Ring array transducers for real-time 3D ultrasound guidance of prosthetic heart valve deployment

We have previously developed 2D ring array transducers for real-time volumetric imaging guidance of minimally invasive procedures. These transducers were integrated with an 11 French catheter sheath of a Cook Medical, Inc. vena cava filter deployment kit. We have expanded on these devices and developed a 2D ring array integrated with a 30 French catheter that is used for trans-apical prosthetic heart valve implantation. This transducer consists of 210 elements at .157 mm inter element spacing and operates at 5 MHz. Average measured element bandwidth was 26% and average round-trip 50 ohm insertion loss was -81.1 dB.