Endoscopically deliverable ultrasound imaging system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
- a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel;
an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern;
position measuring means coupled to said catheter and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said catheter with respect of said endoscope;
latch means actuatable to manually disengage said catheter from said position measuring means so that said catheter can move longitudinally without varying said ultrasound probe position signal; and
imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said probe to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal.
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Abstract
An endoscopically deliverable ultrasound imaging system having an ultrasound probe mounted at the end of an endoscopically deliverable catheter. The catheter connects the probe to an ultrasound imaging system. The axial or radial position of the ultrasound probe is measured by a position transducer mounted on the endocscope adjacent the biopsy port from which the catheter extends. The output of the position measuring transducer is applied to the ultrasound imaging system so that the imaging system provides an image of the tissue depth as a function of the position of the ultrasound probe.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; position measuring means coupled to said catheter and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said catheter with respect of said endoscope; latch means actuatable to manually disengage said catheter from said position measuring means so that said catheter can move longitudinally without varying said ultrasound probe position signal; and imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said probe to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; an elongated layer of resistive material covering at least a portion of said catheter along its length; a conductor lead extending through said catheter from at least one end of said resistive material to an external location; a conductive wiper adapted for mounting on said endoscope and making contact with said resistive material so that the resistance between said conductor lead and said wiper is indicative of the longitudinal position of said catheter with respect to said endoscope; and imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said probe to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; a potentiometer housing adapted for mounting on said endoscope adjacent the proximal end of said biopsy channel; a rotary potentiometer mounted in said potentiometer housing, said potentiometer having an arcuate resistance element and a rotatable wiper contact slidable along said resistance element, said wiper contact being coupled to a hollow shaft through which said catheter extends, said hollow shaft being coaxial with said arcuate resistance element; a releasable fastener releasably securing said catheter to said hollow shaft so that said catheter and shaft rotate with each other; and imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said prode to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe having a tranversely directed beam pattern mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a probe casing mounted at the end of said catheter, said casing having at least one acoustically transparent area , a transducer support member mounted in said casing , an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer support member beneath said acoustically transparent area , and actuating means for selectively moving said transducer support member longitudinally within said casing, thereby longitudinally scanning said transducer; position measuring means coupled to said catheter and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said catheter with respect to said endoscope; imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said transducer to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for ultrasonically imaging internal tissues through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a catheter having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe having a tranversely directed beam pattern mounted at one end of said catheter, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a probe body having a planar transducer mounting surface and a partially spherical recess positioned above said transducer mounting surface, an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer mounting surface, and an impedance matching material filling said partially spherical recess; position measuring means coupled to said catheter and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said catheter with respect to said endoscope; and imaging means connected to said ultrasound probe by conductors extending through said catheter, said imaging means generating an ultrasound signal that is applied to said transducer to generate an acoustic signal, said imaging means further receiving an ultrasound signal from said ultrasound probe corresponding to ultrasound acoustic signals reflected from said tissues to said ultrasound probe, said ultrasound imaging means generating said ultrasound image from said received ultrasound signal and from said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A catheter for allowing an ultrasound image to be made through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a tube having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that the position and orientation of the ends of the tube correspond to each other, said tube having sufficient flexibility to conform to the curved configuration of an endoscope biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said tube, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; position measuring means coupled to said tube and adapted to be coupled to siad endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the longitudinal position of said tube with respect to said endoscope; and latch means actuated to manually disengage said tube from said position measuring means so that said tube can move longitudinally without varying said ultrasound probe position signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A catheter for allowing an ultrasound image to be made through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a tube having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that the position and orientation of the ends of the tube correspond to each other, said tube having sufficient flexibility to conform to the curved configuration of an endoscope biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said tube, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; an elongated layer of resistive material covering at least a portion of said tube along its length; a conductor lead extending through said tube from at least one end of said resistive material to an external location; and a conductive wiper adapted for mounting on said endoscope at a location that allows said wiper to make contact with said resistive material when the distal end of said tube is in a position to image internal tissues so that the resistance between said conductor lead and said wiper is indicative of the longitudinal position of said tube with respect to said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A catheter for allowing an ultrasound image to be made through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a tube having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that the position and orientation of the ends of the tube correspond to each other, said tube having sufficient flexibility to conform to the curved configuration of an endoscope biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe mounted at one end of said tube, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern; a potentiometer housing adapted for mounting on said endoscope adjacent the proximal end of said biopsy channel; a rotary potentiometer mounted in said potentiometer housing, said potentiometer having an arcuate resistance element and a rotatable wiper contact slidable along said resistance element, said wiper contact being coupled to a hollow shaft through which said tube extends, said hollow shaft being coaxial with said arcuate resistance element; and a releasable fastener releasably securing said tube to said hollow shaft so that said tube and shaft rotate with each other. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A catheter for allowing an ultrasound image to be made through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a tube having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that the position and orientation of the ends of the tube correspond to each other, said tube having sufficient flexibility to conform to the curved configuration of an endoscope biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern mounted at one end of said tube, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a probe casing mounted at the end of said tube, said casing having at least one acoustically transparent area , a transducer support member mounted in said tube, an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer support member beneath said acoustically transparent area , and actuating means for selectively moving said transducer support member longitudinally within said tube, thereby longitudinally scanning said transducer; and position measuring means coupled to said tube and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the position of said tube with respect to said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A catheter for allowing an ultrasound image to be made through the biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising:
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a tube having a diameter that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that the position and orientation of the ends of the tube correspond to each other, said tube having sufficient flexibility to conform to the curved configuration of an endoscope biopsy channel; an ultrasound probe having a transversely directed beam pattern mounted at one end of said tube, said ultrasound probe having a maximum transverse dimension that is sufficiently small to pass through said biopsy channel, said ultrasound probe having a probe body having a planar transducer mounting surface and a partially spherical recess positioned above said transducer mounting surface , an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer mounting surface , and an impedance matching material filling said partially spherical recess; and position measuring means coupled to said tube and adapted to be coupled to said endoscope for generating an ultrasound probe position signal indicative of the position of said tube with respect to said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An ultrasound probe for generating an ultrasound acoustic signal and receiving reflected ultrasound acoustic signals, comprising:
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a probe body having a planar transducer mounting surface and first and second partially spherical recesses positioned above said transducer mounting surface, said second partially spherical recess having a radius of curvature that is smaller than the radius of curvature of said first partially spherical recess; an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer mounting surface, said transducer having outer and inner elements having respective diameters approximately equal to the diameter of said first and second partially spherical recesses ; and an impedance matching material filling said partially spherical recess. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. An ultrasound probe for generating an ultrasound acoustic signal and receiving reflected ultrasound acoustic signals, comprising:
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a probe body having a planar transducer mounting surface and a partially spherical recess positioned above said transducer mounting surface; an ultrasound transducer mounted on said transducer mounting surface, said ultrasound transducer including a cylindrical plate of piezoelectric material having first and second planar faces, said first planar face being plated with a metal over substantially its entire surface, and said second planar face being plated with a metal with two separate semicircular areas, the piezoelectric material beneath one of said semicircular areas being polarized oppositely from the polarization of the piezoelectric material beneath the other of said semicircular areas; and
an impedance matching material filling said semicircular areas partially spherical recess.
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- 42. An ultrasound transducer for generating an ultrasound acoustic signal from an ultrasound electric signal and for generating an ultrasound electric signal from a received ultrasound acoustic signal, said transducer comprising a cylindrical plate of piezoelectric material having first and second planar faces, said first planar face being plated with a metal over substantially its entire surface, and said second planar face being plated with a metal in two separate semicircular areas between which said ultrasound electric signal is applied or generated, the piezoelectric material between said first planar face and one semicircular area of said second planar face being polarized opposite to the polarization of the piezoelectric material between said first planar face and the other semicircular area of said second planar face.
Specification