Patent ID: 8118742
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: A61B,B06B,G01S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for intravascular ultrasonic imaging, the apparatus comprising: a flexible elongate member sized for insertion within a vasculature; an ultrasonic transducer array, mounted proximate a distal end of the flexible elongate member, wherein transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array comprise a non-polymeric electrostrictive material; a high permittivity ceramic member that signally couples a common radiofrequency signal source to all elements of the transducer array simultaneously; and a controller configured to cause the common radiofrequency signal to be provided through the ceramic member to all the transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array and cause a bias field to be selectively transmitted to one or more of the transducer elements such that only transducer elements having the bias field applied to them will transform the common radiofrequency signal into an ultrasonic signal.