Ultrasound catheter with embedded conductors
An ultrasound catheter comprises an elongate tubular body. The elongate tubular body has a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region. The tubular body defines a central lumen having a central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen. The elongate, hollow inner core has an inner core outer diameter that is less than or equal to the central lumen diameter. The ultrasound catheter further comprises an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core. The ultrasound catheter further comprises at least two electrical conductors extending between the tubular body proximal region and the tubular body distal region. The at least two electrical conductors are positioned between the tubular body and the inner core. The at least two electrical conductors are electrically connected to the ultrasound radiating member. The at least two electrical conductors are wrapped around the inner core a plurality of times in a region between the ultrasound radiating member and the tubular body proximal region.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
an elongate tubular body having a proximal region and a distal region opposite the proximal region, the tubular body defining a central lumen having a central lumen surface that is electrically conductive;
an elongate, hollow inner core extending through the central lumen and having an inner core outer surface that is electrically conductive;
an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region of the tubular body and between the tubular body and the inner core, such that the tubular body conductive surface and the inner core conductive surface are both in electrical contact with the ultrasound radiating member; and
an insulating sleeve positioned between the tubular body and the inner core in a region proximal to the ultrasound radiating member.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the elongate tubular body distal region.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body conductive surface and the inner core conductive surface are electrically connected to opposite poles of a power supply.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ultrasound radiating members positioned between the tubular body and the inner core.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned between the tubular boy and the inner core in regions between the plurality of ultrasound radiating members.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive surfaces comprise metallic fibers disposed on the central lumen surface or the inner core outer surface.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the metallic fibers comprise copper.