Integrated cardiac mapping and piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) ultrasonic imaging catheter system and method
An integrated cardiac mapping and Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (pMUT) ultrasonic imaging system, is disclosed. The system comprising a pMUT imaging and mapping catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) based pMUT or other transducer disposed within the distal end of the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter. A pMUT mapping array disposed within the distal end of the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter, wherein the mapping array comprises an expandable basket, grid, hoop, or other configuration with an electronic sensor array arranged on electronic flex circuits.
1 . An integrated cardiac mapping and piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) ultrasonic imaging system comprising:
a pMUT imaging and mapping catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter including a catheter shaft that slidably receives a control shaft;
a first micro-electromechanical (MEMS) based pMUT array disposed at the distal end of the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter, wherein the first MEMS based pMUT array comprises a substrate and a plurality of pMUT array elements arranged on the substrate;
a mapping array disposed at the distal end of the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter, wherein the mapping array comprises a plurality of support members with an electronic sensor array arranged on the plurality of support members, wherein a distal end of the plurality of support members is connected to the control shaft and a proximal end of the plurality of support members is connected to the catheter shaft; and
a first ring positioned on the control shaft at the proximal end of the plurality of support members, wherein the proximal end of the plurality of support members is directly connected to the first ring and the first ring is configured to attach the proximal end of the plurality of support members to the catheter shaft;
wherein the first MEMS based pMUT array is positioned on the first ring.
2 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter shaft is connected at one end to a handle assembly and at another end to the first MEMS based pMUT array and the mapping array.
3 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter is coupled to a dongle, and the dongle is configured to communicate ultrasound transmit pulses and ultrasound receive waveforms between the first MEMS based pMUT array and a combined ultrasound and mapping computer system.
4 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter is coupled to a dongle, and the dongle is configured to communicate electronic mapping data between the plurality of support members and a combined ultrasound and mapping computer system.
5 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pMUT array elements having transducer cells of multiple diameters, to achieve a wide bandwidth.
6 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pMUT array elements is a linear phased array.
7 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pMUT array elements is a pMUT circular array.
8 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic sensor array corresponds to mapping elements.
9 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members is configured to be placed against an interior wall of a heart.
10 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a second ring positioned on the control shaft at the distal end of the plurality of support members, wherein a second MEMS based pMUT array is positioned on the second ring.
11 . The integrated cardiac mapping and pMUT ultrasonic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein first MEMS based pMUT array is arranged in a linear fashion wherein each of the plurality of pMUT array elements is positioned longitudinally next to another pMUT array element and is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the pMUT imaging and mapping catheter.