Foldable 2-d cmut-on-cmos arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017119348-A1
Application number	US-201615333035-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 24, 2016
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	May 4, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus, including an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening, and a tubular channel, having a second lumen and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen. The apparatus includes a support structure, configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter. A plurality of planar two-dimensional arrays of ultrasonic transducers are supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

First claim

1 . Apparatus, comprising:
an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen therethrough having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening; a tubular channel, having a second lumen therethrough and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen; a support structure, which is configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter; and a plurality of planar two-dimensional (2D) arrays of ultrasonic transducers supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises two 2D supports connected by a hinge, and which fold about the hinge in countervailing directions to place the support structure in an unfolded state, and wherein the plurality of planar 2D arrays comprises two 2D arrays respectively mounted on the two 2D supports.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, the plurality of 2D arrays lie in a single plane.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a normal of the single plane is orthogonal to a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a normal of the single plane is parallel to a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , and comprising at least one sensor fixedly positioned in proximity to at least one of the 2D arrays, the at least one sensor providing a location and an orientation of the at least one of the 2D arrays.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises two or more 2D separated supports connected to, and which fold about, a hinge in common directions to place the support structure in an unfolded state, and wherein the plurality of planar 2D arrays comprises two or more arrays respectively mounted on the two or more 2D separated supports.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the hinge comprises a circular hinge.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, the circular hinge coincides with the distal opening.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the two or more 2D separated supports are distributed symmetrically about a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , and comprising conductive wires connected directly to the 2D arrays as electrical interconnects thereof, so as to power the arrays and acquire signals therefrom.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , and comprising a flexible substrate whereon the plurality of 2D arrays are mounted, the flexible substrate being mounted on the support structure.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, the plurality of 2D arrays lie on a 2D disc formed by the substrate.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the disc has a central opening, and wherein the central opening has an opening diameter equal to the first lumen diameter.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , and comprising an ultrasound target fixedly positioned at a preset location with respect to the 2D arrays, and wherein the 2D arrays are configured to acquire respective images of the target so as to register the arrays with respect to each other.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , and comprising conductive traces formed on the substrate and connected to the 2D arrays as electrical interconnects thereof, so as to power the arrays and acquire signals therefrom.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transducers comprise capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs).

18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transducers comprise piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs).

19 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the folded state the support structure completely surrounds the tubular channel.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, a proximal end of the support structure completely surrounds the tubular channel.

21 . A method, comprising:
inserting an insertion tube into a body cavity, the tube having a first lumen therethrough having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening; inserting a tubular channel, having a second lumen therethrough and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, into the first lumen; passing a support structure through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state; unfolding the support structure, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter; and supporting a plurality of planar two-dimensional (2D) arrays of ultrasonic transducers by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the support structure comprises two 2D supports connected by a hinge, and which fold about the hinge in countervailing directions to place the support structure in an unfolded state, and wherein the plurality of planar 2D arrays comprises two 2D arrays respectively mounted on the two 2D supports.

23 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, the plurality of 2D arrays lie in a single plane.

24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein a normal of the single plane is orthogonal to a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

25 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein a normal of the single plane is parallel to a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

26 . The method according to claim 21 , and comprising fixedly positioning at least one sensor in proximity to at least one of the 2D arrays, the at least one sensor providing a location and an orientation of the at least one of the 2D arrays.

27 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the support structure comprises two or more 2D separated supports connected to, and which fold about, a hinge in common directions to place the support structure in an unfolded state, and wherein the plurality of planar 2D arrays comprises two or more arrays respectively mounted on the two or more 2D separated supports.

28 . The method according to claim 27 , wherein the hinge comprises a circular hinge.

29 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein in an unfolded state of the support structure, the circular hinge coincides with the distal opening.

30 . The method according to claim 27 , wherein the two or more 2D separated supports are distributed symmetrically about a symmetry axis of the first lumen.

31 . The method according to claim 21 , and comprising connecting conductive wires directly to the 2D arrays as el

Assignees

• Georgia Tech Res Inst
• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Degertekin F Levent
• Bar-Tal Meir

Classifications

• G01S7/52079

  Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44) · CPC title

• A61B8/4254

  using sensors mounted on the probe · CPC title

• A61B8/4488 Primary

  the transducer being a phased array · CPC title

• G01S15/8913

  using separate transducers for transmission and reception · CPC title

• A61B8/12

  in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters · CPC title