What am I looking at?
Visual recognition
Fine intravascular imaging catheter connected to a dedicated imaging console; the distal segment houses the ultrasound transducer rather than a conventional open diagnostic tip.
04-06
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheter
Intravascular imaging catheter
Three-panel learning framework
Recognition, context, and distinction
What does it do, and where will I see it?
Use & procedural context
Catheter with a miniature ultrasound transducer at its tip that images the vessel from within, sizing lumen and wall and confirming stent apposition where contrast angiography falls short. Typical procedural contexts include venous stenting (iliocaval, May-Thurner), IVC filter and EVAR sizing, and characterizing ambiguous lesions.
What most clearly distinguishes it from similar devices?
Key distinctions
IVUS is an imaging catheter rather than a conventional injection or selection catheter; the distal transducer provides intraluminal imaging instead of relying solely on contrast opacification.