Intravascular device for vessel measurement and associated systems, devices, and methods

1. An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device, comprising:

a catheter body configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of a patient, the catheter body comprising a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, and a ferrule defining a guidewire-through lumen extending through at least the distal portion of the catheter body; and

a transducer array disposed adjacent the distal portion, wherein the transducer array is rotationally and longitudinally fixed relative to the ferrule, the transducer array having a plurality of transducers and each of the plurality of transducers having a transducer width along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the catheter body, wherein the plurality of transducers are spaced apart from one another by at least a spacing circumferentially around the catheter body, the spacing being at least twice as large as the transducer width,

wherein the guidewire-through lumen extends through the transducer array.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transducer array has less than 24 transducers.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the transducer array has less than 12 transducers.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the transducer array has 6 transducers.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spacing is greater than 4 times the transducer width.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spacing is greater than 8 times the transducer width.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transducer array is connected to a control circuit, the control circuit having a width greater than the transducer width and equal to or greater than the spacing.

8. The device of claim 7 , further comprising comprise a flexible substrate, wherein the transducer array and the control circuit are coupled to the flexible substrate.

9. The device of claim 1 , further including a pressure sensor disposed adjacent the transducer array.

10. The device of claim 9 , further including a control circuit receiving signals from both the transducer array and the pressure sensor.

11. A minimally invasive measuring device, comprising:

an elongate body configured for insertion into a body lumen of a patient, the elongate body comprising:

a proximal portion;

an opposing distal portion; and

a ferrule defining a guidewire-through lumen extending through at least the distal portion of the elongate body; and

a transducer array disposed adjacent the distal portion, wherein the transducer array is rotationally and longitudinally fixed relative to the ferrule, the transducer array having a plurality of transducers each having a width along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongate body, the plurality of transducers spaced apart from one another circumferentially around the elongate body by a spacing that is at least twice as large as the width, the plurality of transducers comprising 3 to 16 transducers,

wherein the guidewire-through lumen extends through the transducer array.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of transducers are equally spaced about the circumference of the elongate body.

13. The device of claim 11 , further including a single control circuit disposed adjacent the distal portion for controlling the transducer array.

14. The device of claim 13 , further including a pressure sensor disposed adjacent the distal portion and in communication with the single control circuit.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the transducer array is positioned more distally than the pressure sensor.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the single control circuit comprises a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the guidewire-through lumen terminates prior to reaching the proximal portion.

18. The device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in communication with the transducer array; and

a flexible substrate positioned around the ferrule, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the single ASIC is coupled to the flexible substrate at the proximal portion and the transducer array is coupled to the flexible substrate at the distal portion.