Multi-frequency mapping catheter and method of mapping
The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses and methods that include a catheter configured to be inserted into an intra-body cavity of a patient. An ultrasonic transducer array including a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be arranged on the catheter. Each of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be configured to transmit a wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasound signal, and may further be configured to receive a wide beam echo signal and narrow beam echo signal. A processor may be configured to detect free space of the intra-body cavity by processing the wide beam echo signals and the narrow beam echo signals.
1. A device comprising:
a catheter configured to be inserted into an intra-body cavity of a patient;
an ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers arranged on the catheter,
each transducer of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit a wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasonic signal, wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a lower frequency than the narrow beam ultrasonic signal, and
each transducer of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers configured to receive wide beam echo signals and narrow beam echo signals in response to the wide beam ultrasonic signal and the narrow beam ultrasonic signal; and
a processor configured to:
time-align at least one of the received wide beam echo signals and at least one of the received narrow beam echo signals, and
detect free space of the intra-body cavity by determining whether a minimum of a combination of the time-aligned signals is below a threshold.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the free space by determining a bounding reflection value (BRV), and the BRV indicates whether a specific point in space within the intra-body cavity is in the free space.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer array comprises at least 64 multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the narrow beam ultrasonic signal has a frequency in a range of 12 MHz to 16 MHz.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 3 MHz.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a beam width of at least 40 degrees.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the narrow beam ultrasonic signal has a beam width in a range of 4 degrees to 12 degrees.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the intra-body cavity includes a vein.
9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a monitor configured to display the free space.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the intra-body cavity is a cardiac chamber.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the free space based on at least one of signal directivity or signal intensity.
12. A method comprising:
inserting a catheter into an intra-body cavity of a patient, the catheter comprising an ultrasonic transducer array including a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers;
transmitting a wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasonic signal from each of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers, wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a lower frequency than the narrow beam ultrasonic signal;
receiving wide beam echo signals in response to the wide beam ultrasonic signal and narrow beam echo signals in response to the narrow beam ultrasonic signal;
time-aligning at least one of the received wide beam echo signals and at least one of the received narrow beam echo signals; and
identifying free space of the intra-body cavity by determining whether a minimum of a combination of the time-aligned signals is below a threshold.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer array comprises at least 64 multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the narrow beam ultrasonic signal has a frequency in a range of 12 MHz to 16 MHz.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 3 MHz.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wide beam ultrasonic signal has a beam width of at least 40 degrees.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the narrow beam ultrasonic signal has a beam width in a range of 4 degrees to 12 degrees.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the intra-body cavity comprises a vein.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing information regarding the free space to a display.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting the free space by determining a bounding reflection value (BRV), wherein the BRV indicates whether a specific point in space within the intra-body cavity is in the free space.