EP0184337A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steerable doppler transducer probes
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson Ultrasound Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-11-07
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic diagnostic probe is provided which performs simultaneous ultrasonic imaging and Doppler flow measurement. The Doppler transducer (32) is mounted for rotation by a mechanical assembly, which permits the Doppler beam (130) to be steered during imaging to the point in the body where a flow measurement is to be taken. As the Doppler transducer (32) is rotated, a variable impedance device (80) within the probe is adjusted in correspondence with the transducer rotation so as to provide an indication signal of the direction in which the Doppler beam (130) is being directed.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Francis Fidel
- 👤 David L. Greenwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:27
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; G10K11/355; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe which is capable of performing ultrasonic imaging and Doppler measurement, comprising: a hollow case having an acoustic window which passes ultrasonic energy; an imaging transducer, located in said hollow case, and oriented to direct ultrasonic energy through said acoustic window toward an area which is to be imaged; a Doppler transducer, located in said hollow case, and movably oriented to direct Doppler signals through said acoustic window toward said imaged area; means for controllably moving said Doppler transducer to select one of a plurality of axes in said imaged area along which said Doppler signals are to be directed; and means, responsive to said means for moving, and providing an indication signal for identifying said selected axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe which is capable of performing ultrasonic imaging and Doppler measurement, comprising: a hollow case having an acoustic window which passes ultrasonic energy; an imaging transducer, located in said hollow case, and oriented to direct ultrasonic energy through said acoustic window toward an area which is to be imaged; a Doppler transducer, located in said hollow case, and movably oriented to direct Doppler signals through said acoustic window toward said imaged area; means for controllably moving said Doppler transducer to select one of a plurality of axes in said imaged area along which said Doppler signals are to be directed; and means, responsive to said means for moving, and providing an indication signal for identifying said selected axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 1, wherein said means for controllably moving comprises a manually actuated mechanical assembly, located in said hollow case and connected to said Doppler transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 2, wherein said mechanical assembly is capable of pivoting said Doppler transducer through an arc by pivoting said Doppler transducer about a point located between said Doppler transducer and said imaged area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said means for identifying includes a potentiometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a fluid chamber, located within said hollow case, and surrounding said Doppler transducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic prote of Claim 5, wherein said moving means includes a motive member passing hrough a wall of said fluid chamber and mechanically connected to said Doppler transducer; and a cam, located within said hollow case and outside said fluid chamber, ardin contact with said motive member, wherein movement of said cam causes said Doppler transducer to move in a controlled manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 6, further comprising a thumbwheel, connected to said cam, for turning said cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 6, further comprising a motor, connected to said cam, for turning said cam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein said identifying means includes a potentiometer, connected to said cam, wherein the setting of said potentiometer varies in response to movement by said cam
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The ultrasonic transducer probe of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said moving means further includes: a pivoting arm, located within said fluid chamber, and having a first end connected to said Doppler transducer and a second end connected to said motive member, wherein movement of said motive member moves said Doppler transducer by pivoting said arm about a pivot point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ultrasonic transducer probe of Claim 10, wherein said moving means further includes: a second pivoting arm, located within said fluid chamber, and having a first end connected to said Doppler transducer.and a second end, wherein said pivoting arms cooperate to permit said Doppler transducer to be moved through an arc centered about a point located between said Doppler transducer and said imaged area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic transducer probe of Claim 11, wherein said moving means further includes a spring, in contact with said second end of said second pivoting arm, for spring-loading said moving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic transducer probe of any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein, said motive member comprises a tube, passing through a seal in said fluid chamber wall, and pivotally mounted in the proximity of said wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe which is capable of performing ultrasonic imaging and Doppler measurement, comprising: a hollow case; imaging transducer means, located in said case, for producing a two-dimensional image of a region being imaged; Doppler transducer means, located in said case, for directing a beam of Doppler ultrasound toward said region being imaged; means for controllably moving said Doppler transducer to select one of a plurality of axes along which said beam of ultrasound is to be directed; and means, responsive to said controllably moving means, for developing an indication signal of the selected axis, wherein said selected axis is displayed in said two-dimensional image in response to said indication signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe which is capable of performing ultrasonic imaging and Doppler measurement, comprising: a hollow case; imaging transducer means, located in said case, for producing a two-dimensional image of a region being imaged; Doppler transducer means, located in said case, for directing a beam of Doppler ultrasound toward said region being imaged; means for controllably moving said Doppler transducer to select one of a plurality of axes along which said beam of ultrasound is to be directed; and means, responsive to said controllably moving means, for developing an indication signal of the selected axis, wherein said selected axis is displayed in said two-dimensional image in response to said indication signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 14, further comprising a fluid chamber, located within a portion of said hollow case, wherein said Doppler transducer means is located within said fluid chamber, and said imaging transducer means is located external to said fluid chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said means for controllably moving comprises a mechanical assembly, connected to said transducer, for mechanically adjusting the orientation of said Doppler transducer toward said region being imaged; and wherein said indication signal developing means comprises variable, impedance means, coupled to said mechanical assembly, for exhibiting an impedance which is representative of the orientation of said Doppler transducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe for ultrasonic imaging and Doppler flow measurement, comprising: a hollow case a fluid chamber located within a portion of said case; imaging transducer means, located in said case external to said fluid chamber, for producing a two-dimensional image of a region of a patient's body; Doppler transducer means, rotatably mounted within said fluid chamber, for controllably directing a Doppler ultrasound signal along one of a plurality of arcuately dispersed axes in said region being imaged; and means, responsive to said Doppler transducer means, for producing an indication signal representative of the axis along which said Doppler ultrasound signal is directed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic probe for ultrasonic imaging and Doppler flow measurement, comprising: a hollow case a fluid chamber located within a portion of said case; imaging transducer means, located in said case external to said fluid chamber, for producing a two-dimensional image of a region of a patient's body; Doppler transducer means, rotatably mounted within said fluid chamber, for controllably directing a Doppler ultrasound signal along one of a plurality of arcuately dispersed axes in said region being imaged; and means, responsive to said Doppler transducer means, for producing an indication signal representative of the axis along which said Doppler ultrasound signal is directed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic probe of Claim 17, wherein said axis along which said Doppler ultrasound signal is directed is simultaneously displayed in said two-dimensional image in response to said indication signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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