Intravascular ultrasound systems, catheters, and methods with a manual pullback arrangement

Abstract

A catheter assembly for an ultrasound system can include an integrated pullback arrangement. For example, the catheter assembly can include a telescoping pullback section having a first telescope, a second telescope, a distal grip coupling one of the first or second telescope to the distal sheath of the distal section, and a proximal grip coupled to another of the first or second telescope so that the first telescope can be retracted into the second telescope and a sensor to determine a position of the first telescope. Another example includes the sensor and a pullback slider arrangement having a housing defining a slit, a coupler disposed within the housing, and a slider handle extending through the slit and coupled to the coupler. In another example, the coupler and housing can be gripped and slid relative to each other.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A catheter assembly for an ultrasound system, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a distal section comprising a distal sheath;   a proximal extension comprising a proximal sheath;   a telescoping pullback section between the distal section and the proximal extension, the telescoping pullback section comprising a first telescope, a second telescope, a distal grip coupling one of the first or second telescope to the distal sheath of the distal section, and a proximal grip coupled to another of the first or second telescope, wherein the first telescope can be retracted into the second telescope by gripping the distal and proximal grips and manually moving the distal and proximal grips away from each other;   a sensor disposed along the telescoping pullback section to determine a position of the first telescope as the first telescope is moved relative to the sensor;   an elongated, rotatable driveshaft having a proximal end and a distal end and extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and telescoping pullback section, wherein the proximal end is configured and arranged for coupling to a motordrive for rotating the driveshaft;   an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the driveshaft with rotation of the driveshaft causing a corresponding rotation of the imaging device, the imaging device comprising at least one transducer configured and arranged for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals; and   at least one conductor extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and telescoping pullback section and coupled to the imaging device for carrying the electrical signals.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first telescope is distal to the second telescope. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing disposed at a distal end of the second telescope, wherein the sensor is disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal grip is disposed at a distal end of the second telescope. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed in the proximal grip. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and the first telescope comprises a set of alternating stripes of different colors detectable by the optical sensor to determine a position of the first telescope. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a resistive, capacitive, inductive, or magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal grip comprises at least one control button, wherein actuation of a one of the at least one control button provides a signal related to a pullback procedure. 
     
     
         9 . A catheter assembly for an ultrasound system, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a distal section comprising a distal sheath;   a proximal extension comprising a proximal sheath;   a pullback slider arrangement disposed between the distal section and the proximal extension, the pullback slider arrangement comprising a housing defining a slit, a coupler disposed within the housing, and a slider handle extending through the slit and coupled to the coupler, wherein the slider handle and the coupler can be manually slid along the slit in the housing;   a sensor disposed within the housing of the pullback slider arrangement to determine a position of the coupler within the housing;   an elongated, rotatable driveshaft having a proximal end and a distal end and extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and pullback slider arrangement, wherein the proximal end is configured and arranged for coupling to a motordrive for rotating the driveshaft, wherein the coupler of the pullback slider arrangement is coupled to the rotatable driveshaft to manually move the rotatable driveshaft backwards and forwards by moving the slider handle;   an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the driveshaft with rotation of the driveshaft causing a corresponding rotation of the imaging device, the imaging device comprising at least one transducer configured and arranged for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals; and   at least one conductor extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and telescoping pullback section and coupled to the imaging device for carrying the electrical signals.   
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing of the pullback slider arrangement comprises at least one control button, wherein actuation of a one of the at least one control button provides a signal related to a pullback procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is an optical, resistive, capacitive, inductive, or magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor and comprises a first plate and a second plate that is coupled to the coupler of the pullback slider arrangement so that capacitance between the first and second plates varies with position of the coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is an inductive sensor and comprises a coil and a magnetic material that is coupled to the coupler of the pullback slider arrangement and moves with the coupler so that inductance of the coil varies with position of the coupler. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor coupled to the coupler and the pullback slider arrangement comprises a set of alternating stripes of different colors detectable by the optical sensor and disposed in the housing to determine a position of the coupler. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor coupled to the coupler and the pullback slider arrangement comprises a set of alternating stripes of magnetic materials detectable by the magnetic sensor and disposed in the housing to determine a position of the coupler. 
     
     
         17 . A catheter assembly for an ultrasound system, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a distal section comprising a distal sheath;   a proximal extension comprising a proximal sheath;   a pullback slider arrangement disposed between the distal section and the proximal extension, the pullback slider arrangement comprising a housing defining an opening and a coupler disposed partially within the housing and extending through the opening in the housing, wherein the coupler can slide relative to the housing to change a size of a portion of the coupler disposed within the housing;   a sensor disposed within the housing of the pullback slider arrangement to determine a position of the coupler relative to the housing;   an elongated, rotatable driveshaft having a proximal end and a distal end and extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and pullback slider arrangement, wherein the proximal end is configured and arranged for coupling to a motordrive for rotating the driveshaft, wherein the coupler of the pullback slider arrangement is coupled to the rotatable driveshaft to manually move the rotatable driveshaft backwards and forwards by moving the slider handle;   an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the driveshaft with rotation of the driveshaft causing a corresponding rotation of the imaging device, the imaging device comprising at least one transducer configured and arranged for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals; and   at least one conductor extending along the distal section, proximal extension, and telescoping pullback section and coupled to the imaging device for carrying the electrical signals.   
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor coupled to the housing and the coupler comprises a set of alternating stripes of different colors detectable by the optical sensor to determine a position of the coupler. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor coupled to the housing and the coupler comprises a set of alternating stripes of magnetic materials detectable by the magnetic sensor to determine a position of the coupler. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the housing defines a slit and the coupler comprises a flush port that extends out of the slit.