Intracavitary ultrasound scanner means
First Claim
1. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means adopted to be used in the human body comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and positioned for scanning a first scan surface and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) mounted on said drive shaft (22) for rotation therewith and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding apart and positioned for scanning a second scan surface with respect to said first plane.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first ultrasound transducer (24) is mounted in the interior of an examination head (4), which is rotatable around an axis (26) by means of first and second gears (52, 56) and by means of a drive shaft (22) which is driven by an electric motor (106) for scanning a first examination surface. The axis (26) is aligned perpendicular to the distal end of the drive shaft (22). The two gears (52, 56) are preferably fashioned as bevel gears. The second gear (56) is secured to the end of the drive shaft (22) and has a depression (60) into which the first ultrasound transducer (24) passes when it turns. A compact structure is achieved in this way. A second ultrasound transducer (90) is secured to the second bevel gear (56), which turns around the drive shaft (22) and thereby scans a second examination surface having the shape of an envelope of a cone which is positioned not entirely perpendicular relative to the first examination plane. Both transducers (24, 90) are rotatorily driven by the same drive shaft (22), which results in a simple design. The device is particularly suitable for vaginal and rectal examinations.
75 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means adopted to be used in the human body comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and positioned for scanning a first scan surface and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) mounted on said drive shaft (22) for rotation therewith and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding apart and positioned for scanning a second scan surface with respect to said first plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
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7. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, and wherein said first and second gears are formed of first and second bevel gears (52,
56); and
said second bevel gear (56) has a distally located depression (60) into which said first ultrasound transducer (24) passes as it is turned around said axis (26). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, and wherein said first and second gears are formed of first and second bevel gears (52,
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14. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) is connected to said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, and wherein said drive shaft (22) is a hollow shaft.
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
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15. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) is connected to said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, wherein said examination head is secured to a housing head via a guide, said drive shaft (22) is secured in said housing head (8) and to the output shaft (104) of an electric motor (106), and wherein the rotatable part (126,
128) of a variable transformer (124) is mounted at the proximal end of said output shaft (104). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
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19. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) is connected to said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, wherein said examination head is secured to a housing head via a guide, said drive shaft (22) is secured in said housing head (8) and to the output shaft (104) of an electric motor (106), and wherein a manual pump (16) is mounted in said housing head (8), said manual pump connected to pump up a cladding (10) surrounding said examination head (4) with ultrasound coupling fluid (66). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 29, 30)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
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22. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) is connected to said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, and wherein said first ultrasound transducer (19) is rigidly coupled to said drive shaft (22); and
said second ultrasound transducer (24) is coupled to said drive shaft (22) via a releasable coupling (140). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
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31. An intracavitary ultrasound scanning means comprising, an examination head, a first ultrasound transducer mounted in said head, said transducer being rotatable around an axis and driven by a drive shaft which has proximal and distal ends, said axis (26) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
a holding part (61) is connected to said drive shaft (22) and, a second ultrasound transducer (90) attached to said holding part, and wherein a biopsy needle guide (204) which includes a tube guide (208) and a clamp mechanism (206) is detachable connected to said examination head (4);
said guide tube (208) is laterally offset and arranged in the direction of said drive shaft (22); and
the discharge opening (214) of the guide tube (208) is aligned at a slanting direction relative to said drive shaft (22). - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- a first gear (52) connected to turn said first ultrasound transducer (24) around said axis (26), said first gear in engagement with a second gear (56) attached to the distal end of said drive shaft (22);
Specification