Intraluminal Transducer Array Circuit Sharing for High Frequency Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters face limitations in achieving high frequency imaging due to the increased number of transducer elements and corresponding circuitry, which results in a larger device size and reduced flexibility for navigating tortuous body lumens.
Innovation Solution
The system selectively groups transducer elements to share bias voltage and transmit/receive circuitry, allowing a single circuit to handle multiple transducer elements, reducing the overall size and complexity of the imaging core, enabling higher frequency imaging while maintaining a smaller device footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of transducer elements is increased to achieve high frequency imaging, then imaging frequency is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple transducer elements by sharing bias voltage circuits and transmit/receive circuits. Specifically, multiple transducer elements are connected to shared bias voltage circuits that can be selectively activated, and multiple elements share common transmit/receive circuitry through time-division multiplexing. This reduces the overall number of separate circuits required from N (if each element had dedicated circuits) to approximately N/2 or fewer, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to operate at high frequencies with multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bias voltage circuits and transmit/receive circuits are designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple transducer elements. The bias voltage circuits can be selectively connected to different groups of transducer elements, and the transmit/receive circuits can time-division multiplex signals to multiple elements. This universal design allows a single circuit to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits for each transducer element, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the number of transducer elements and circuitry is increased, then imaging frequency is improved, but catheter flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple transducer elements into shared circuit groups, the physical footprint and cross-sectional area of the catheter's imaging core are reduced. This allows the catheter to maintain a smaller diameter that can flex more easily through tortuous vascular pathways while still supporting high frequency imaging through the shared multi-element transducer array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-to-one mapping between transducer elements and circuits to a many-to-one mapping through time-division multiplexing. This dimensional change in the control architecture allows multiple elements to be managed with fewer physical circuits, reducing the spatial requirements within the catheter structure and preserving flexibility.
3Measurement precision
If separate circuits are provided for each transducer element, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmit/rereceive circuits employ time-division multiplexing with periodic switching to sequentially control different groups of transducer elements. A switching mechanism periodically connects different bias voltage circuits and transmit/receive circuits to different transducer element groups in time-division sequences. This periodic action enables precise control of individual elements at different time slots while using shared circuit infrastructure, thereby reducing overall circuit quantity while maintaining control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces switching circuits as intermediaries between the shared bias voltage circuits/transmit/receive circuits and the individual transducer elements. These switching mechanisms (such as multiplexers or switches) act as mediators that selectively connect the shared circuits to the appropriate transducer elements at the correct time, enabling precise element-level control through a shared circuit architecture rather than requiring dedicated circuits for each element.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for higher frequency intraluminal imaging with reduced circuitry and wiring, enabling the IVUS catheter to traverse vasculature with improved flexibility and imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) elements
Implementation Method 2
The transducers emit and receive ultrasonic energy in order to create an image of the vessel of interest
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to systems and methods that enable high frequency intraluminal imaging, such as IVUS or intra-cardiac echography (ICE), by reducing an amount of circuitry and wiring required to control the functions of one or more transducer array elements of an intraluminal device (e.g. catheter, guidewire, probe, etc.). In particular, aspects of the invention provide for selectively grouping transducers of an array that receive bias voltages from bias voltage circuitry and that are controlled by transmit and receive circuitry (also referred to as pulser/receiver circuitry). The selective grouping of the invention allows the same transmit and receive circuitry to stimulate one or more transducer elements to transmit signals while stimulating one or more other transducer elements to receive signals. Since a single transmit/receive circuit can, in accordance with the invention, drive transmit/receive functions of multiple transducer elements, less wiring is required to interconnect the transducer and the overall the size of imaging core can be reduced. As a result, systems and methods of the invention enable higher frequency imaging while maintaining a smaller device footprint capable of, e.g., traversing the lumens of the vasculature.