Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
372 words
Echotomographic apparatus usable for examination of external organs, and notably the breasts, said apparatus comprising, on a stand (10) a container (30) provided with an opening intended to contain a liquid capable of enhancing transmission of ultrasonic emission and in which the organ to be examined is immersible, an ultrasonic emitter-receiver (32) generating an examination beam in the form of a flat fan which propagates into said container, said emitter-receptor being displaced relative to the organ to be examined by means of a mechanism (14) having a first circular rolling path enabling the emitter-receptor to turn relative to the stand about the axis of symmetry of the first rolling path, and a mechanism (44, 48, 64, 68, 76) permitting the emitter-receptor to displace angularly with respect to the plane of the opening, characterised by the fact that: firstly, the container is a bowl (20) comprising a rigid circular peripheral rim (22) and a body (30) formed of a flexible membrane, said rim (22) comprising a peripheral lip (24) which forms an overflow for the liquid in the container, a second circular rolling path (26) being disposed under said lip and supporting the bowl, the membrane comprising the body (30) being fixed sealingly at its periphery to the rim (22) and by its central zone to the emitter-receiver (38) such that the window for the beam from the emitter-receiver (38) may be directly in contact with the liquid placed in the bowl but that said emitter-receiver (38) may be disposed outside said bowl, secondly, the stand (10) defines a recess in which the container (20) is disposed, said recess being surrounded by the first circular rolling path (14) which has substantially the same diameter as the second rolling path (26) of the rim (32), a trough (16) externally surrounding the first rolling path (14) of the stand and being intended to receive liquid flowing over the overflow lip (24) of the rim (22) rolling members (27) being disposed between the rolling paths (14, 26) of the stand (10) and of the rim (22) ; thirdly, a transmission mechanism (82, 84) enabling the bowl (20) to turn with the emitter-receiver relative to the stand around the common axis of the rolling paths (14, 26).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
372 words
Echotomographic apparatus usable for examination of external organs, and notably the breasts, said apparatus comprising, on a stand (10) a container (30) provided with an opening intended to contain a liquid capable of enhancing transmission of ultrasonic emission and in which the organ to be examined is immersible, an ultrasonic emitter-receiver (32) generating an examination beam in the form of a flat fan which propagates into said container, said emitter-receptor being displaced relative to the organ to be examined by means of a mechanism (14) having a first circular rolling path enabling the emitter-receptor to turn relative to the stand about the axis of symmetry of the first rolling path, and a mechanism (44, 48, 64, 68, 76) permitting the emitter-receptor to displace angularly with respect to the plane of the opening, characterised by the fact that: firstly, the container is a bowl (20) comprising a rigid circular peripheral rim (22) and a body (30) formed of a flexible membrane, said rim (22) comprising a peripheral lip (24) which forms an overflow for the liquid in the container, a second circular rolling path (26) being disposed under said lip and supporting the bowl, the membrane comprising the body (30) being fixed sealingly at its periphery to the rim (22) and by its central zone to the emitter-receiver (38) such that the window for the beam from the emitter-receiver (38) may be directly in contact with the liquid placed in the bowl but that said emitter-receiver (38) may be disposed outside said bowl, secondly, the stand (10) defines a recess in which the container (20) is disposed, said recess being surrounded by the first circular rolling path (14) which has substantially the same diameter as the second rolling path (26) of the rim (32), a trough (16) externally surrounding the first rolling path (14) of the stand and being intended to receive liquid flowing over the overflow lip (24) of the rim (22) rolling members (27) being disposed between the rolling paths (14, 26) of the stand (10) and of the rim (22) ; thirdly, a transmission mechanism (82, 84) enabling the bowl (20) to turn with the emitter-receiver relative to the stand around the common axis of the rolling paths (14, 26).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the mechanism intended to turn the bowl (20) comprises a motor (82) and a toothed belt (84) passing around the rim (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by the fact that it comprises a mechanism (40, 42, 44, 62) for adjusting separation of the emitter-receiver (38) from the centre of the rim (22).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the adjustement mechanism comprises a suspension (40, 44, 52) articulated to the rim (22) around an axis (48) parallel to the plane of the rim (22) and passing through the centre (66) of the latter, the emitter-receiver (38) and a control (62) for the adjustment mechanism being mounted on said suspension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the articulated suspension comprises two freely rotatable threaded rods (44) and a member (40) provided with non-rotatable nuts (42) mounted on the rods (44), the member (40) carrying the emitter-receiver (38), and the rods (44) carrying a plate (52) which is fixed relative to the axes of said rods and on which is mounted a motor (62) adapted to turn the threaded rods (44) synchronously around their oww axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that the mechanism for angularly displacing the emitter-receiver (38) relative to the plane of the rim (22) comprises an arcuate member (64) fixed to the rim (22) and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis (48) of the suspension, this plane passing through the centre of the rim (22), the plate (52) carried by the rods (44) of the suspension supporting a motor (76) which controls rotation of the suspension relative to the arcuate member (64).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by the fact that it comprises limit switches intended to limit rotation of the bowl (20) to an angle less than one revolution, and/or limit switches intended to limit the travel of the adjustment mechanism (40, 42, 44, 62) and/or of the mechanism (48, 64, 68, 76) permitting angular displacement of the emitter-receiver (38) relative to the plane of the rim (22).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised by the fact that it comprises at least two conduits (18, 32) one of which (32) opens into the membrane (30) of the bowl (20) and the other (18) into the channel (16) of the stand, said first conduit (32) being fed with liquid by a circulation pump which extracts said liquid from a reservoir and the second conduit (18) returns said liquid into said reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by the fact that it comprises a support table (78) fixed to the stand and disposed above the bowl, said table defining a circular orifice having a diameter less than the exterior diameter of the rim (22).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by the fact the emitter-receiver (38) is an echotomographic sensor removably fixed in a support (36) which ensures sealing relative to the liquid contents of the bowl (20), said support being fixed to the central part of the membrane (30).