Multi-focus ultrasound system and method

US8409102B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Weston Blaine Griffin · Niskayuna, US
• Douglas Glenn Wildes · Ballston Lake, US
• David Martin Mills · Niskayuna, US
• Murtuza Lokhandwalla · South Windsor, US
• Christopher Robert Hazard · Niskayuna, US
• Warren Lee · Niskayuna, US
• Reinhold Bruestle · Zipf, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 2, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2007/0091
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A multi-focus probe that includes a motor communicatively coupled with a lead screw and configured to turn the lead screw about a lengthwise axis of the lead screw, wherein the lead screw includes a length having threads. The probe also includes a lead-screw nut positioned about the lead screw such that the lead-screw nut engages the threads and such that the lead-screw nut and the lead screw can move relative to one another via the threads, a transducer configured to move vertically with the lead screw, and an enclosure surrounding the transducer, wherein the enclosure includes a probe face configured to hold fluid and engage a wave emission target such that waves from the transducer can enter the target. Further, the probe includes a capture feature capable of engaging the lead-screw nut such that the lead-screw nut is vertically fixed relative to the probe face and such that the lead screw moves away from the probe face when rotating within the lead-screw nut in a first direction and moves toward the probe face when rotating within the lead-screw nut in a second direction opposite to the first direction while the lead-screw nut is engaged by the capture feature.