The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2000
Stephen Dodge Edwardsen, Sandefjord, NO;
Jon Ronander, Tonsberg, NO;
GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC, Waukesha, WI (US);
Abstract
An internal imaging probe including an expandable scanhead for improving the positioning of an imaging element mounted on the scanhead. The imaging probe is introduced into the esophagus of a patient via the patient's mouth. Once, the imaging probe is introduced, the imaging probe is positioned to a point where an internal structure of the patient is within the direction of view of an imaging element, such as a transducer, located on the scanhead. Once positioned, the scanhead is expanded either by inflation, or via a moving extensor located within the scanhead. The scanhead is then expanded until the imaging element, such as a transducer, achieves close and uniform contact with the esophageal wall of the patient thereby providing accurate imaging of the internal structure. Further, expanding the scanhead while the scanhead is within the esophagus of the patient minimizes the risks of damage to the esophageal wall that are associated with prior art probes. Once the imaging process is complete, the imaging probe is returned to its unexpanded size and removed from the esophagus of the patient. The imaging probe may be included within a medical imaging system that includes the probe, a processing unit, and a monitor for viewing images of the internal structure.