| 摘要 |
<p>An ultrasonic transducer orientation sensing and display apparatus (10), and related method, for use in providing an accurate representation of the orientation of an ultrasonic transducer's (12) imaging plane. The orientation sensing and display apparatus (10) includes an ultrasonic transducer (12) having an integral orientation sensor (14), a processor (16), and a display (18). The representation of the imaging plane as indicated on the display (18) is based on electrical signals generated by the orientation sensor (14). The ultrasonic transducer (12), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is integrated near the distal end or tip (24) of an elongated tube (26) of a laparoscopic instrument (28) used for ultrasonic imaging. The orientation sensor (14) is a biaxial gravitational sensor (54), composed of two orthogonal sensing toroids (56) to sense rotation about any axis lying in a horizontal plane. Each sensing toroid (56) has a hollow tubular shape that contains a gravity indicator (58) that is free to move within the respective sensing toroid (56) for measuring rotation about an axis through the toroid's center. Gravity causes each gravity indicator (58) to migrate to the lowest portion of the respective toroid (56). The orientation also can include a permanent magnet (130) thus providing a tri-axial sensor.</p> |
