Patent ID: 7972272

Claim:
Electrostatically driven imaging probe, comprising: a) an elongate hollow catheter sheath having distal front and back sections and an elongate proximal section and having a diameter suitable to permit insertion of the elongate hollow catheter sheath into bodily lumens and cavities, the distal back section containing an electrically dissipative polymer sealed therein which is wrapped by a metal coil for connection to ground potential and a timing circuit; b) imaging means located in said distal front section for emitting energy and receiving energy reflected back from interior surfaces of said bodily lumens and cavities, said distal front section containing one of a medium and vacuum sealed therein which allows transmission of imaging energy emitted by the imaging means, said imaging means being connected to an imaging conduit which extends through a proximal end of the elongate hollow catheter sheath for connection to an image processing and display system, said imaging conduit being enveloped by metal and a portion of the metal enveloped imaging conduit in the distal front section forming a cantilever; and c) an elongate electrode located in the elongate hollow catheter sheath having an elongate uninsulated electrode section located in said front distal section, the elongate electrode being connected to a high voltage power supply, wherein in operation when a high voltage is applied to the elongate electrode the cantilever is electrically attracted to the elongate uninsulated electrode section and undergoes deflection towards the elongate uninsulated electrode section and upon contacting the elongate uninsulated electrode section the portion of the metal enveloped imaging conduit in the distal front section acquires an electrical charge from the elongate uninsulated electrode section thereby causing the metal enveloped imaging conduit in the distal front section to be repelled therefrom thereby causing the imaging means to scan the field of view.