Patent ID: 8187193

Claim:
A side-looking intravascular ultrasound apparatus comprising: an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein at least a segment of a sidewall of the distal portion is transparent to ultrasound energy; an actuator mechanism disposed in the distal portion of the elongate member, the actuator mechanism comprising a first anchor, a second anchor, at least one movable element, a deformable component, and a first Shape Memory Alloy (“SMA”) actuator, wherein the first anchor is connected to a first side of the at least one moveable element by the first SMA actuator and the second anchor is connected to a second side of the at least one movable element by the deformable component, and the anchor elements are secured relative to the elongate member; and an ultrasound transducer connected to the at least one movable element, the transducer oriented to perform side-looking imaging by transmitting ultrasound energy through the ultrasound transparent segment of the distal portion of the elongate member at an angle of between about 15° to about 165° relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member; wherein a longitudinal axis of the actuator mechanism extending between the first anchor and the second anchor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member; wherein the first SMA actuator has an activated and a deactivated state; and wherein the at least one movable element and transducer move in a first direction relative to the elongate member upon activation of the first SMA actuator.