Medical equipment including high frequency ultrasonic transducer array

摘要

A medical device is disclosed that includes a phased array ultrasound transducer. The transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements and is electrically coupled to corresponding electrical conductors. In one embodiment, the conductor is included in the flex circuit and is engaged to the corresponding transducer element via a conductive surface formed in an outwardly extending rib of the frame holding the ultrasound array. In one embodiment, the phased array is forward facing within the medical device and the element pitch is 0.75 wavelengths or less, more preferably 0.6 wavelengths or less. In one embodiment, the transducer is rotatable over an angle of ± 90 degrees, providing a 360 degree view of the tissue surrounding the distal end of the device.