Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-27
2001-02-13
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S462000, C600S459000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186947
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe that is inserted into a body cavity for obtaining an ultrasonic cross-sectional image.
An intracavitary ultrasonic probe of an initial stage is designed such that ultrasonic oscillators are arranged on a line, and each of the ultrasonic oscillators transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in a direction perpendicular to that line.
A drawback encountered with this ultrasonic probe is that a range of ultrasonic wave scanning to obtain a sectional image is structurally restricted by the length of the ultrasonic oscillators arranged. Therefore, the increase of the ultrasonic wave scanning range to obtain a wider sectional image inevitably requires the ultrasonic oscillators to be arranged over the increased length, which makes it difficult to insert the probe into the body cavity.
To overcome this drawback associated with this ultrasonic probe, a sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe has been developed. The sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe has ultrasonic oscillators arrayed on an arcuate line so as to scan an area outside of and lateral to the tip of the insertion portion of the probe in a sector manner. Thus, the scanning range can be increased without the increase of the arrangement length of the ultrasonic oscillators.
In the sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe, the individual ultrasonic oscillators arrayed on the arcuate line and accommodated in the insertion portion of the probe, the insertion portion of the probe partially bulges out to present an arcuate, convex shape. Because of this shape, the probe is commonly called “a convex type”.
A problem with the ultrasonic probe of the convex type is that the partial bulge of the tip of the insertion portion increases its outside dimensions, thereby increasing the pain the patient may feel while the probe is inserted for inspection purposes.
Another problem is that the probe cannot be used with a small-diameter endoscope since its treatment tool insertion channel is too small in diameter to permit the passage of the bulging part of the probe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances and has as an object providing a sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe that can be formed in sufficiently small outside dimensions so that the pain that may be caused to the patient can be reduced as well as the probe can be used with a small-diameter endoscope as it is passed through the treatment tool insertion channel.
The stated object of the invention can be attained by a sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe having an array of ultrasonic oscillators provided at the tip of a cavity insertion portion for scanning a sectorial area lateral to said tip, characterized in that the individual ultrasonic oscillators of the array are inclined to be perpendicular to respective radial lines converging to a point located opposite from the sectional area with respect to the ultrasonic oscillators, and the individual ultrasonic oscillators are aligned straight in equidistant positions from the longitudinal axis of the tip of said insertion portion.
If desired, an inflatable balloon that encloses said array of ultrasonic oscillators may be detachably provided at the tip of said insertion portion.
Objective optics in an optical examining system may be provided at the tip of said insertion portion. In this case, said array of ultrasonic oscillators may perform ultrasonic scan in directions substantially parallel to the direction of examination by said optical examining system.
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. Hei. 10-213825 (filed on Jul. 29, 1998), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5050588 (1991-09-01), Grey et al.
patent: 5123404 (1992-06-01), Takayama
patent: 5687729 (1997-11-01), Schaetzle
patent: 5733244 (1998-03-01), Yasui et al.
patent: 3-2536 (1991-01-01), None
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Lateef Marvin M.
Patel Maulin
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