US4605009A — Ultrasonic sweep echography and display endoscopi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 257 words

An endoscopic probe system for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising an endoscope insertable into a body organ and including an elongated flexible tubular member having an axis, a rigid end section having a lateral wall and connected to a distal end of said tubular member, and mechanical control means to said tubular member for adjusting the angular position of said end section with respect to said axis, an optical system for use in visually viewing said body organ in a predetermined field of view including lens means secured to said lateral wall of said end section, optical light carrying and image return means located within and along said flexible tubular member from said distal end to a proximal end thereof, and viewing means located outside of said flexible tubular member and connected to said optical means at said proximal end, and a ultrasonic imaging system for use in providing a display of said body organ in an angular field having an overlap with said predetermined field of view, said ultrasonic imaging system having a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements fixed to said lateral wall of said end section, the convexity of said array being directed outwardly of said end section, electronic circuit means operatively associated with said transducer elements and arranged for operating said piezoelectric elements according to a predetermined sector scanning sequence for sweeping said angular field with a focussed ultrasonic beam and display means connected to said electronic means and providing a visual image of said body organ.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 257 words

An endoscopic probe system for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising an endoscope insertable into a body organ and including an elongated flexible tubular member having an axis, a rigid end section having a lateral wall and connected to a distal end of said tubular member, and mechanical control means to said tubular member for adjusting the angular position of said end section with respect to said axis, an optical system for use in visually viewing said body organ in a predetermined field of view including lens means secured to said lateral wall of said end section, optical light carrying and image return means located within and along said flexible tubular member from said distal end to a proximal end thereof, and viewing means located outside of said flexible tubular member and connected to said optical means at said proximal end, and a ultrasonic imaging system for use in providing a display of said body organ in an angular field having an overlap with said predetermined field of view, said ultrasonic imaging system having a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements fixed to said lateral wall of said end section, the convexity of said array being directed outwardly of said end section, electronic circuit means operatively associated with said transducer elements and arranged for operating said piezoelectric elements according to a predetermined sector scanning sequence for sweeping said angular field with a focussed ultrasonic beam and display means connected to said electronic means and providing a visual image of said body organ.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A probe system according to claim 1 wherein said linear array consists of a single line of piezoelectric elements disposed for sec tor scan in a plane passing through said axis of said end section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A probe system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit means comprises phase shift means and switching means for providing electronic scan by energizing successive groups of said transducer elements and for focusing at a predetermined distance from the array.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

A probe system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit means further comprises means for modifying the phase and/or delay distribution during successive ultrasonic bursts from a same group of piezoelectric transducer elements, so as to provide scanning both along first lines normal to the array and along additional lines at an angle with said first lines.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

A probe according to claim 1, wherein said end section contains a printed circuit and electrical junction wires connecting said circuit to said piezoelectric elements and said tubular member contains miniature coaxial cables connecting said circuit to an electronic control box connected to a proximal end of the tubular member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

A probe according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises a convex acoustic lens for focusing in a direction transverse to a plane of symmetry of the probe, formed from a material in which the propagation speed of the ultra sounds is less than that in biological tissues.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 227 words

An endoscope probe for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular member of substantially circular cross section about an axis, having a proximal end and a distal end. a rigid end section having a front end and having a rear end secured to said distal end of said tubular member, having a shape elongated in a direction extending in the direction of of said axis in the distal end portion of said tubular member, a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements extending along said end section for directing and receiving ultrasonic pulses in an angular field transverse to said direction as focussed beams, an electronic circuit board located within said end section, individually connected to said transducer elements, electric line means connected to said electronic circuit board, extending along and within said tubular member for connection to remote scanning and display means. and light carrying and image return means including light carrying and image return lines located within and along said flexible tubular member and lens means inside a portion of a wall of said tubular member at the distal end thereof, said portion being so slanted with respect to said axis that said light carrying and image return means illuminate and provide a visual display in a sector field of view having an overlap with said angular field.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 227 words

An endoscope probe for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular member of substantially circular cross section about an axis, having a proximal end and a distal end. a rigid end section having a front end and having a rear end secured to said distal end of said tubular member, having a shape elongated in a direction extending in the direction of of said axis in the distal end portion of said tubular member, a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements extending along said end section for directing and receiving ultrasonic pulses in an angular field transverse to said direction as focussed beams, an electronic circuit board located within said end section, individually connected to said transducer elements, electric line means connected to said electronic circuit board, extending along and within said tubular member for connection to remote scanning and display means. and light carrying and image return means including light carrying and image return lines located within and along said flexible tubular member and lens means inside a portion of a wall of said tubular member at the distal end thereof, said portion being so slanted with respect to said axis that said light carrying and image return means illuminate and provide a visual display in a sector field of view having an overlap with said angular field.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 180 words

An endoscopic probe for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising: a first module having an elongated flexible sheath having a proximal and a distal end and connected at the distal end thereof to a rear end of a rigid end section for insertion into an internal body organ, a second module comprising an elongated flexible tubular member of substantially circular cross section about an axis, constructed and arranged for insertion within said sheath into abutment with said rear end, a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements extending along said end section for directing and receiving ultrasonic pulses in an angular field transverse to the direction of elongation as focussed beams. and light carrying and image return means comprising light reflecting means formed within said end section between said transducer array and said rear end, constructed and arranged for cooperation with lens means formed in an end surface of said second module for illuminating and providing an image of a sector field of view having an overlap with the angular field of said curved linear array.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 180 words

An endoscopic probe for simultaneous visual and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, comprising: a first module having an elongated flexible sheath having a proximal and a distal end and connected at the distal end thereof to a rear end of a rigid end section for insertion into an internal body organ, a second module comprising an elongated flexible tubular member of substantially circular cross section about an axis, constructed and arranged for insertion within said sheath into abutment with said rear end, a curved linear array of piezoelectric transducer elements extending along said end section for directing and receiving ultrasonic pulses in an angular field transverse to the direction of elongation as focussed beams. and light carrying and image return means comprising light reflecting means formed within said end section between said transducer array and said rear end, constructed and arranged for cooperation with lens means formed in an end surface of said second module for illuminating and providing an image of a sector field of view having an overlap with the angular field of said curved linear array.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-08-11	1990-02-10	1990-08-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-08-11	1994-02-10	1994-08-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-08-11	1998-02-10	1998-08-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ultrasonic sweep echography and display endoscopic probe

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