Patent ID: 8702612
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: A61B,G10K

Abstract:
1. A catheter apparatus, comprising: an elongated body having proximal and distal ends; an acoustic transducer disposed proximate the distal end of the elongated body; and a variably-refracting acoustic lens coupled to the acoustic transducer, the variably-refracting acoustic lens being adapted to adjust at least one acoustic signal processing characteristic thereof in response to at least one selected voltage applied thereto, wherein the variably-refracting acoustic lens has four side walls and four electrodes disposed on the four side walls, respectively, wherein at least one electrode of four electrodes partially extends from a bottom of one wall of the four side walls near the acoustic transducer, leaving an exposed portion of the one wall opposite the bottom, the exposed portion being larger than any further exposed portion near the bottom, and wherein the catheter apparatus further comprises a fifth electrode, wherein the four side walls are between a top surface and a bottom surface of the variably-refracting acoustic lens to form a cavity, wherein the variably-refracting acoustic lens comprises first and second immiscible fluid media disposed within the cavity, and wherein the fifth electrode passes through the exposed portion of the one wall to contact one of the first and second fluid immiscible media.