Automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes, and methods of using same

Claim 2

An automated longitudinal position translator for an ultrasonic imaging probe having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a probe drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; and a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; and mounting structures for mounting said probe drive module to said translation module to allow for relative pivotal movements between an automatically-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being coupled to said motor-driven translation module to effect said motor-driven longitudinal translation thereof, and a manually-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being longitudinally shifted manually; a pair of elongate guide rails; forward and rearward transverse support arms connected to and spanning the distance between said pair of elongate guide rails; wherein said probe drive module is slidably coupled to said pair of guide rails so as to be capable of reciprocal longitudinal displacements therealong between said forward and rearward transverse support arms; and wherein said probe drive module is pivotally movable between said automatically-operable condition and a manually-operable condition by pivotal movement of said forward and rearward transverse support arms about said one guide rail.

Claim 3

A position translator as in claim 1 wherein said linear translation module includes a pair of restraining posts adapted to contact respective ones of said forward and rearward transverse support arms in interference fit so as to releasably restrain said probe drive module in said automatically-operable condition.

Claim 6

An automated longitudinal position translator for an ultrasonic imaging probe having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a prove drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; wherein said ultrasound transducer subassembly of said ultrasonic imaging probe includes a flexible rotatable drive element disposed within a flexible guide catheter sheath, and wherein said probe drive unit includes: a longitudinally fixed but rotatable drive coupling capable of being fixedly attached to the proximal end of said rotatable drive member; and a longitudinally adjustable coupling which is longitudinally adjustable with respect to said rotatable drive coupling and which is capable of being fixedly attached to the proximal end of said guide catheter sheath, wherein said longitudinally adjustable coupling includes: a clamshell-hinged, barrel-shaped housing having a longitudinally extending slot; and a radially extending positioning arm coupled to said housing for longitudinal sliding movement within said slot and having a cavity formed therein for securely engaging the proximal end of said guide member or other members affixed to said guide member.

Claim 7

An automated longitudinal position translator for an ultrasonic imaging probe having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a prove drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; wherein said ultrasound transducer subassembly of said ultrasonic imaging probe includes a flexible rotatable drive element disposed within a flexible guide catheter sheath, and wherein said probe drive unit includes: a longitudinally fixed but rotatable drive coupling capable of being fixedly attached to the proximal end of said rotatable drive member; and a longitudinally adjustable coupling which is longitudinally adjustable with respect to said rotatable drive coupling and which is capable of being fixedly attached to the proximal end of said guide catheter sheath, wherein said longitudinally adjustable coupling includes: a clamshell-hinged, barrel-shaped housing having a longitudinally extending slot; and a radially extending positioning arm coupled to said housing for longitudinal sliding movement within said slot and having a cavity formed therein for securely engaging the proximal end of said guide member or other members affixed to said guide member.

Claim 8

A position translator as in claim 4 wherein said proximal end of said probe assembly includes a coupling member associated with said guide sheath, said positioning arm defines a cradle surface which is sized and configured to support said coupling member such that said coupling member and said positioning arm are movable as a unit between retracted and advanced positions.

Claim 9

A position translator as in claim 5 wherein said housing includes upper and lower housing sections coupled to one another for relative pivotal movements between open and closed conditions.

Claim 10

A position translator as in claim 6, wherein said lower housing section defines an inner bearing surface for supporting said positioning arm during movements thereof between said advanced and retracted positions, and wherein said upper bearing surface defines a surface for capturing said coupling member within said housing when said upper and lower housing sections are in said closed condition but permitting movement of said coupling member as a unit with said positioning arm.

Claim 11

A position translator as in claim 7, wherein said housing defines a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate movement of said positioning arm between said advanced and retracted positions.

Claim 12

A position translator as in claim 8, wherein said slot is defined by opposing edge regions associated with said upper and lower housing sections.

Claim 13

A position translator as in claim 7, wherein said positioning arm is pivotally coupled to said housing such that said positioning arm, said upper housing section, and said lower housing section are capable of independent relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis.

Claim 14

A position translator as in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a scale in operative association with said positioning arm, and wherein said positioning arm includes an indicator adjacent to said scale.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic imaging system capable of radial and longitudinal scanning of a vessel of the body comprising: a guide sheath capable of insertion within the body; an imaging probe comprising a transducer mounted at the distal end of a flexible drive shaft, said imaging probe slidably housed within the guide sheath; a rotational drive module capable of rotating the imaging probe within the guide sheath; a linear translation module capable of linearly translating the imaging probe within the guide sheath by translating the rotational drive module while maintaining the guide sheath in a fixed longitudinal position; said linear translation module being operably connected to the rotational drive module by means of a screw gear driven by the linear translation module; a first long guide rail fixed relative to the linear translation module and guide sheath, said guide rail being slidably coupled to the rotational drive module and serving to stabilize the rotational drive module while the rotational drive module is translated.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic imaging system capable of radial and longitudinal scanning of a vessel of the body comprising: a guide sheath capable of insertion within the body; an imaging probe comprising a transducer mounted at the distal end of a flexible drive shaft, said imaging probe slidably housed within the guide sheath; a rotational drive module capable of rotating the imaging probe within the guide sheath; a linear translation module capable of linearly translating the imaging probe within the guide sheath by translating the rotational drive module while maintaining the guide sheath in a fixed longitudinal position; said linear translation module being operably connected to the rotational drive module by means of a screw gear driven by the linear translation module; a first long guide rail fixed relative to the linear translation module and guide sheath, said guide rail being slidably coupled to the rotational drive module and serving to stabilize the rotational drive module while the rotational drive module is translated.

Claim 17

The ultrasonic imaging system of claim 12 further comprising a clutch means for operably connecting and disconnecting the rotational drive module from the linear translational module.

Claim 18

The ultrasonic imaging system of claim 12 further comprising a second long guide rail parallel to the first long guide rail and also slidably coupled to the rotational drive module thereby providing additional stability of the rotational drive module during translation thereof.

Claim 19

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a flexible drive shaft and distally located transducer comprising: a rotational drive motor and a rotational drive unit, said rotational drive unit operatively connecting said rotational device motor to the proximal end of the flexible drive shaft; a linear translation motor and a linear translation module, said linear translation module operatively connecting said linear drive motor to the rotational drive unit and being capable of linearly translating the rotational drive unit in a longitudinal direction relative to the axis of the imaging probe and at a continuous constant rate of linear translation, thereby imparting longitudinal linear translation to the ultrasonic imaging probe; at least one guide rail, upon which the rotational drive unit is slidably mounted, said guide rail serving to maintain the translation of the rotational drive unit in the longitudinal direction; an imaging probe guide sheath with its proximal end fixed in space relative to linear translation module, so that linear translation of the rotational drive unit and imaging probe will result in linear translation of the imaging probe within the guide sheath; an ultrasound transceiver operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer, said transceiver capable of sending and receiving signals to the ultrasound transducer while the transducer is simultaneously rotated by the rotational drive unit and translated by the linear translation module; and a signal processor capable of processing signals received from the transducer into three-dimensional visual representations on a video screen, said signal processor capable of processing all transducer signals received while the transducer is rotated and translated at constant rates.

Claim 20

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a flexible drive shaft and distally located transducer comprising: a rotational drive motor and a rotational drive unit, said rotational drive unit operatively connecting said rotational device motor to the proximal end of the flexible drive shaft; a linear translation motor and a linear translation module, said linear translation module operatively connecting said linear drive motor to the rotational drive unit and being capable of linearly translating the rotational drive unit in a longitudinal direction relative to the axis of the imaging probe and at a continuous constant rate of linear translation, thereby imparting longitudinal linear translation to the ultrasonic imaging probe; at least one guide rail, upon which the rotational drive unit is slidably mounted, said guide rail serving to maintain the translation of the rotational drive unit in the longitudinal direction; an imaging probe guide sheath with its proximal end fixed in space relative to linear translation module, so that linear translation of the rotational drive unit and imaging probe will result in linear translation of the imaging probe within the guide sheath; an ultrasound transceiver operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer, said transceiver capable of sending and receiving signals to the ultrasound transducer while the transducer is simultaneously rotated by the rotational drive unit and translated by the linear translation module; and a signal processor capable of processing signals received from the transducer into three-dimensional visual representations on a video screen, said signal processor capable of processing all transducer signals received while the transducer is rotated and translated at constant rates.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 comprising the additional steps of: slidably mounting the rotational device unit on a fixed guide rail; and providing a guide sheath around the imaging probe and fixing the longitudinal position of the guide sheath relative to the linear translation module so that the imaging probe translates within the guide sheath.

Claim 24

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a probe drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; and a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; and wherein said linear translation module includes a motor-driven screw, and wherein said probe drive module is threadably connectable to said motor-driven screw such that rotation of said screw in a selected direction causes said probe drive module to be longitudinally shifted relative to said linear translation module; and mounting structures for mounting said probe drive module to said translation module to allow said probe drive module to be moved between an automatically-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is threadably engaged with said motor-driven screw, and a manually-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is disengaged from said motor-driven screw.

Claim 25

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a probe drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; and a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; and wherein said linear translation module includes a motor-driven screw, and wherein said probe drive module is threadably connectable to said motor-driven screw such that rotation of said screw in a selected direction causes said probe drive module to be longitudinally shifted relative to said linear translation module; and mounting structures for mounting said probe drive module to said translation module to allow said probe drive module to be moved between an automatically-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is threadably engaged with said motor-driven screw, and a manually-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is disengaged from said motor-driven screw.

Claim 26

An intravascular probe assembly comprising: a guide sheath having proximal and distal extremities; a probe element disposed within said guide sheath for longitudinal movements towards and away from said distal extremity thereof; and a motor-driven linear translator adapted to being coupled operatively to said probe element and said guide sheath to effect motor-assisted longitudinal shifting of said probe element relative to said distal extremity of said guide sheath; and a probe positioning module to longitudinally position said probe element relative to said distal extremity of said guide sheath, said linear translator being coupled operatively to said probe positioning module to provide motor-driven longitudinal positioning of said probe element; and said linear translator including a motor-driven screw which is threadably engaged with said probe positioning module such that rotation of said motor-driven screw responsively longitudinally moves said probe positioning module which thereby in turn longitudinally shifts said probe element; and mounting structures for mounting said probe positioning module to said linear translator to allow said probe positioning module to be moved between two operable conditions, one of said operable conditions being whereby the probe positioning module is disengaged from said motor-driven screw to allow for manual longitudinal shifting of said probe element thereby.

Claim 27

An intravascular probe assembly comprising: a guide sheath having proximal and distal extremities; a probe element disposed within said guide sheath for longitudinal movements towards and away from said distal extremity thereof; and a motor-driven linear translator adapted to being coupled operatively to said probe element and said guide sheath to effect motor-assisted longitudinal shifting of said probe element relative to said distal extremity of said guide sheath; and a probe positioning module to longitudinally position said probe element relative to said distal extremity of said guide sheath, said linear translator being coupled operatively to said probe positioning module to provide motor-driven longitudinal positioning of said probe element; and said linear translator including a motor-driven screw which is threadably engaged with said probe positioning module such that rotation of said motor-driven screw responsively longitudinally moves said probe positioning module which thereby in turn longitudinally shifts said probe element; and mounting structures for mounting said probe positioning module to said linear translator to allow said probe positioning module to be moved between two operable conditions, one of said operable conditions being whereby the probe positioning module is disengaged from said motor-driven screw to allow for manual longitudinal shifting of said probe element thereby.

Claim 28

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a probe drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; and a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; and mounting structures for mounting said probe drive module to said translation module to allow for relative pivotal movements between an automatically-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being coupled to said motor-driven translation module to effect said motor-driven longitudinal translation thereof, and a manually-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being longitudinally shifted manually.

Claim 29

An automated longitudinal position translator for ultrasonic imaging probes having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly comprising: a probe drive module adapted to being operatively coupled to the imaging probe so as to allow for longitudinal shifting of the ultrasound transducer subassembly of the probe between spaced-apart positions; and a motor-driven linear translation module connectable to said probe drive module to effect motor-driven longitudinal translation of said probe drive module to thereby responsively longitudinally shift said ultrasound transducer subassembly; and mounting structures for mounting said probe drive module to said translation module to allow for relative pivotal movements between an automatically-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being coupled to said motor-driven translation module to effect said motor-driven longitudinal translation thereof, and a manually-operable condition wherein said probe drive module is capable of being longitudinally shifted manually.

Claim 30

A position translator as in claim 20, wherein said mounting structures include an elongate guide rail, and wherein said probe drive module is slidably and/or pivotally coupled to said guide rail.