Ultrasonic probe to be installed on fingertip

• US 5,284,147 A
• Filed: 11/10/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hanaoka, Akihiko, Sato, Yutaka, Izumi, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/974,309
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 128/662.03, 128/662.04, 128/662.05, 128/662.06, 128/759
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe to be inserted into the body of a subject for image-processing a diagnostic target thereof by ultrasonic waves transmitted to and received from the inside of the body and, more particularly, to an internal examination ultrasonic probe which can be directly installed on a palpation finger. The ultrasonic probe includes a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves; a housing for supporting the transducer array, which housing is provided with a device for installing a fingertip of an operator therein; and electric wiring members connected to the transducer array and extending from the housing to the outside so that transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves are supplied therethrough. Alternatively, the ultrasonic probe includes a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves; a housing for supporting the transducer array, which housing is provided with a device for installing a fingertip of an operator therein; and electric wiring members connected to the transducer array so as to supply transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves therethrough, and the electric wiring members extend from the housing to the outside in such a manner that they are located on a nail side of the fingertip or a side surface adjacent to the nail side when the fingertip is installed in the housing.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe to be inserted into a body of a subject for image-processing a diagnostic target of the subject by means of ultrasonic waves transmitted to and received from an inside of the body comprising:

a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves;

a housing coupled to said transducer array, said housing being provided with a recess, having a depth corresponding to a length from a tip of a finger of an operator to at most a point within a nail of the finger, for receiving the tip of the finger of the operator, said housing being constructed to permit a portion of the side of the finger directly opposite the nail and said transducer array to both be in contact with the same surface area of the diagnostic target; and

electric wiring means connected to said transducer array and extending from said housing to the outside so that transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves are supplied therethrough.

2. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 wherein said recess is formed on one of a back side and a lateral side with respect to a surface of said housing where said transducer array is provided.

3. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 wherein said electric wiring means is located in a direction substantially parallel with a direction of the depth of the recess.

4. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein said electric wiring means is either a flexible substrate or a flat cable.

5. An ultrasonic probe to be inserted into a body of a subject for image-processing a diagnostic target of the subject by means of ultrasonic waves transmitted to and received from an inside of the body, comprising:

a transducer array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves;

a housing coupled to said transducer array;

an annular member secured in said housing for allowing a finger of the operator to be inserted therein, an annular configuration of said member being broken at on portion to permit a side of the finger of the operator opposite the nail of the finger to contact the surface of the body; and

electric wiring means connected to said transducer array and extending from said housing to the outside so that transmission and reception signals of the ultrasonic waves are supplied therethrough.