US 12,186,129 B2
Devices and methods for ultrasound imaging
Benedicta Chumo, Framingham, MA (US); Mollie Knake, Bellevue, IA (US); Shawn Kerr, Lancaster, MA (US); and Alissa Brandon, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2016, as Appl. No. 15/073,749.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/140,564, filed on Mar. 31, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2016/0287210 A1, Oct. 6, 2016
Int. Cl. A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/12 (2013.01) [A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 8/445 (2013.01); A61B 8/4461 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01); A61B 8/0841 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical device comprising:
a shaft including a working channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the working channel includes a narrowed portion extending from the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft;
an ultrasound sensor disposed radially outward of a distal portion of the working channel such that the ultrasound sensor at least partially surrounds the working channel at or adjacent to the distal end of the shaft, wherein the ultrasound sensor includes an area configured to indicate an orientation of the narrowed portion of the working channel in ultrasound images generated by the ultrasound sensor;
an instrument extendable through the working channel of the shaft, wherein, while the instrument is in a deployed position, a distal end of the instrument extends outside of the shaft and has a fixed radial position relative to the shaft; and
wherein the area is radially fixed relative to the distal end of the instrument while in the deployed position, and wherein the instrument is shaped such that the narrowed portion of the working channel orients the distal end of the instrument with the area.