Abstract An ultrasonic probe apparatus configured to a patient's pelic anatomy and method of using same is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing (20) which has a straight portion (18) and curvilinear end portion (22) which has an outer surface (24) convexly configured, such as to describe an arc of a circle. Ultrasonic transducer means (28) are arrayed along the outer surface. Ultrasonic transmissions directed toward the prostate, or other area to be probed, along a plurality of transmission axes enable the apparatus to provide a field of view (B-B) of substantially all of the desired area. For prostate examination, the probe apparatus is oriented to face the prostate (P) after insertion into the pelvic anatomy and the ultrasonic transmissions are directed toward the prostate to provide the desired field of view (B-B) and image of the entire prostate.
An ultrasonic probe apparatus capable of imaging a patient's entire prostate comprising: a housing having a straight portion and a curvilinear end portion with an outer surface configured to describe an arc of a circle, said end portion being shaped to conform to a patient's pelvic anatomy and being adapted to be inserted thereinto so that the outer surface of said curvilinear end portion may be positioned to face the prostate, ultrasonic transducer means for generating arid receiving ultrasonic waves in a plurality of diverging transmission axes arrayed along said outer surface of said curvilinear end portion to a sufficient extent to enable said diverging ultrasonic transmissions to provide a field of view of the patient's substantially entire-prostate, thereby enabling a comprehensive image of the prostate to be obtained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic transducer means comprises curved array of 7.5 mH z center frequency with a 40-mm radius of curvature providing a 33-mm chord and a 60 ° angle of view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising biopsy probe means for obtaining a biopsy sample of prostate tissue and means to secure the biopsy probe to the straight portion of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said biopsy probe includes a biopsy needle and said biopsy probe is so aligned with respect to the housing of the ultrasonic probe apparatus that the needle may be inserted into the prostate while the ultrasonic probe apparatus is in place in the patient's pelvic anatomy to obtain a prostate tissue sample.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus comprising: a housing having a straight portion and a curvilinear end portion with an outer surface configured to describe an arc of a circle; said end portion being shaped to conform to a patient's pelvic anatomy and being adapted to be inserted thereinto so that the outer surface of said curvilinear end portion may be positioned to face the area to be examined; ultrasonic transducer means for generating and receiving ultrasonic waves in a plurality of diverging transmission axes arrayed along said outer surface of said curvilinear end portion to a sufficient extent to enable said diverging ultrasonic transmissions to provide a field of view of the entire area to be examined, thereby enabling a comprehensive image of the area to be obtained.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said ultrasonic transducer means comprises curved array of 7.5 mH z center frequency with a 40-mm radius of curvature providing a 33-mm chord and a 60 ° angle of view.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ultrasonic probe apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising biopsy probe means for obtaining a biopsy sample of tissue and means to secure the biopsy probe to the straight portion of the housing.