EP0509296A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Endoscopic ultrasound probe with take-up cable mechanism
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An endoscopic probe has a rotatable transducer array (12) for obtaining two-dimensional cross-sectional images of a subject along a variety of scan planes. The probe has a take-up mechanism (24, 26, 28, 29) comprising a flexible cable assembly (30) which electrically connects the array to remote ultrasound imaging system electronics. The flexible cable assembly is attached to the array (12) within a first volume (14) and is disposed in a second volume (34). As the array (12) rotates, the take-up mechanism (24, 26, 28, 29) produces changes in the amount of the flexible cable within the second volume (34) corresponding to changes in the amount of flexible cable within the first volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin K. Mason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5224; H02; H02G; H02G11/00; H02G11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An endoscopic probe comprising: a probe housing (11); a first volume (14) within the probe housing (11) supporting a rotatable transducer array (12); a second volume (34) within the probe housing (11); and a take-up mechanism (24, 26, 28, 29) located in the second volume (34) for a flexible cable (30) disposed within the second volume and connected to the transducer array (12) in the first volume (14), wherein as the transducer array (12) rotates the take-up mechanism (24, 26, 28, 29) produces changes in the amount of the flexible cable within the second volume (34) corresponding to changes in the amount of flexible cable within the first volume (14).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscopic ultrasound probe as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the amount of flexible cable within the first volume (14) is less than the amount of flexible cable within the second volume (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
An endoscopoc ultrasound probe for use with an ultrasound imaging system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said flexible cable (30) electrically connects the transducer array (12) to ultrasound imaging system electronics, the cable being attached to the transducer array (12) and having a first portion (42) within the first or inner volume (14), the cable further extending from the inner volume into the second or rear volume (34), the cable having a second portion (46) in the form of a spiral of variable diameter within the rear volume (34), the cable having a fixed section (48) within the spiral, the fixed section being coupled to the remote ultrasound electronics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An endoscopic ultrasound probe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3 in which the flexible cable (30) comprises a plurality of flex cables (30A - 30D), each flex cable comprising a printed circuit having a plurality of signal lines located thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
An endoscopic ultrasound probe for use with remote ultrasound electronics in two-dimensional transesophageal echo cardiography as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the rotatable transducer array (12) is supported within the inner volume (14) in the distal end of the probe housing (11), the transducer array has a scan plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the transducer array; the rear volume (34) within the probe housing (11) is adjacent to the inner volume (14); an attachment means (36) for the flexible cable (30) is located within the rear volume (34); and the flexible cable electrically connecting the array to the remote ultrasound electronics has a loop portion (42) disposed within the inner volume (14) and extending from the inner volume (14) into the rear volume (34), and a spiral portion (46) having an innermost section (48) fixed by the attachment means (36), the fixed section (48) of the spiral portion being coupled to the remote ultrasound electronics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscopic ultrasound probe as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the attachment means (36) comprises a clamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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