Manually operated ultrasound application

• US 4,545,386 A
• Filed: 04/22/1983
• Issued: 10/08/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hetz, Walter, Weber, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US06/487,784
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660, 128/661, 128/670, 128/361, 128/639, 128/640, 128/736, 128/738
• US Class Current: 600/462
• 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 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue

Abstract

An ultrasound applicator designed for scanning tissues and organs located in cavities of the human body. A transducer head operated by an examining person is provided with a connection cable adapted to be connected to an image signal processing device. The transducer head is designed for firm placement of a guiding organ, especially the finger of an examining person. Preferably the top surface of the housing bears a recess forming a mold for the finger. Additionally, a flexible yoke may be arranged as a support element.

Claims

1. A manually operated ultrasound applicator for use in body cavities, said ultrasound applicator comprising:

(a) an ultrasound array containing a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;

(b) an elongated housing containing said ultrasound array, said housing having a scanning surface for placement on an area under examination and a concave and elongated top surface opposed to said scanning surface and shaped to accommodate a bottom surface of a user'"'"'s fingertip;

(c) a connection cable electrically connected to said ultrasound array and adapted for coupling to an image signal processing device; and

(d) a yoke mounted on the housing and located above its top surface and being shaped to receive a user'"'"'s fingertip, thereby detachably securing the housing to a distal end of a user'"'"'s fingertip.