An underfluid ultrasound imaging catheter system includes a catheter
having a distal end inserted into an underfluid structure, an ultrasonic
transducer array mounted proximate the distal end of the catheter wherein
the array has a row of individual transducer crystals, a lens mounted on
the array for defocusing ultrasound beams in a direction perpendicular to
an axis of the array so as to provide a volumetric field of view within
which the underfluid features are imaged. Alternatively, the single row
of transducer crystals is replaced by multiple rows of transducer
crystals so as to provide a volumetric field of view. This imaging
catheter system helps an operator see 3-dimensional images of an
underfluid environment, such as the 3-dimensional images of fluid-filled
cavities of heart, blood vessel, urinary bladder, etc. Features in such
wide volumetric field of view can be imaged, measured, or intervened by
an underfluid therapeutic device with an aid of the real-time image.