Ultrasound probe

摘要

An ultrasound probe for cavity scanning of a body, comprising: an elongated rod-like member (101), with a longitudinal axis (102), configured to accommodate at its one end a first transducer (104). The first transducer (104) has a field of view (105a, 105b) established by acquiring an image along radial scan lines in a first image plane that coincides with the longitudinal axis (102). The field of view covers more than 15 degrees of scan lines at each side of its intersection with the longitudinal axis and more than 15 degrees of scan lines at each side of its intersection with a transverse axis (103) that lies in the first image plane and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The probe may comprise a first and second needle guide (203, 204) arranged to guide an instrument along a path (202, 201) which intersects with the first field of view (105), respectively.

主权项

1. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
an elongated member with a longitudinal axis and first and second opposing ends, wherein one of the opposing ends includes a circular arc with a depression between the circular arc and the other one of the opposing ends and the depression is contiguous with at least one end of the circular arc, and the depression extends along an axis which is transverse to a direction of the longitudinal axis; a first transducer array disposed along at least a sub-portion of the circular arc in the direction of the longitudinal axis, where the first transducer array has a first field of view established by acquiring a first image along radial lines in a first image plane, wherein the first image plane extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis projected from the one of the opposing ends, and wherein the first image plane extends from a first side of the circular arc and towards a second side of the circular arc opposing the first side of the circular arc; a second transducer array disposed in the depression in a direction of the transverse axis, where the second transducer has a second field of view established by acquiring a second image along radial lines in a second image plane, which extends in a transverse direction along the transverse axis relative to the first image plane and the longitudinal axis of the elongated member, and the second transducer array is a separate array relative to the first transducer array; and wherein the second transducer array is mechanically disposed in an inclined position in the depression at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis and towards the circular arc; a first needle guide configured to guide a first needle along a path which intersects with the first field of view and the transverse axis; and a second needle guide configured to guide a second needle along a path which intersects with the first field of view, wherein the first needle guide is arranged to guide the first needle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and where the second needle guide is arranged to guide the second needle in a direction along the elongated member, and wherein the elongated member has a shape that is configured for mechanical interconnection with the probe and to match a recess of the probe so as to provide a combination of the assembly and probe, when interconnected, that can be circumscribed by a cylinder that covers at least a portion of the length of the elongated member and has a diameter that is within the range of 12 to 30 millimeters.