Ultrasonic probe

Details Ultrasonic probe Ultrasonic probe

1994-01-28

1995-05-30

Manuel, George

Surgery

Truss

Pad

A61B 812

Patent

active

054193346

ABSTRACT:
An ultrasonic probe for observing an object by emitting an ultrasonic wave to the object and detecting another ultrasonic wave reflected from the object comprises: a flexible tube; an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the tube rotatably about an axial center of the tube; and a rotational information detecting apparatus for detecting rotational information of the ultrasonic transducer which includes: a signal generating surface disposed in the tube coaxially with respect to the axial center of the tube and having reflecting portions and non-reflecting portions formed alternately and repeatedly; at least one optical fiber arranged along and near the axial center of the tube, for guiding a light beam to be irradiated upon the signal generating surface from an end surface of the optical fiber and for receiving and guiding an optical signal reflected from the signal generating surface at the end surface thereof; and an optical signal detecting section for detecting the rotational information on the basis of the optical signal guided through the optical fiber. Since the optical fiber for guiding a light beam to be irradiated upon the signal generating surface and further the optical signal reflected from the signal generating surface is disposed in the vicinity of the axial center of the tube, even when the ultrasonic probe is bent, it is possible to reduce the expansion and contraction rate of the optical fiber to such a small range as with the case where the optical fiber is bent at the axial center, thus preventing the optical fiber from being damaged or cut off and improving the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4391282 (1983-07-01), Ando et al.
patent: 4887605 (1989-12-01), Angelsen et al.
patent: 5020539 (1991-06-01), Yokoi et al.
patent: 5181514 (1993-01-01), Solomon et al.

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