APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORWARD VOLUME IMAGING.

摘要

A scanning system that is forward looking that uses ultrasound for intraluminal imaging. A transducer that emits ultrasonic signals is nutatably mounted on the tip of a probe. The front mounted transducer enables intraluminal scanning of an oncoming area or volume as the probe moves to a selected position in a lumen or body cavity. Cables are used to nutate the transducer so as to provide spiral or raster scanning patterns. The cables are driven by programmable electromagnetic drives. Three dimensional images are then obtained from the reflected ultrasonic signals.