Patent EP0754429A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0754429A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic endoscopic probe
Assignee: Advanced Technology Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic endoscopic probe is provided with an articulating distal tip (14) at which an ultrasonic transducer (130) is located. The articulating section (30) of the probe can be locked in an articulated position by a lock control (28,28') located at a control section (10) of the probe. The locking force is variably selectable by the user, so that the articulating section (30) will be locked in position by a desired force. The articulating section (30) is controlled by cables (74,76,129), which include cable tension adjustments (70a,70b) that also serve to delimit the range of articulation. The articulating section (30) is formed of alternating pivot rings (120) with intervening polymeric pivot beads (106), which provide repetitively smooth articulation. The ultrasonic transducer (130) is rotatable to steer the acoustic scan plane during use, and a sliding membrane (164) between the transducer (130) and its acoustic window (162) allows the transducer (130) to rotate smoothly without sticking.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul T. Dunham
- 👤 Tracy C. Brechbiel
- 👤 Calvin R. Zimmerman
- 👤 Frank Bentley Oaks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and an articulating distal end at which an ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: a user adjustable control mechanism, located at said control section and coupled to said distal end, for adjusting the articulation of said distal end; a braking mechanism, located at said control section and coupled to said control mechanism, for applying a braking force to said control mechanism to lock said articulating distal end in an articulating condition; and wherein said braking mechanism further includes means for applying different user selectable degrees of braking force to said control mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 1, wherein said means for applying different user selectable degrees of braking force comprises means for applying a braking force over a continuously variable range of braking forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 2, wherein said means for applying a braking force over a continuously variable range of braking forces includes a thumbwheel control.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 1, wherein said means for applying different user selectable degrees of braking force comprises means for applying one of a finite number of discrete braking forces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 4, wherein said means for applying one of a finite number of discrete braking forces includes a detent mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 5, wherein said detent mechanism includes a plurality of cam surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 6, wherein said detent mechanism includes a step cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 6, wherein said detent mechanism further includes a cam follower which is adjustable by the user to ride on one of said cam surfaces for applying one of a finite number of discrete braking forces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 8, wherein said cam follower is pivotably mounted to apply different degrees of braking forces to said control mechanism when riding on different ones of said cam surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 1, further comprising a warning indicator, coupled to said braking mechanism, for providing an indication when said articulating distal end is locked.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and an articulating distal end at which an ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: a user adjustable control mechanism, coupled to said distal end, and including a rotating member for adjusting the articulation of said distal end; a braking mechanism, located at said control section and coupled to said control mechanism, for applying a braking force to said rotating member of said control mechanism to lock said articulating distal end in an articulating condition, wherein said braking mechanism includes a surface contacting said rotating member which is made of a different material from that of said rotating member to prevent seizing of said rotating member when engaged with a braking force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 11, wherein said rotating member is metallic and wherein said braking mechanism contacting surface is made of a polymeric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and an articulating distal end at which an ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: a cable, coupled between said control section and said distal end, for adjusting the articulation of said distal end; a cable adjuster, connected to said cable, for adjusting the tension of said cable; and an articulation adjustment end stop which is engaged by said cable adjuster at an end of the range of articulation adjustment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 13, wherein said cable adjuster includes threaded male and female parts, with one of said parts serving as a bumper which engages said end stop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 13, wherein said end stop further comprises a cable guide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and an articulating distal end at which an ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: a cable, coupled between said control section and said distal end, for adjusting the articulation of said distal end; a cable conduit through which said cable passes and having a proximal end; and a spring loaded mechanism engaged by said proximal end of said cable conduit for absorbing the application of a sudden force to said articulating distal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 16, wherein said spring loaded mechanism includes a sleeve member which engages said proximal end of said cable conduit, and a spring surrounding said sleeve member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and an articulating distal end at which an ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: an articulating section, located at said distal end of said probe, and including a plurality of pivot rings, said pivot rings pivotable with respect to each other at pairs of pivot beads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 18, further comprising an articulation control cable extending through said pivot beads and said pivot rings for controlling the articulation of said articulating section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 19, wherein said pivot rings include apertures for engaging said pivot beads.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 19, wherein said pivot rings include conical apertures through which said control cable passes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 18, wherein said pivot rings are made of a metallic material and said pivot beads are made of a polymeric material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ultrasonic endoscopic probe including a control section and a distal end at which a rotatable ultrasonic transducer is located, comprising: a compartment in which said ultrasonic transducer is rotatably mounted; a cover which covers the ultrasonic transducer and through which acoustic energy is received by the transducer; an acoustic coupling material, located in said compartment, for coupling ultrasonic energy between said transducer and said cover; and a sliding member, located between said transducer and said cover, which enables said transducer to rotate without sticking to said cover.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 23, wherein said sliding member comprises a polymeric membrane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 23, further comprising an acoustic lens, attached to the surface of said transducer between said transducer and said cover, wherein said sliding member is located between said acoustic lens and said cover.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 25, wherein said sliding member adheres to said acoustic lens while sliding against said cover.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 26, wherein said acoustic lens comprises an RTV compound and said sliding member comprises a Mylar membrane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ultrasonic endoscopic probe of Claim 26, wherein the surface of said acoustic lens which faces said cover is dome shaped, and wherein said sliding member exhibits the shape of a contact lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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