Ultrasound microscope for imaging living tissues
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Ultrasound microscope means comprising:
- delivery means having a body with inside and outside surfaces, a distal tip, and a lengthwise axis;
pivot means, secured to said tip, for mounting a transducer means pivotally around a pivot axis normal to said lengthwise axis;
ultrasound transducer means, mounted on said pivot means and positionable on a surface of in-vivo tissue to be imaged, for transmitting and receiving ultrasound containing frequency components in a bandwidth centered at approximately 200 MHz in beams to create A-scan lines forming an imaging surface which includes said lengthwise axis; and
actuator means disposed at a first position for reciprocating said transducer means to scan ultrasound beams at angles to create a B-scan sector lying on said imaging surface;
conductor means for providing electrical signal connections to said transducer means and to said actuator means, disposed inside said delivery means; and
controller means for controlling electrical signals flowing through respective conductor means to said transducer means and to said actuator means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A series of devices for in vivo imaging of cellular architecture in a variety of tissues. A 200 MHz transducer is mounted on the tip of a cardiac catheter, gastroscope, colonoscope, bronchoscope, laparoscope or similar device, where it is moved mechanically to produce B-mode images of cells in the tissue. The ultrasound beam is focused in a subsurface region of tissue, and ultrasound which is backscattered from the focal zone is analyzed to produce images. Because heart motion may interfere with cardiac imaging, images are gated in mid-diastole for cardiac applications.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. Ultrasound microscope means comprising:
-
delivery means having a body with inside and outside surfaces, a distal tip, and a lengthwise axis; pivot means, secured to said tip, for mounting a transducer means pivotally around a pivot axis normal to said lengthwise axis; ultrasound transducer means, mounted on said pivot means and positionable on a surface of in-vivo tissue to be imaged, for transmitting and receiving ultrasound containing frequency components in a bandwidth centered at approximately 200 MHz in beams to create A-scan lines forming an imaging surface which includes said lengthwise axis; and actuator means disposed at a first position for reciprocating said transducer means to scan ultrasound beams at angles to create a B-scan sector lying on said imaging surface; conductor means for providing electrical signal connections to said transducer means and to said actuator means, disposed inside said delivery means; and controller means for controlling electrical signals flowing through respective conductor means to said transducer means and to said actuator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification