Patent ID: 6217518
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ultrasound system comprising:a sheath body constructed from a nonconductive material, said sheath body configured to be installed snugly over a medical device;a piezoelectric copolymer transducer held snugly to said medical device by said sheath body when said ultrasound transducer sheath is installed over said medical device, said piezoelectric copolymer transducer for transducing incident ultrasound signals into corresponding electric signals;a ground conductor coupled to a first surface of said piezoelectric copolymer transducer;a signal conductor coupled to a second surface of said piezoelectric copolymer transducer for conducting said corresponding electric signals to a proximal end of said medical device;external electronics operatively coupled to said piezoelectric transducer through said signal conductor; andan external ultrasound scanner for generating incident ultrasound signals to be received by said piezoelectric transducer.