SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS WITH PHOTO-ACOUSTIC IMAGING CAPABILITIES

摘要

A catheter assembly for an intravascular ultrasound system includes a catheter (102) and an imaging core (306) disposed in the catheter. The imaging core includes a rotatable driveshaft (310), at least one light source (308), and at least one transducer (312). The at least one light source is disposed at a distal end of the rotatable driveshaft. The at least one light source is configured and arranged for rotating with the driveshaft and also for transforming applied electrical signals to light for illuminating an object in proximity to the catheter. The at least one transducer is also disposed at the distal end of the rotatable driveshaft. The at least one transducer is configured and arranged for rotating with the driveshaft. The at least one transducer is configured and arranged for receiving acoustic signals generated by the object in response to illumination of the object by the light emitted from the at least one light source.