor 600. The flexible tube 402 is fixedly connected to the base of the imaging sensor 600 and is sleeved on the outer wall of the coaxial line 401 to ensure that the imaging axis 400 can still be transmitted back and forth even when the tube is bent. The flexible tube 402 can be a spring tube. When the driving member 200 drives the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400 to move away from the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112, more coupling fluid is needed in the first receiving cavity 111 to compensate for the movement of the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400. The volume is removed to meet the needs of the coupling fluid in the sheath 300 and the first receiving cavity 111. At this time, the first compensating shaft seal 131 also moves synchronously, causing the chamber of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 in the second receiving cavity 112 to shrink. The coupling fluid flows in the removal direction and flows into the first receiving cavity 111 through the conducting structure 113, thus satisfying the needs of the coupling fluid in the compensation sheath 300 and the first receiving cavity 111. When the driving member 200 drives the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400 to move closer to the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112, the volume in the sheath 300 is reduced due to the retraction of the imaging axis 400, and the volume in the first receiving cavity 111 is reduced due to the retraction of the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400. When the sheath 300 and the first receiving cavity 111 are retracted, the volume of coupling fluid that can be contained is reduced due to the occupation of the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400. At this time, the coupling fluid will be squeezed out. At the same time, due to the synchronous movement of the first compensation shaft seal 131 in the second receiving cavity 112, the volume of the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 that can contain the coupling fluid increases. At this time, the coupling fluid squeezed out in the first receiving cavity 111 flows back into the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 through the conductive structure 113. This achieves mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the sheath 300, the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132, so as to meet the amount of coupling fluid required by the imaging transducer in the sheath, ensure the imaging requirements of the imaging catheter, and reduce the complexity of the imaging catheter operation.

[0043] Preferably, the coupling fluid compensation device includes a compensation shaft 130, one end of which is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 112 via a first compensation shaft seal 131, and the other end extends out of the second receiving cavity 112 and is connected to the driving member 200; the telescopic tube 120 and the compensation shaft 130 move in the same direction under the drive of the driving member 200, and the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 exchange coupling fluid through the conductive structure 113 to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity 111 and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132; wherein, the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity 112 can be arranged side by side, and the conductive structure 113 includes a first connecting hole.

[0044] Preferably, the coupling fluid compensation device 100 further includes a limiting member 140 and a protrusion 121, the specific structure of which is as described in the previous embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0045] Preferably, the imaging catheter further includes a first connector 500, and the sheath 300 is sealed to the first receiving cavity 111 through the first connector 500.

[0046] Specifically, the first connector 500 is provided with a first annular groove 501 that mates with the housing of the first receiving cavity 111, and a first connecting hole 502 for connecting the sheath tube 300. The housing of the first receiving cavity 111 is sealed to the first annular groove 501, including adhesive sealing, heat fusion sealing, etc. The outer wall of the sheath tube 300 is sealed to the inner wall of the first connecting hole 502, including adhesive sealing, heat fusion sealing, etc.

[0047] Preferably, the first connector 500 is further provided with a second annular groove 503 that mates with the housing of the second receiving cavity 112. The housing of the second receiving cavity 112 is connected to the second annular groove 503, including by bonding. Further, the first connector 500 is also provided with a second communicating hole 504 corresponding to the second receiving cavity 112. The second communicating hole 504 communicates with the second receiving cavity 112 and is used to adjust the pressure of the second receiving cavity 112 to prevent excessive negative pressure within the second receiving cavity 112, which could prevent the compensating shaft 130 from being pulled. Alternatively, the second communicating hole 504 can be located on the outer wall of the second receiving cavity 112. Specifically, the compensating shaft 130 moves towards the sheath 300 end under the drive of the driving member 200. When it reaches the maximum limiting position, a second communicating hole is provided between the second annular groove 503 and the first compensating shaft seal 131. The second communicating hole communicates with the external air and is used to adjust the pressure of the second receiving cavity 112.

[0048] Preferably, the imaging catheter further includes a first sleeve 301, one end of which is sleeved on the outer wall of the sheath 300, and the other end is connected to the first connector 500. Specifically, the first sleeve 301 is provided with a second connecting hole 3011. One end of the first sleeve 301 is sleeved on the sheath 300 through the second connecting hole 3011, and the other end is connected to the first connector 500. The first sleeve 301 is used to relieve or avoid stress concentration at the connection between the sheath 300 and the first connector 500. The first sleeve 301 is a soft rubber part, which may include materials such as rubber, silicone, TPU or TPE. The thickness of the first sleeve 301 gradually decreases along the direction of the sheath. The first sleeve 301 and the first connector 500 can be connected by adhesive, welding or other methods. A groove 505 is provided on the outer wall of the first connector 500 near the first sleeve 301. The first connector 500 can be sleeved on the groove 505 and connected to the groove 505. The groove 505 can be an L-shaped groove.

[0049] Preferably, such as Figure 6 As shown, the driving component 200 includes a base body 210. On the side of the base body 210 near the main body 110, a first fixing groove 2101 and a second fixing groove 2102 are provided. The first fixing groove 2101 is sealed to the end of the telescopic tube 120, and the second fixing groove 2102 is connected to the end of the compensating shaft 130. Specifically, the inner wall of the first fixing groove 2101 is sealed to the outer wall of the telescopic tube 120, which on the one hand fixes the telescopic tube 120 to the base body 210, facilitating the movement of the telescopic tube 120, and on the other hand prevents the coupling agent from seeping outside the base body 210. The connection methods include adhesive bonding, welding, or hot melting.

[0050] The end of the base body 210 furthest from the coupling fluid compensation device is connected to the driver, which drives the base body 210 to move back and forth. The driver can be a motor. There can also be two sets of base bodies and drivers. One set of base bodies and drivers controls the movement of the telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400, and the other set of base bodies and drivers controls the movement of the compensation axis 130. The telescopic tube 120 and the imaging axis 400 can be controlled to move at the same or different speeds as the compensation axis 130.

[0051] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the base body 210 is provided with a water inlet 211 and a water inlet 212 at a preset angle. Preferably, the water inlet 211 and the water inlet 212 are arranged vertically (90°); the water inlet 212 connects the water inlet 211 and the telescopic pipe 120.

[0052] A water inlet plug is provided on the water inlet 211. After the water inlet plug is opened, the coupling fluid injected into the water inlet 211 flows through the water inlet 212 into the telescopic tube 120 and enters the first receiving cavity 111. Since the first receiving cavity 111 is connected to the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 and the sheath tube 300, the coupling fluid can fill the first receiving cavity 111, the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 and the sheath tube 300.

[0053] Preferably, the drive component 200 further includes a first mating component 213, which is disposed at one end of the water inlet 212 away from the water inlet 211 and the telescopic tube 120. The outer wall of the first mating component 213 is in clearance fit with the inner wall of the water inlet 212. The first mating component 213 is used to connect the imaging axis 400 to the base body 210. The outer wall of the first mating component 213 is provided with a mating groove 2131, and a first base seal 2132 is provided on the mating groove 2131. The first base seal 2132 abuts against the inner wall of the water inlet tank 212. The first base seal 2132 can be a sealing ring, including rubber sealing rings, polyurethane sealing rings, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing rings, composite material sealing rings, etc., used to seal the coupling fluid in the water inlet tank 212. The first mating component 213 is also provided with a through hole 2133, and the imaging axis 400 extends out of the water inlet tank 212 and is sealed to the inner wall of the through hole 2133, including but not limited to adhesive sealing, welding sealing, etc., to prevent the coupling fluid in the water inlet tank 212 from seeping out from the through hole. The imaging axis 400 extending out of the through hole 2133 is connected to the connector, thereby communicating with the host.

[0054] Based on this, in order to ensure that a wider imaging range is obtained, it is usually necessary to use the imaging axis 400 to drive the transducer to rotate. A rotary driver can be connected to the end of the first mating part 213 to drive the first mating part 213 to rotate, thereby driving the imaging axis 400 to rotate, so as to increase the imaging range of the transducer.

[0055] Preferably, the imaging conduit further includes a second sleeve 214, which is sleeved on the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130, and extends to the base body 210. The second sleeve 214 is provided with a third connecting hole 2141 and a fourth connecting hole 2142. The second sleeve 214 is sleeved on the outer wall of the telescopic tube 120 and the first fixing groove 2101 through the third connecting hole 2141, and on the outer wall of the compensating shaft 130 and the second fixing groove 2102 through the fourth connecting hole 2142. The second sleeve 214 is used to relieve or eliminate stress. The second sleeve 214 is also used to limit the movement distance of the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130. Specifically, when the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 move towards the sheath end under the drive of the driving member 200, when the second sleeve 214 abuts against the limiting member 140, the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 will not be able to continue moving, thereby limiting the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 to continue moving towards the sheath end 300, that is, the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 move to the maximum limiting position.

[0056] Preferably, to ensure that the coupling agent in the sheath 300, the first receiving cavity 111, and the coupling fluid compensation cavity 132 can replenish each other regardless of when the telescopic tube 120, the imaging axis 400, and the compensation axis 130 are retracted or pushed forward to meet imaging requirements, the coupling fluid compensation device 100 can be designed to meet certain conditions. For example, the first receiving cavity 111 and the second receiving cavity are arranged side-by-side. Specifically... Figure 8 As shown, R1 is the inner diameter of the first receiving cavity 111, R2 is the outer diameter of the telescopic tube 120, R3 is the inner diameter of the telescopic tube 120, R4 is the outer diameter of the flexible tube 402, R5 is the inner diameter of the flexible tube 402, R6 is the outer diameter of the coaxial line 401, R7 is the inner diameter of the second receiving cavity 112, and R8 is the outer diameter of the compensating shaft 130.

[0057] If the second receiving cavity 112 is not considered, when the length of the extension is L, the volume of segment A of sheath tube 300 remains unchanged, the volume of segment B of first receiving cavity 111 remains unchanged, and the volume of extension segment C of telescopic tube 120 increases.

[0058] The total increase in the volume of the catheter lumen is:

[0059] Δ 容 =π·R3 2 ·L

[0060] After the telescopic tube 120 and imaging axis 400 in segments A, B, and C are removed, the reduction in the volume occupied by the telescopic tube 120 and imaging axis 400 is:

[0061] Δ 固 =(π·R2) 2 -π·R3 2 )·L

[0062] To maintain sufficient coupling fluid in segments A, B, and C, compensation fluid is needed to balance the pressure. The increase in fluid volume for compensation is:

[0063] V 补偿 =Δ 容 +Δ 固 =π·R2 2 ·L

[0064] Then it is necessary to set the liquid volume change of the second receiving cavity 112 and V. 补偿 Equal, that is:

[0065] π·R2 2 ·L=π·(R7 2 -R8 2 )·L

[0066] In other words, the structural dimensions design of the coupling fluid compensation device 100 requires the following relationships:

[0067] R2 2 =R7 2 -R8 2

[0068] The above describes the situation where the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 move at the same speed. If the telescopic tube 120 and the compensating shaft 130 do not move at the same speed (the telescopic tube moves at speed V1, and the compensating shaft moves at speed V2), then:

[0069] V1·R2 2 =V2·(R7) 2 -R8 2 )

[0070] Considering that the actual dimensions of each part cannot be exactly equal to the design values ​​during actual part manufacturing, the above equation represents an ideal situation and cannot be perfectly matched in reality. However, when R2 2 ≠R7 2 -R8 2 When the dimensions of each component are within a certain tolerance range of the design values, it will only cause slight deformation of the tube and a slight increase in linear motion resistance, without affecting the actual function. If the difference is large, it needs to be specifically evaluated based on the actual resistance value and the movement of the imaging axis. Furthermore, when the material of the telescopic tube is relatively soft, the allowable error range is even larger. Therefore, the structural dimensions of the compensation cavity generally only need to satisfy the following relationship:

[0071] V1·R2 2 ≈V2·(R7 2 -R8 2 )

[0072] One embodiment of an ultrasound imaging device includes a main unit, a driver, and an imaging catheter. The imaging catheter is mechanically connected to the driver, and the main unit is communicatively connected to the driver and the imaging catheter. The imaging catheter has been described previously and will not be repeated here. The main unit controls the driver to move the imaging axis in the imaging catheter back and forth, increasing the imaging range of the imaging sensor, and moves the telescopic tube and compensation axis back and forth to meet the coupling fluid requirements of the imaging sensor and ensure imaging quality. The main unit also controls the transmission of the imaging sensor in the imaging catheter, receives the image data returned by the imaging sensor, and processes the image data to obtain medical images.

[0073] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0074] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An imaging catheter, characterized in that, The imaging catheter includes a coupling fluid compensation device (100), a drive unit (200), a sheath (300), an imaging axis (400), and an imaging sensor (600); The coupling fluid compensation device (100) includes a main body (110), a telescopic tube (120), and a first compensation shaft seal (131). The main body (110) is provided with a first receiving cavity (111) and a second receiving cavity (112). One end of the telescopic tube (120) is disposed in the first receiving cavity (111), and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity (111) and is connected to the driving member (200). The first compensation shaft seal (131) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity (112) and forms a coupling fluid compensation cavity (132) with the second receiving cavity (112). The first receiving cavity (111) and the coupling fluid compensation cavity (132) are connected through a conductive structure (113). The sheath (300) is sealed to the first receiving cavity (111); One end of the imaging axis (400) is disposed inside the sheath (300) and connected to the imaging sensor (600), while the other end extends out of the telescopic tube (120) and is connected to the drive unit (200).

2. The imaging catheter as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The coupling fluid compensation device (100) includes a compensation shaft (130). One end of the compensation shaft (130) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity (112) through the first compensation shaft seal (131), and the other end extends out of the second receiving cavity (112) and is connected to the driving member (200). The telescopic tube (120) and the compensation shaft (130) move in the same direction under the drive of the driving member (200). The first receiving cavity (111) and the coupling fluid compensation cavity (132) exchange coupling fluid through the conductive structure (113) to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity (111) and the coupling fluid compensation cavity (132).

3. The imaging catheter as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first receiving cavity (111) and the second receiving cavity (112) are arranged side by side.

4. The imaging catheter as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The coupling fluid compensation device (100) further includes a limiting member (140). One end of the limiting member (140) is connected to the outer wall of the main body (110), and the other end is provided with a first through hole (141) and a second through hole (142) corresponding to the first receiving cavity (111) and the second receiving cavity (112), respectively. The first through hole (141) is used for the telescopic tube (120) to extend and connect with the driving member (200), and the second through hole (142) is used for the compensation shaft (130) to extend and connect with the driving member (200).

5. The imaging catheter as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The limiting member (140) further includes a first annular groove (1411) and a second annular groove (1421) extending radially along the first through hole (141) and the second through hole (142), respectively; a first telescopic tube seal (1412) and a second compensating shaft seal (1422) are respectively provided in the first annular groove (1411) and the second annular groove (1421); the telescopic tube (120) extends out of the first telescopic tube seal (1412) and connects to the driving member (200), and the compensating shaft (130) extends out of the second compensating shaft seal (1422) and connects to the driving member (200).

6. The imaging catheter as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The conductive structure (113) includes a first connecting hole, which is disposed on the first receiving cavity (111) and the second receiving cavity (112); Alternatively, the first connecting hole (113) is disposed on the limiting member (140), and the direction of the first connecting hole (113) is perpendicular to the direction of the first through hole (141) or the second through hole (142).

7. The imaging catheter as described in claim 4, characterized in that, A protrusion (121) is provided on the outer wall of the end of the telescopic tube (120) away from the driving member (200). The protrusion (121) moves with the telescopic tube (120) in the first receiving cavity (111). The limiting member (140) is used to limit the moving distance of the protrusion (121).

8. The imaging catheter as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The imaging catheter also includes a first connector (500), and the sheath (300) is sealed to the first receiving cavity (111) through the first connector (500).

9. The imaging catheter as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The first connector (500) is provided with a first annular groove (501) that mates with the housing of the first receiving cavity (111) and a first connecting hole (502) for connecting the sheath (300). The outer shell of the first receiving cavity (111) is sealed to the first annular groove (501), and the outer wall of the sheath (300) is sealed to the inner wall of the first connecting hole (502).

10. The imaging catheter as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The first connector (500) is also provided with a second annular groove (503) that mates with the housing of the second receiving cavity (112), and the housing of the second receiving cavity (112) is connected to the second annular groove (503).

11. The imaging catheter as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The first connector (500) is also provided with a second communication hole (504) corresponding to the second receiving cavity (112), and the second communication hole (504) communicates with the second receiving cavity (112).

12. The imaging catheter as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The imaging catheter also includes a first sleeve (301), one end of which is sleeved on the outer wall of the sheath (300), and the other end is connected to the first connector (500).

13. The imaging catheter as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The drive unit (200) includes a base body (210). The base body (210) has a first fixing groove (2101) and a second fixing groove (2102) on the side near the main body (110). The first fixing groove (2101) is sealed to the end of the telescopic tube (120), and the second fixing groove (2102) is connected to the end of the compensation shaft (130).

14. The imaging catheter as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The base body (210) is provided with a water inlet (211) and a water inlet trough (212) at a preset angle, and the water inlet trough (212) connects the water inlet (211) and the telescopic pipe (120).

15. The imaging catheter as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The drive unit (200) further includes a first mating part (213), which is disposed at one end of the water inlet tank (212) away from the water inlet (211) and the telescopic pipe (120), and the outer wall of the first mating part (213) is in clearance fit with the inner wall of the water inlet tank (212). The outer wall of the first mating part (213) is provided with a mating groove (2131), and a first base seal (2132) is provided on the mating groove (2131). The first base seal (2132) abuts against the inner wall of the water inlet groove (212). The first mating part (213) is also provided with a through hole (2133), and the imaging shaft (400) extends out of the water inlet groove (212) and is sealed to the inner wall of the through hole (2133).

16. The imaging catheter as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The imaging catheter also includes a second sleeve (214), which is sleeved on the telescopic tube (120) and the compensation shaft (130) and extends to the base body (210).

17. A coupling fluid compensation device, applied to an imaging catheter, characterized in that, The coupling fluid compensation device (100) includes: The main body (110) is provided with a first receiving cavity (111) and a second receiving cavity (112); the telescopic tube (120) is provided with one end in the first receiving cavity (111) and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity (111) and is connected to the driving member (200) of the imaging catheter. The first compensating shaft seal (131) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity (112) and forms a coupling fluid compensation cavity (132) with the second receiving cavity (112); the first receiving cavity (111) and the coupling fluid compensation cavity (132) are connected through a conductive structure (113); the telescopic tube (120) moves under the drive of the driving member (200), and the first compensating shaft seal (131) moves synchronously to realize mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first receiving cavity (111) and the coupling fluid compensation cavity (132).

18. A coupling fluid compensation device, applied to an imaging catheter, characterized in that, The coupling fluid compensation device (100) includes: The main body (110) has a first receiving cavity (111) and a second receiving cavity (112) arranged side by side; Telescopic tube (120), one end of which is disposed in the first receiving cavity (111), and the other end extends out of the first receiving cavity (111) and is connected to the driving member (200) of the imaging catheter; The compensation shaft (130) has one end slidably connected to the inner wall of the second receiving cavity (112) through a first compensation shaft seal (131), and the other end extends out of the second receiving cavity (112) and is connected to the driving member (200). The first receiving cavity (111) and the second receiving cavity (112) are provided with a first connecting hole (113) at one end near the driving member (200); The telescopic tube (120) and the compensation shaft (130) move in the same direction under the drive of the drive member (200). The first accommodating cavity (111) and the second accommodating cavity (112) exchange coupling fluid through the first connecting hole (113) to achieve mutual compensation of the coupling fluid in the first accommodating cavity (111) and the second accommodating cavity (112).

19. An ultrasonic imaging device, characterized in that, The ultrasound imaging device includes a main unit, a driver, and an imaging catheter as described in any one of claims 1-16, wherein the imaging catheter is mechanically connected to the driver, and the main unit is communicatively connected to the driver and the imaging catheter.

Images