Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Walter Hetz

Gert Hetzel

Peter Weber

Walter Derndinger

Dirk Schroeder

A first ultrasound transducer (24) is mounted in the interior of an examination head (4), which is rotatable around an axis (26) by means of first and second gears (52, 56) and by means of a drive shaft (22) which is driven by an electric motor (106) for scanning a first examination surface. The axis (26) is aligned perpendicular to the distal end of the drive shaft (22). The two gears (52, 56) are preferably fashioned as bevel gears. The second gear (56) is secured to the end of the drive shaft (22) and has a depression (60) into which the first ultrasound transducer (24) passes when it turns. A compact structure is achieved in this way. A second ultrasound transducer (90) is secured to the second bevel gear (56), which turns around the drive shaft (22) and thereby scans a second examination surface having the shape of an envelope of a cone which is positioned not entirely perpendicular relative to the first examination plane. Both transducers (24, 90) are rotatorily driven by the same drive shaft (22), which results in a simple design. The device is particularly suitable for vaginal and rectal examinations.

Intracavitary ultrasound scanner means

An exemplary embodiment includes a probe tube at which an ultrasonic array is disposed. The aim of the disclosure is to construct an ultrasonic probe which, given an optimally small overall diameter, can particularly be employed for bladder endoscopy of male patients. The aim is inventively achieved in that an optical insert and an ultrasonic array are disposed in two layers radially offset and also offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the tube, being disposed in such manner that the end face of the optical insert opening in front of the ultrasonic array in the direction toward the distal tube end only projects over the application surface (ultrasonic elements) of the ultrasonic array to such degree that, on the one hand, the space above the ultrasonic array can be sufficiently illuminated and, on the other hand, given a largely complete filling of the tube space below the ultrasonic array and optical insert with a bundle of the electrical connecting lines of the ultrasonic array proceeding in the direction of the proximal tube end, the overall diameter of the probe tube with an inserted or emplaced optical insert is optimally low for endoscopy purposes.

Ultrasonic probe which can be introduced into a body

An ultrasound applicator designed for scanning tissues and organs located in cavities of the human body. A transducer head operated by an examining person is provided with a connection cable adapted to be connected to an image signal processing device. The transducer head is designed for firm placement of a guiding organ, especially the finger of an examining person. Preferably the top surface of the housing bears a recess forming a mold for the finger. Additionally, a flexible yoke may be arranged as a support element.

Manually operated ultrasound application

An ultrasonic transducer is pivotally attached to one end of an elongated handle which is divided into first and second half shells. The transducer can be freed to rotate or locked in position by moving the half shells apart or together, respectively. The resulting ultrasound applicator is useful for intra-operative scanning.

Manually operated ultrasound applicator

An ultrasound device for sector scanning which includes an ultrasound transmitting/receiving system. The system is housed in a compact cylindrical applicator housing which contains ultrasound transducer heads and associated ultrasound transducer elements at both ends of the applicator housing. Each of the two ultrasound transducer heads is rotatable within the applicator housing for performing sector scanning. A single drive mechanism rotates or swivels reciprocally both transducer heads so that undesirable inertial forces are cancelled or compensated. A guiding element pivotally supports the applicator housing so that the housing can be rotated and one or the other of the two ultrasound transducer heads be used. The guiding element also provides the enclosure for the electronics associated with the ultrasound applicator.

Ultrasound device for sector scanning

In the exemplary embodiments, the apparatus comprises: an ultrasonic transducer arrangement; a drive arranged to pivotably displace the transducer arrangement within a predetermined angular range; an actual-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.I (.rho.) dependent upon the angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; a desired-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.S (.rho.)) representing a desired angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; and a control for controlling the drive in dependence upon such signals from the actual-value and desired-value generators. The actual-value and desired-value generators are adapted to supply respective signals having the same or similar forms over a relatively large signal range within the said range.

Ultrasonic apparatus for sector scanning

An ultrasonic-scan head is mounted by means of an articulated arm assembly; a swivel extension arm supports the assembly for rotation about a vertical central axis. Such vertical central axis is the isocenter for body sections to be scanned by the ultrasonic scan head. The construction of such an apparatus is desired which is particularly simple to handle during sectional plane selection. In particular, the apparatus mass to be moved is to be small so that a rotation of the entire scan system can also be conducted directly at the working location by the examining individual without requiring an assistant. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the swivel extension arm, as the carrier for the articulated arm assembly, is coupled to a floor stand, and that the patient support can be arranged, preferably in a movably displaceable fashion, above the floor stand and above the extension arm which can be pivoted horizontally beneath said support so as to extend to either side of the support, or to an end of the support.

Growing community of inventors

Erlangen, Germany

Walter Hetz