| CPC A61B 8/12 (2013.01) [A61B 8/0891 (2013.01); A61B 8/4483 (2013.01); B06B 1/0207 (2013.01); B06B 1/0633 (2013.01); B06B 2201/76 (2013.01)] | 25 Claims |

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6. An apparatus, comprising:
a catheter configured to be positioned within a patient, wherein the catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion;
one or more conductors extending within the catheter and configured to carry a signal; and
a scanner assembly positioned at the distal portion and comprising:
a plurality of imaging elements; and
an interface decoder comprising a line receiver, a state machine, transmit logic, and a command decoder,
wherein the line receiver is configured to:
receive the signal from the one or more conductors; and
transmit the signal to the state machine,
wherein the state machine is configured to determine if the signal comprises a configuration command or a transmit trigger,
wherein, when the signal comprises the configuration command, the command decoder is configured to determine a control signal corresponding to the configuration command,
wherein, when the signal comprises the transmit trigger, the transmit logic is configured to activate an imaging element of the plurality of imaging elements to emit ultrasonic energy or receive ultrasonic echoes,
wherein the line receiver is configured to transmit the signal to the transmit logic,
wherein, when the signal comprises the transmit trigger, the state machine is configured to enable the transmit logic to activate the imaging element.
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