Tetrad Corporation

Clyde G Oakley

Joseph V Ranalletta

Stephen J Douglas

Dennis Raymond Dietz

Lawrence J Busse

Wing K Law

John E Shishilla

Don Michal

An improved composite ultrasonic transducer, and elements therefor, which may be made autoclavable, and a method of making these elements. A number of planar precursors comprising strips of piezoelectric ceramic material separated from one another by a polymer material are stacked one above another with the ceramic strips aligned with one another, and with electrical conductors disposed between each of the planar precursors. These precursors are then bonded to one another, to form a bonded assembly. The bonded assembly is then slit along parallel lines perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the ceramic strips, subdividing the strips into individual ceramic members and also subdividing the planar conductors, forming ribbon-like conductors extending between opposite sides of the array. The saw kerfs are filled with a hardening polymer material. The ribbon-like conductors reaching the edges of the assembly are then connected electrically in parallel, reducing the capacitance of the individual emitters. Criteria for selection of the materials of the ceramic members, the conductors, and other components of the transducer, and their relative proportions are given which allow the transducer to be steam-autoclavable.

Methods of making composite ultrasonic transducers

Composite autoclavable ultrasonic transducers and methods of making

Elongated arrays of individual ultrasonic transducer elements at spaced locations emit wedge-shaped beams of ultrasonic energy such that energy emitted by corresponding elements of the arrays travels into a common region of the object to be imaged. Energy emitted by the elements of both arrays is reflected by the same structure within the object. The relative distances of the reflecting structure from the corresponding elements of the arrays are compared to determine the elevation of the reflecting points with respect to an image plane, and a three-dimensional image of the reflectors is generated. A virtual image including information responsive to the elevation of the points can be derived, and used to recalculate the visible display corresponding to a user-selected image plane. The transducer may include a parallel pair of arrays.

Ultrasonic transducer assembly and method for three-dimensional imaging

Apparatus for disinfecting electronic probes used in surgical procedures comprises a housing for containing a disinfecting fluid and including a dummy connector for forming a sealed connection to the cable connector by which the probe is connected to associated equipment, whereby the contacts of the cable connector are protected from exposure to the disinfecting fluid.

Method and apparatus for disinfecting electronic surgical probes

A bendable ultrasonic probe useful in endosurgical operations is provided having a therapy channel with a shape that is substantially unaffected by bending of the probe. The probe can be used to convey substantially nonbendable tools to the vicinity of an ultrasonic device that has been repositioned by bending the probe. A sheath is provided having a rigid, self-supporting body portion that may be used with the bendable ultrasonic probe. The sheath may have a therapy channel for conveying surgical tools. Also, the sheath may have a flexible balloon on one end for accommodating the bendable portion of the probe, which is disposed in the flexible balloon.

Bendable ultrasonic probe and sheath for use therewith

A medical endosurgical device is provided having both ultrasonic imaging and biopsy capabilities for easy grasping and manipulation by a surgeon. The medical endosurgical apparatus includes an ultrasonic imaging probe having an insertion portion with an ultrasonic device near the insertion tip and a probe handle for manipulating the ultrasonic imaging probe to position the ultrasonic device in the patient's body. The medical endosurgical device also includes a biopsy actuator that is mounted on the handle of the ultrasonic imaging probe so that a biopsy needle assembly exiting from the biopsy actuator is oriented to the field of view of the ultrasonic device on the probe. The medical endosurgical apparatus may also include a rigid sheath disposed over the insertion portion of the ultrasonic imaging probe that is engaged with and oriented to the ultrasonic imaging probe such that a biopsy needle assembly passing through a lumen in the rigid sheath would be oriented to the field of view of the ultrasonic device.

Endosurgical ultrasonic probe with integrated biopsy actuator

An articulated ultrasonic probe for endoscopic examination comprises a transducer head, for example, having one or more rows of independently actuable transducer elements extending along the surface of the probe, parallel to the axis thereof. The probe comprises an articulable section while the transducer head is journaled for rotation with respect to the tip of the probe. In use the tip of the probe is juxtaposed to a structure to be examined; the articulated section of the probe and the rotation of the transducer are controlled separately, such that the transducer elements can be juxtaposed to the structure to be examined. A series of angularly-spaced images may be formed by rotation of the transducer about its axis after articulation of the probe.

Ultrasonic probe having articulated structure and rotatable transducer

The invention relates to a medical ultrasonic imaging probe, such as may be used in laparoscopic surgery. A probe is provided having both forward viewing and side viewing ultrasonic capabilities. An apparatus is provided for manipulating and orienting video ultrasound images on a video monitor according to the position of the probe. A probe is also provided having both an ultrasonic device and a surgical tool, such as an electrocautery hook for excising and/or cauterizing tissue, that can be closely monitored by the ultrasonic device. Also provided is an ultrasonic probe having lumens for placing ultrasonically transmissive medium adjacent to ultrasonic transducers. A removable, rigid sheath is provided to fit over a laparoscopic probe. Removable sheath that includes a lumen for transmission of surgical tools and the like, an inner chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive medium and sealed with a breakable membrane, a balloon that can be inflated with ultrasonically transmissive medium, and lumens for injecting ultrasonically transmissive medium in the vicinity of a probe's ultrasonic device of a probe inserted into the sheath are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Englewood, CO, United States of America

Clyde G Oakley