Ultrasound examination system
First Claim
1. An ultrasound internal examination system, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer rotatably mounted on a tip end portion of a flexible insert member, said flexible insert member having a rotation transmitting means connected to said tip end portion for transmitting rotation to said ultrasound transducer, and a flexible sleeve fitted around said rotation transmitting means, said rotation transmitting means relatively rotatable to said flexible sleeve;
a probe operating unit detachably connected to a base end portion of said flexible insert member including a linear operating means for moving said ultrasound transducer linearly along a longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for linear scanning, and a radial operating means to turn said ultrasound transducer about the longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for radial scanning;
said linear operating means having an operating rod reciprocally mounted through a casing of said probe operating unit and detachably connected to said flexible sleeve and movable into and out of said casing for linear scanning by said ultrasound transducer, and a position sensor means for detecting a position of said ultrasound transducer by detecting a displacement of said operating rod;
said radial operating means having a rotary member coupled with said rotation transmitting means, a motor for rotatably driving said rotary member, a rotation sensor means for detecting a rotational angle of said rotary member, and a rotary connector for connecting rotatable signal lines from said ultrasound transducer to a static part of said operating unit; and
a scan mode selector means for switching an operation of said ultrasound transducer between a linear scan mode and a radial scan mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound examination system, including an ultrasound probe detachably connected at its proximal end to a probe operating unit and having an ultrasound transducer rotatably mounted on the tip end of a flexible insert member and a rotation transmitting means passed through the insert member to rotate the ultrasound transducer. The probe operating unit is provided with a linear operating means for displacing the ultrasound transducer linearly for a linear scan, and a radial operating unit for rotating the ultrasound transducer for a radial scan, in combination with a mode selector means for switching the operation of the ultrasound transducer between linear scan mode in which the transducer is displaced linearly during transmission and reception of ultrasound signals and a radial scan mode in which the transducer is rotated during transmission and reception of ultrasound signals.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An ultrasound internal examination system, comprising:
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an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer rotatably mounted on a tip end portion of a flexible insert member, said flexible insert member having a rotation transmitting means connected to said tip end portion for transmitting rotation to said ultrasound transducer, and a flexible sleeve fitted around said rotation transmitting means, said rotation transmitting means relatively rotatable to said flexible sleeve; a probe operating unit detachably connected to a base end portion of said flexible insert member including a linear operating means for moving said ultrasound transducer linearly along a longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for linear scanning, and a radial operating means to turn said ultrasound transducer about the longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for radial scanning; said linear operating means having an operating rod reciprocally mounted through a casing of said probe operating unit and detachably connected to said flexible sleeve and movable into and out of said casing for linear scanning by said ultrasound transducer, and a position sensor means for detecting a position of said ultrasound transducer by detecting a displacement of said operating rod; said radial operating means having a rotary member coupled with said rotation transmitting means, a motor for rotatably driving said rotary member, a rotation sensor means for detecting a rotational angle of said rotary member, and a rotary connector for connecting rotatable signal lines from said ultrasound transducer to a static part of said operating unit; and a scan mode selector means for switching an operation of said ultrasound transducer between a linear scan mode and a radial scan mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An ultrasonic examination system, comprising:
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an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a tip end portion of a flexible insert member which is surrounded by a flexible sleeve; a probe operating unit surrounded by a casing and connected to a base end portion of said flexible insert member, including a linear operating means for moving said ultrasonic transducer linearly along a longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for linear scanning operations, and a radial operating means to rotate said flexible insert member and said ultrasonic probe about the longitudinal axis of said tip end portion for radial scanning operations; said linear operating means having an operating rod reciprocally mounted to said casing of said probe operating unit to linearly move said ultrasonic transducer, and a position sensor means for detecting a position of said ultrasound transducer by detecting a displacement of said operating rod; said radial operating means having a motor for rotatably driving said flexible insert member, a rotation sensor means for detecting a rotational angle of said flexible insert, and a rotary connector for connecting rotatable signal lines from said ultrasound transducer to a static part of said operating unit; and a scan mode selector means for switching an operation of said ultrasonic transducer between a linear scan mode and a radial scan mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification