Ultrasonic endoscope apparatus
US4880011A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/355
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus in which an ultrasonic vibrating element radiating an ultrasonic wave to obtain an image of an object to be inspected is rotatably housed in a distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope, and a rotation angle sensing mechanism is also housed in the distal end. The rotation angle sensing mechanism has a magnetic recording section having a magnetization pattern for forming a magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor having at least one magneto-resistive element for sensing the magnetic field. One of the magnetic recording section and the magnetic sensor is rotated integrally with the ultrasonic vibrating element so that a rotation angle of the ultrasonic vibrating element is sensed in a precise manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.