Automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes, and methods of using same
US6013030A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/916
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A longitudinal position translator includes a probe drive module and a linear translation module. The probe drive module is coupled operatively to an ultrasonic imaging probe assembly having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly in such a manner that longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly may be effected. The probe drive module is preferably mounted to the linear translation unit so as to be moveable between a condition whereby longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly can be conducted either manually or automatically. When in the automatically-operable condition, the probe drive module will be engaged with a motor-driven screw associated with the linear translation module so as to cause the probe drive module to be longitudinally displaced at a constant motor-driven rate. In this manner, the distally located ultrasound transducer is longitudinally shifted during an ultrasound scan of surrounding intravascular (or other) tissue to thereby allow axially-spaced 360.degree. data sample "slices" of the surrounding tissue to be obtained. The data samples may then be reconstructed into a three-dimensional or other two-dimensional representations of t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.