ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF INTERNAL ORGANS THROUGH GASTROINTESTINAL WALL

摘要

The present invention is a method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging of internal organs near a stomach of a patient. The imaging device (100) of the present invention includes a probe (120) having a head (140), a body (115), and an end opposite the head (140). An ultrasonic transducer (180) is coupled to the head (140) of the probe (120), and a gel material (220) covers the ultrasonic transducer (180) to enable a good contact with a stomach wall portion. The imaging device has a substantially rigid body through the use of a substantially rigid sheath or a sheath (110), and a substantially rigid rod. The imaging device also includes a handle (155) near the end of the probe (120) for manipulating the location, positioning of the ultrasonic transducer to ultrasonically image the tissue, and/or organ of interest.