ULTRASOUND PROBE SUPPORT AND STEPPING DEVICE

摘要

This invention is a trans-rectal ultrasound probe support and stepping device (10) for supporting and facilitating accurate positioning both linearly and rotationally about a longitudinal axis with respect to the probe during brachy-therapy for prostate cancer. The device (10) includes a probe mount (12) connected and held for rotation only within a carriage (14). The carriage (14) is connected for sliding longitudinal linear movement, and is controlled by a stepper device which precisely positions and maintains each selected new lineal position of the carriage along the stepper (10). A grid mount (18) connected at one end of the stepper (10) supports, receives and secures a template grid (70) in a precisely determined orientation with respect to the probe mount (12) for accurate placement of radioactive seeds into the cancerous prostate. The probe mount (12) is fully rotatably through about 180 degrees or about 90 degrees in either direction from a central detent orientation.