Patent ID: 9241687
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A combined ablation and ultrasound imaging probe for insertion within a body, the probe comprising: a housing having a proximal section and a distal tip section; an ablation electrode located at the distal tip section, the ablation electrode comprising a metal shell, the metal shell having a distal-facing aperture formed through the metal shell and a plurality of lateral-facing apertures formed through the metal shell and located proximal of the distal facing aperture, the plurality of lateral-facing apertures arrayed around a circumference of the metal shell; a first ultrasonic imaging sensor located at least partially within the metal shell, the first ultrasonic imaging sensor configured to transmit acoustic waves in a first direction through the distal-facing aperture, the first direction orientated primarily distally away from the distal tip section; and a plurality of second ultrasonic imaging sensors located at least partially within the metal shell and proximal to the first ultrasonic imaging sensor, the plurality of second ultrasonic imaging sensors arrayed about the circumference of the metal shell and configured to transmit acoustic waves through the plurality of lateral-facing apertures in a plurality of second directions, respectively, the plurality of second directions orientated laterally away from the distal tip section and different from the first direction.