Endoscopic probe, device and associated method

摘要

For the purpose of simultaneous endoscopic and ultrasonic imaging of internal body parts, a probe which can be inserted into a body cavity has a rectilinear transducer arrangement which is acoustically coupled to the body. A hose of the endoscope having a flexible section near the probe connects the latter to a housing from which the bending of the hose section can be controlled. A pulse-controlled ultrasonic imaging system of the transducer arrangement operates using B scanning. The individual elements of the transducer arrangement are connected by coaxial cable inside the hose. An electronic beam focusing and scanning unit for the rectilinear B scanning is located next to the probe. A visual display is used to visualise the ultrasonic imaging of the B scanning receiver. For the purpose of optical viewing of inner body parts by the use of the probe, an illuminating and observing system has an objective lens and a source of illumination near the distal ends of the probe and the transducer arrangement. A detachable eyepiece on the housing is used for direct observation during insertion of the probe into the body cavity.