Flexible support member for intraluminal imaging device and associated devices, systems, and methods
Intraluminal ultrasound imaging devices, methods, and systems are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure include intraluminal devices configured to navigate and maneuver tortuous vasculature of a patient. For example, an intravascular imaging device can include a flexible support member at a distal portion of the imaging device. The flexible support member may support a plurality of ultrasound transducers and a plurality of control circuits. The flexible support member includes a flexible joint portion between a transducer portion and a controller portion. Introducing a flexible joint portion between the transducer portion and the controller portion can provide for greater flexibility of the imaging device and enable the device to navigate tortuous regions of a patients anatomy.
1. An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device, comprising:
a flexible substrate comprising:
a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements configured to obtain imaging data, wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements is are disposed on a first segment of the flexible substrate;
a plurality of control circuits in communication with the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, wherein the plurality of control circuits are disposed on a second segment of the flexible substrate;
a plurality of conductive traces extending between the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and the plurality of control circuits;
a first grounding region disposed on the first segment located distal to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, wherein the first grounding region is configured to facilitate grounding of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements; and
a second grounding region disposed on the second segment proximate to the plurality of control circuits such that the second grounding region is distinct from the first grounding region, wherein the second grounding region is configured to facilitate grounding of the plurality of control circuits;
a catheter configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient; and
a support member coupled to a distal portion of the catheter and defining guidewire lumen, wherein the flexible substrate is wrapped around the support member, the support member comprising:
a body; and
a plurality of flanges comprising a diameter larger than the body such that the flexible substrate is radially spaced from the body,
wherein the plurality of flanges comprises:
a first flange and a second flange configured to support the first segment of the flexible substrate such that the first flange and the second flange define a transducer portion of the body aligned with the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements; and
a third flange and a fourth flange configured to support the second segment of the flexible substrate such that the third flange and the fourth flange define a control portion of the body aligned with the plurality of control circuits.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support member is generally cylindrical.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises stainless steel.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements comprises an ultrasonic transducer array positioned around the transducer portion of the body.
5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a shrink tubing positioned around and configured to hermetically seal at least one of:
the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;
the plurality of control circuits; or
the plurality of conductive traces.
6. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first flange is positioned at a proximal portion of the transducer portion and the second flange is positioned at a distal portion of the transducer portion, and
wherein the third flange is positioned at a proximal portion of the control portion and the fourth flange is positioned at a distal portion of the control portion.
7. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the first grounding region or the second grounding region of the flexible substrate is electrically coupled to a grounding area of the support member to facilitate grounding of the flexible substrate,
wherein the at least one of the first grounding region or second grounding region of the flexible substrate is longitudinally aligned and contacts the grounding area of the support member.
8. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises an interface region comprising at least one of a capacitor or a testing region.
9. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the body extends proximal of the plurality of flanges and distal of the plurality of flanges such that the second flange is spaced from a distal end of the support member and the third flange is spaced from a proximal end of the support member.
10. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 ,
wherein the second flange is electrically conductive, and
wherein the second flange is aligned with and contacts the first grounding region.
11. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the second grounding region is located proximal to the plurality of control circuits such that the first grounding region and the second grounding region are spaced from the plurality of conductive traces extending between the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and the plurality of control circuits.
12. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and the first grounding region are disposed on a first side of the flexible substrate.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a polymer and a conductive agent.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the polymer comprises an acoustic dampening material.
15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising acoustic backing material disposed between the body and the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises one or more slot openings configured to facilitate flexing of the flexible substrate.
17. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 ,
wherein the body comprises a flex joint portion disposed between the first flange and the fourth flange,
wherein the flex joint portion is aligned with the plurality of conductive traces, and
wherein the flex joint portion is more flexible than the transducer portion and the control portion.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the flex joint portion forms a central segment of the support member.
19. The intraluminal ultrasound imaging device of claim 17 ,
wherein the support member comprises: a top side, a bottom side, a front side, and a back side,
wherein the flex joint portion comprises a flexible element,
wherein the flexible element alternates between:
a plurality of first cuts extending radially inward from the top side and the bottom side towards the guidewire lumen; and
a plurality of second cuts extending radially inward from the front side and the back side towards the guidewire lumen,
wherein the plurality of first cuts and the plurality of second cuts are non-continuous with one another.
20. An intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
an intraluminal imaging device, comprising:
a catheter configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient; and
an imaging assembly disposed at a distal portion of the catheter and configured to obtain imaging data associated with the body lumen, the imaging assembly comprising:
a support member around which a plurality of transducer elements are positioned;
a plurality of control circuits;
a first grounding region located distal to the plurality of transducer elements;
a second grounding region disposed proximate to the plurality of control circuits; and
a plurality of communication lines extending between the plurality of transducer elements and the plurality of control circuits,
wherein the first grounding region is configured to facilitate grounding of the plurality of transducer elements,
wherein the second grounding region is distinct from the first grounding region and is configured to facilitate grounding of the plurality of control circuits, and
wherein the support member defines a guidewire lumen, wherein the support member comprises:
a body; and
a plurality of flanges comprising a diameter larger than the body,
wherein the plurality of flanges comprises:
a first flange and a second flange defining a transducer portion of the body aligned with the plurality of transducer elements; and
a third flange and a fourth flange defining a control portion aligned with the plurality of control circuits; and
a computing device in communication with the intraluminal imaging device and configured to output, to a display, an image of the body lumen based on the obtained imaging data.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the intraluminal imaging device comprises an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device.