| abstract |
An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member disposed at the distal end of the catheter body. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasonic transducer array. The deflectable member may be interconnected to the catheter body by a live hinge. The catheter may comprise a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter body. The lumen may be used to feed the interventional device to a point remote from the distal end of the catheter body. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivotal manner through an arc range of at least 90 °. According to an embodiment, the deflectable member comprises an ultrasonic transducer array, which may be operable to capture an image both when aligned with the catheter body and when pivoted relative to the catheter body. |