Support member for intraluminal imaging devices and associated devices, systems, and methods

1. An intraluminal imaging device, comprising:

a flexible elongate member configured for positioning within a body lumen of a patient;

a support member coupled to the flexible elongate member; and

a non-rotating imaging assembly coupled to the support member,

wherein the support member includes a proximal section at a first end thereof configured to interface with a distal portion of the flexible elongate member and a distal section at a second end thereof configured to interface with a proximal end of the non-rotating imaging assembly, the proximal section comprising a first diameter, the distal section comprising a second diameter less than the first diameter,

wherein the flexible elongate member is positioned over the support member;

wherein the proximal section of the support member, the distal section of the support member, and the distal portion of the flexible elongate member define an annular lumen; and

wherein the annular lumen is filled with an adhesive.

2. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the flexible elongate member is spaced from the proximal end of the imaging assembly by a gap, the gap being in fluid communication with the annular lumen.

3. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 2 , further comprising the adhesive disposed within the annular lumen and the gap.

4. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a lumen extending longitudinally through the proximal section and the distal section.

5. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the imaging assembly comprises a tubular member and a flexible substrate positioned around the tubular member, and wherein the lumen of the support member is configured to receive the tubular member.

6. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 5 , wherein the lumen of the support member is further configured to receive an inner member configured to receive a guidewire.

7. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the support member further includes an opening extending through a wall in communication with the lumen, the opening configured to receive an electrical cable associated with the imaging assembly.

8. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 7 , wherein a connection interface of the imaging assembly is mounted to an outer surface of the support member.

9. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a transition between the first diameter and the second diameter, the transition comprising a tapered region.

10. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly comprises an ultrasound transducer array.

11. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a connection interface configured to connect the flexible elongate member and the imaging assembly, the connection interface being disposed with the support member.

12. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 11 , wherein the connection interface extends from the distal portion of the flexible elongate member.

13. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 12 , wherein the connection interface comprises a tab.

14. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 11 , further comprising an electrical cable configured to couple the connection interface to the imaging assembly.

15. The intraluminal imaging device of claim 14 , wherein the electrical cable is electrically bonded to the connection interface.

16. An intraluminal imaging device, comprising: a solid-state intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device including:

a flexible elongate member configured for positioning within a body lumen of a patient;

a support member coupled to the flexible elongate member;

a circumferential imaging assembly coupled to the support member and including an array of ultrasound transducer array elements distributed around a circumference of the circumferential imaging assembly; and

at least one controller configured to excite selected one or more of the ultrasound transducer array elements to emit ultrasound energy and/or receive ultrasound echo signals from the selected one or more of the ultrasound transducer array elements;

wherein the support member includes a proximal section at a first end thereof connected with a distal portion of the flexible elongate member and a distal section at a second end thereof configured to interface with a proximal end of the circumferential imaging assembly, the proximal section comprising a first diameter, the distal section comprising a second diameter less than the first diameter,

wherein the flexible elongate member is positioned over the support member;

wherein the proximal section of the support member, the distal section of the support member, and the distal portion of the flexible elongate member define an annular lumen; and

wherein the annular lumen is filled with an adhesive.

17. An intraluminal imaging device, comprising:

a flexible elongate member configured for positioning within a body lumen of a patient;

a support member coupled to the flexible elongate member; and

an imaging assembly coupled to the support member,

wherein the support member includes a proximal section configured to interface with a distal portion of the flexible elongate member and a distal section configured to interface with a proximal end of the imaging assembly, the proximal section comprising a first diameter, the distal section comprising a second diameter less than the first diameter;

wherein the flexible elongate member is positioned over the support member;

wherein the proximal section of the support member, the distal section of the support member, and the distal portion of the flexible elongate member define an annular lumen; and

wherein the annular lumen is filled with an adhesive.