Guiding catheter with ultrasound imaging capability

Claim 1

A steerable guiding catheter having an ultrasound imaging distal tip in combination with an electrophysiology catheter comprising: an elongated tubing body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen extending for substantially the entire length of the tubing body for receiving an electrophysiology catheter; an elongated, flexible electrophysiology catheter slidably disposed within said lumen, a flexible tip portion attached to the distal end of the tubing body; an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the flexible tip portion of the tubing body to transmit ultrasound energy and receive resultant echoes so as to provide visualization of an ablation site; an electrical conductor disposed in the tubing body for electrically connecting the ultrasound transducer to control circuitry external of the steerable catheter; second and third lumens extending lengthwise through the tubing body and both being offset from the central axis of the tubing body; first and second puller wires extending through and slidable disposed in said second and third lumens, respectively, each said puller wire being fixedly attached to distal end of the flexible tip portion at a position on opposite sides of the central axis of the tubing body; and, control means attached to the proximal ends of the puller wires for moving the puller wires longitudinally relative to the catheter body to thereby deflect the flexible tip portion of the guiding catheter.