What is claimed is:
1. An imaging catheter having distal and proximal ends, comprising:
a sheath, defining a lumen, coupled to the distal end of the imaging catheter; and
an imaging device adapted to emit an energy beam, the imaging device being located within the lumen of a distal portion of the sheath and the sheath being configured to narrow the energy beam emitted by the imaging transducer.
2. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a phase velocity larger than the phase velocity of the lumen.
3. The imaging catheter of claim 2, wherein the sheath has a phase velocity greater than 1.5 mmsec.
4. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a thickness that narrows the energy beam.
5. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a mixture of Rexene and Alathon, where the amount of Rexene exceeds the amount of Alathon.
6. The imaging catheter of claim 5, wherein the sheath comprises about 70% Rexene and about 30% Alathon.
7. The imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising a medium in the lumen of the sheath, the medium having a phase velocity smaller than the phase velocity of the sheath.
8. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the sheath is cylindrical.
9. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the portion of the sheath that covers the imaging transducer is spherical.
10. The imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional layers of sheath material surrounding the sheath.
11. The imaging catheter of claim 10, wherein each layer has a phase velocity and the phase velocity of each later increases from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.
12. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the energy beam is an acoustic beam.
13. The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the energy beam is a light beam.
14. An imaging device for use within a blood vessel comprising:
a catheter having a sheath defining a lumen; and
an imaging transducer assembly, capable of emitting one or more energy beams, located situated in the lumen of the sheath, the sheath being configured to narrow the one or more energy beams emitted from the imaging transducer.
15. The imaging device of claim 14, further comprising a medium within the lumen, the medium having a phase velocity, and the sheath having a phase velocity greater than the phase velocity of the medium within the lumen.
16. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the sheath has a curvature that causes the narrowing of the one or more energy beams.
17. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the sheath has a thickness that narrows the one or more energy beams.
18. The imaging catheter of claim 17, wherein if the diameter of the sheath is approximately 1 mm, then the thickness of the sheath is at least 0.18 mm.
19. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the sheath is cylindrical.
20. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the portion of the sheath that covers the imaging transducer assembly is spherical.
21. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the sheath has a radius of curvature that narrows the one or more energy beams as the beams exit the sheath.
22. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the one or more energy beams are acoustic beams.
23. The imaging catheter of claim 14, wherein the one or more energy beams are light beams.
24. An imaging device for use in a human body, comprising:
a catheter adapted to be inserted into the human body;
an energy emitting means for emitting energy beams for imaging a portion of the human body; and
a means for narrowing the energy beams from the energy emitting means so that narrowed energy beams exit the imaging device and impinge on a portion of the human body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An encasement for heat transfer fluid, conduits, comprising:
an outer layer of sheet metal;
an intermediate layer:
below the outer layer;
of insulating material having a maximum thickness of 1.4 inches (35 mm);
wherein the heat transfer fluid conduits are movable.
2. The encasement of claim 1, wherein
the encasement is box-shaped having a cylindrical inner cavity having:
a box diameter greater than a coupling diameter;
a length;
the box diameter and the length being configured to allow clearance between the box and adjacent encasement segments.
3. The encasement according to claim 1, comprising an assembly rim at a front end, configured to axially assemble a first encasement with a consecutive second encasement.
4. The encasement according to claim 3, comprising attachment means comprising:
a circular metal flange configured to close and seal assembly rims.
5. The encasement according to claim 1, comprising two halves configured to envelop a conduit and to fit with one another.
6. The encasement according to claim 5, wherein the two halves are configured to contact in two diametrically opposed generatrices.
7. The encasement according to claim 5, comprising means for fixing and sealing the two halves comprising:
a joint configured to seal an attachment between the two halves.
8. The encasement according to claim 5, comprising means for closing the two halves comprising:
a longitudinal metal flange configured to close the two halves.
9. The encasement according to claim 7, comprising means for closing the two halves comprising:
a first longitudinal metal flange on a first half;
a second longitudinal metal flange on a second half;
wherein the joint is housed between the first longitudinal metal flange and the second longitudinal metal flange.
10. The encasement according to claim 5, comprising means for fixing and sealing the two halves comprising:
perimetric closing means configured to allow assembling and disassembling the encasement selected from:
a plurality of flanges with screw locking; and
a plurality of clamp quick closures configured to allow opening and closing without additional tools.
11. The encasement according to claim 1, comprising:
a rim:
having a height between 0.4 and 0.6 inches (10 and 15 mm);
configured to define a flange having a coupling diameter to allow coupling between two consecutive segments of the encasement.
12. The encasement according to claim 11, comprising:
a cover configured to close a front face of the encasement;
a ceramic fiber washer between the cover and the rim.
13. The encasement according to claim 12, wherein the cover comprises 0.015-0.04 inches (0.4-1 mm) thick aluminum sheet metal.
14. The encasement according to claim 11, wherein the cover comprises:
a glass fiber fabric having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches (0.1 and 1.5 mm);
a sheet made of corrosion resistant material having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches (0.1 and 1.5 mm).
15. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the metal is aluminum.
16. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal has a thickness between 0.012 and 0.016 inches (0.3 and 1.5 mm).
17. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is microporous.
18. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material configured to heat-insulate has a heat transfer coefficient between 0.11 and 0.33 BTUin(hrft2F) (0.016 and 0.048 WmK) at 752\xb0 F. (400\xb0 C.) of temperature of heat transfer fluid.
19. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is MPS shell.
20. The encasement according to claim 1, comprising:
an inner layer comprising:
a glass fiber fabric having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches (0.1 mm and 1.5 mm);
a sheet made of corrosion resistant material having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches (0.1 mm and 1.5 mm).
21. The encasement according to claim 1, wherein the casement has a shape selected from a straight, elbow, z-shaped segment, determined by a directrix of the conducting segment.
22. A simple swivel arm, comprising:
three boxes according to claim 2:
a first entrance box;
a second exit box;
a third intermediate box;
five elbows according to claim 20:
a first elbow exiting the entrance box;
a second elbow entering the intermediate box;
a third elbow exiting the intermediate box;
wherein the boxes have a cylindrical inner cavity having:
a box diameter greater than a coupling diameter;
a length;
the box diameter and the length being configured to allow clearance between the box and adjacent encasement segments;
a fourth elbow entering the exit box;
a fifth elbow exiting the exit box;
two straight segments according to claim 20:
a first incoming segment between the entrance box and the intermediate box;
a second outgoing segment between the intermediate box and the exit box.
23. A composite swivel arm, comprising:
three boxes:
a first entrance box;
a second exit box;
a third intermediate box;
wherein the boxes have a cylindrical inner cavity having:
a box diameter greater than a coupling diameter;
a length;
the box diameter and the length being configured to allow clearance between the box and adjacent encasement segments;
four elbows according to claim 20;
a first elbow entering the entrance box;
a second elbow entering the intermediate box;
a third elbow exiting the intermediate box;
a fourth elbow exiting the exit box;
two z-shaped segments according to claim 20:
a first incoming segment between the entrance box and the intermediate box;
a second outgoing segment between the intermediate box and the exit box.