Patent · US Active

Scanning probe

US8137279B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
47References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 2006
Grant dateMar 20, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B8/483
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasound cavital probe suitable for transrectal or other usage, includes an ultrasound probe, having an outer housing, a pair of motors within one end of the housing, a first shaft operatively associated with one of the motors to provide longitudinal movement to the ultrasound transducer, while a second shaft operatively associated with the second motor, and which extends through the hollow interior of the first said shaft, provides for pivotal or rotary movement to the ultrasound transducer and probe, to furnish a 2-dimensional view of the surrounding anatomy, and which in combination with the movement from the first shaft, furnishes a 3-dimensional volumetric scan of the surrounding anatomy, along with facilitating the image plane movements normally obtained by a standard probe while used in a stepping device, and integrated electronics package operatively provided within the ultrasonic probe for use for processing scanned signals, their digitization, and their transmission by a controller to a personal computer for further processing and display.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.