Scanning probe

• US 20030073907A1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Medical International Incorporated (TeamBest Group)
• Original Assignee: Envisioneering, LLC
• Inventors: Taylor, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,709,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/894 by rotation about a single axis
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8945 using transducers mounted for linear mechanical movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467

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.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe assembly comprising:

a housing having a handle and a tip, said tip having an axis;

a scanning assembly contained within said tip;

said scanning assembly comprising a track generally parallel to said tip axis, a sled mounted on said track to be moveable along said track; and

a transducer mounted on said sled;

a drive operatively connected to said sled to move said sled along said track.

2. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 wherein said scanning assembly is rotatably received in said probe tip, whereby scanning assembly can rotate about an axis parallel to said probe axis.

3. The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 wherein said drive comprises a first rotatable shaft and operatively connected to said sled to move said sled along said track and a second rotatable shaft operatively connected to said scanner assembly to rotate said scanner assembly, whereby, when said clutch is engaged, said second shaft is rotatably driven by said first shaft and when said clutch is disengaged, said second shaft is not driven by said first shaft.

4. The ultrasonic probe of claim 3 wherein said drive comprises a single motor;

said first shaft being operatively connected to said motor to be rotated by said motor;

said second shaft being connected to first shaft by a clutch;

said clutch being switchable between a first mode in which said second shaft is rotatably fixed to said first shaft to be rotated by said first shaft and a second position in which said second shaft is rotatably separated from said first shaft.

5. The ultrasonic probe of claim 4 wherein said drive includes a brake, said brake engaging said second shaft when said clutch is disengaged to prevent rotation of said second shaft.

6. The ultrasonic probe of claim 3 wherein said drive includes a first motor and a second motor;

said first shaft being operatively connected to said first motor to be rotatably driven thereby and said second shaft being operatively connected to said second motor to be rotatably driven thereby.

7. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 wherein said track comprises a pair of spaced apart slide rods.

8. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 including a pair of opposed pulleys and a belt surrounding said pulleys to be movable about said pulleys;

said sled being operatively connected to said belt, whereby said sled is moved along said track by movement of said belt.

9. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 wherein said probe tip is tubular in shape and is sized to be inserted into a body cavity.

10. The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 wherein said probe tip comprises a bottom to said housing;

said transducer being positioned adjacent said bottom to move across said bottom of said housing whereby;

said probe can be used for external body scanning.

11. The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 including a controller;

said controller being operatively connected to said drive;

said controller automatically controlling said drive to move said transducer laterally and/or rotationally in said probe tip such that the scanning assembly can capture data allowing a partial or full volumetric data of scanned tissue.

12. A bi-plane ultrasonic probe assembly comprising:

a housing having a handle and a tip, said tip having an axis;

a scanning assembly contained within said tip and being rotatable in said tip about an axis parallel to said tip axis;

said scanning assembly comprising a track generally parallel to said tip axis, a sled mounted on said track to be moveable along said track; and

a transducer mounted on said sled;

a drive operatively connected scanning assembly to rotate said scanning assembly and to move said sled along said track; and

a controller operatively connected to said drive;

said controller operating said drive to control the axial and rotational position of said transducer relative to said tip.

13. The ultrasonic probe of claim 12 wherein said controller is a standalone box.

14. The ultrasonic probe of claim 12 wherein said controller is installed on a computer or other digital control device.

15. The ultrasonic probe of claim 12 wherein said controller includes axial and rotational positioning monitors in operative communication with said controller;

said monitors sending to said controller a signal indicative of the axial and rotational position of said transducer relative to said tip;

said controller controlling said drive in response to the signals from said monitors.

16. The ultrasonic probe of claim 12 wherein said controller includes automatic placement settings relative to a defined mark.