Patent ID: 7678056

Claim:
A method for scanning a volume with an ultrasound catheter, the method comprising: (a) providing an ultrasound catheter having a housing, the housing comprising a first portion having a transducer array, a third portion having a motor, and a second flexible portion between the first and third portions; (b) rotating a transducer array about a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound catheter; (c) rotating the first portion of the housing of the ultrasound catheter about the longitudinal axis with the transducer array a substantially same amount; (d) twisting the second portion of the housing about the longitudinal axis in response to the rotation of the transducer array, the first portion or combinations thereof; (e) maintaining the third portion of the housing substantially free of the twisting and rotation of the second and first portions during the twisting and rotation of the second and first portions; (f) scanning with the ultrasound transducer along a plurality of planes rotated about the longitudinal axis in response to (b) and (c); and (g) generating an image representing the volume as a function of data along the plurality of planes.