Patent ID: 7226417

Claim:
An intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly for facilitating providing images from within a vessel, the intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly comprising: a flexible elongate member dimensioned for insertion within a blood vessel; and an intravascular ultrasound transducer probe, mounted upon a distal end of the flexible elongate member, the probe comprising: an ultrasound transducer array comprising a set of ultrasound transducer elements; integrated circuitry; and a flexible circuit to which the ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry are attached during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly, the flexible circuit comprising: a flexible substrate, providing a re-shapable platform, to which the integrated circuitry and transducer elements are attached; and electrically conductive lines deposited upon the flexible substrate for transporting electrical signals between the integrated circuitry and the transducer elements.