Endoscopic probe
First Claim
1. An endoscopic probe, which comprises:
- a probe head including a cylindrically-shaped transducer housing rotatably disposed therein;
an ultrasonic transducer of the phase array type formed of a plurality of elongated transducer elements disposed within said transducer housing, said ultrasonic transducer having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said probe head;
means for rotating said ultrasonic transducer in said transducer housing within a plane of said phase array of said ultrasonic transducer;
a loop-shaped flexible circuit board extending into said ultrasonic housing and connected to said plurality of elongated transducer elements;
a flexible tube connected to said probe head; and
conductors extending through said flexible tube electrically connected to said flexible circuit board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic probe suitable for use as a TEE-probe, comprising a flexible tube having at one end a probe head which is provided with a phased array type ultrasonic transducer comprising a number of elongated transducer elements which elements can be individually electrically controlled by means of cables connected to the individual elements and extending through the flexible tube. The transducer is fitted in an essentially cylindrical transducer housing which is mounted in the probe head with its longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the probe head. The transducer housing is fitted rotatable in the probe head in such a way that the transducer is rotatable in the plane of the array by a driver cooperating with the transducer housing. By means of at least on flexible printed circuit board the elongated transducer elements are connected to cables extending through the flexible tube. The at least one flexible printed circuit board extends through an opening into the transducer housing, is present in the transducer housing in a loop shape and ends at least at a number of connecting electrodes of transducer elements.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An endoscopic probe, which comprises:
- a probe head including a cylindrically-shaped transducer housing rotatably disposed therein;
an ultrasonic transducer of the phase array type formed of a plurality of elongated transducer elements disposed within said transducer housing, said ultrasonic transducer having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said probe head; means for rotating said ultrasonic transducer in said transducer housing within a plane of said phase array of said ultrasonic transducer; a loop-shaped flexible circuit board extending into said ultrasonic housing and connected to said plurality of elongated transducer elements; a flexible tube connected to said probe head; and conductors extending through said flexible tube electrically connected to said flexible circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a probe head including a cylindrically-shaped transducer housing rotatably disposed therein;
Specification