Devices, systems, and methods relating to intraluminal imaging are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intraluminal imaging device is disclosed. One embodiment of the intraluminal imaging device comprises a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The intraluminal imaging device further comprises an ultrasound imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The imaging assembly comprises a support member, a flexible substrate positioned around the support member, a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements integrated in the flexible substrate, and a plurality of control circuits disposed on the flexible substrate at a position proximal to the plurality of transducer elements. The plurality of control circuits has an outer profile that does not extend beyond an outer profile of the plurality of transducer elements.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods include a PMUT mechanically coupled to, and electrically isolated from, a receive sensor via a common flexible membrane. The receive sensor may be an optical sensor or a receive only PMUT providing a feedback signal based on a received waveform, V.sub.RO(t), to modify the drive voltage V.sub.d(t) of the PMUT. The feedback signal may be used to modify the drive voltage V.sub.d(t) of the PMUT to shorten the ring-down period and may be based on the received waveform, V.sub.RO(t), and a desired receive waveform, V.sub.ROD(t), which may be selected to optimize one or more of Q, bandwidth, resonant frequency, and spectral content of the drive voltage V.sub.d(t). The drive voltage V.sub.d(t) may be modified to a minimize a difference between V.sub.RO(t), and a desired receive waveform, V.sub.ROD(t), or a closed loop weighted (?, ?) sum of the energy of V.sub.RO (t) and the blind zone duration.

An intraluminal imaging device (102) includes a flexible elongate member (15) sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; an imaging assembly (110) disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a plurality of wires (330) extending along a length of the flexible elongate member and in communication with the imaging assembly; and a guide member (350) positioned at the proximal portion of the imaging assembly and comprising a plurality of conductive members, wherein the plurality of wires are in communication with the imaging assembly via the plurality of conductive members. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

An intraluminal imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including a flex circuit disposed in a rolled configuration, the flex circuit comprising a spine member and a plurality of rib members extending from the spine member. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

A method for fabricating an intravascular imaging assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a stacked structure (415) having a plurality of sacrificial material layers disposed between a plurality of ultrasound material layers in an alternating pattern; dicing the stacked structure (420) to form a plurality of elongated strips, each comprising an array of ultrasound elements defined by the plurality of ultrasound material layers and spacers defined by the plurality of sacrificial material layers; coupling a first elongated strip (430) of the plurality of elongated strips to a flexible circuit substrate; and removing the spacers (435) of the first elongated strip from the flexible circuit substrate.

Improved intraluminal imaging devices and methods of manufacturing the devices are provided. In an embodiment, an intraluminal imaging device can include a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, an ultrasound scanner assembly coupled to and positioned distally of the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the ultrasound scanner assembly comprising a plurality of electrical components disposed adjacent to a cavity of the ultrasound scanner assembly, and a coating extending over and directly contacting the distal portion of the flexible elongate member and a portion of the ultrasound scanner assembly to hermetically seal the cavity of the ultrasound scanner assembly. The coating provides a uniform barrier layer extending over a junction of two or more components having diverse cross-sectional profiles to prevent ingress of external fluids into the scanner assembly.

An apparatus for stimulating a part of a peripheral nervous system comprises: a sensor unit comprising at least one ultrasound transducer configured to transmit ultrasound into the part of the peripheral nervous system and at least one pair of electrodes configured to detect electrical signals in the part of the peripheral nervous system, wherein the sensor unit is configured to determine structural information and functional information of the part of the peripheral nervous system; a stimulation unit configured to transmit a stimulation signal for selective stimulation of a position within the part of the peripheral nervous system; and a controller configured to receive the structural information and the functional information and configured to control a location of the selective stimulation within the part of the peripheral nervous system based on the structural information and the functional information.

An intravascular imaging device is provided. In some embodiments, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including a flex circuit positioned directly around the flexible elongate member. In some embodiments, a method of assembling an intravascular imaging device includes obtaining a flex circuit including a first layer having a plurality of transducers and a second layer having an acoustic backing material; and positioning the flex circuit directly around a distal portion of a flexible elongate member.

An intravascular imaging device (102) is provided. In one embodiment, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including: a flex circuit (214); and a support member (230) around which the flex circuit is positioned, the support member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a central portion having greater flexibility than the proximal and distal portions. In one embodiment, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member; an imaging assembly including: a flex circuit; and a first support member component; and a second support member component spaced from the second support member component, wherein the flex circuit is positioned around the first and second support member components.

An ultrasound endoscope includes an insertion tube configured to be inserted into a subject, the insertion tube including a transducer that includes a plurality of piezoelectric devices that are aligned along a circumferential direction about a center axis of the insertion tube, an observation optical portion configured to capture a subject image, a first built-in material that is different from the observation optical portion, and a support configured to support the observation optical portion and the first built-in material, the transducer including a through hole configured to pierce through along the center axis to insert the support, and the support including a first groove that extends along the center axis, the first groove being configured to support the observation optical portion, and a second groove that extends along the center axis, the second groove being configured to support the first built-in material and communicate with the first groove.