Transesophageal ultrasound probe having a rotating endoscope shaft

Abstract

A transesophageal ultrasound probe is provided for imaging internal structures via an imaging element located on the distal end of a rotating endoscope shaft. The probe includes a rotating endoscope having an imaging element, such as a transducer, mounted on the distal end of the rotating endoscope shaft. The probe also includes a control handle for controlling the imaging controls and a rotation tube that extends through the rotating endoscope shaft and into the control handle. The rotating shaft rotates relative to, and independently of, the control handle. Preferably, the rotating shaft is rotated via a rotation control wheel located at the distal end of the control handle. The rotation control wheel is fastened or bonded to the rotating tube so that manual rotation of the control wheel causes the rotation tube to rotate, and therefore, the rotating shaft to rotate. Because the rotating endoscope shaft rotates, an imaging element located on, or within, the rotating shaft also rotates. The rotating shaft may also be set in a locked position so that the rotating shaft may be configured, or preset, to various rotated positions. Alternatively, the rotation of the rotating endoscope shaft may be fully automated. By including a motor fixed to a fixed portion of the shaft, or to the control handle. The motor also includes a driving cog wheel, or gear system, that operatively engages a driven cog wheel, or gear system, attached to a rotating portion of the shaft. The rotation of the rotating shaft may then be controlled by levers, potentiometers, or other such devices located on the control handle.

1 . An internal imaging probe including: a rotating shaft having an imaging element and a rotation control; and a control handle, said rotation control for rotating said imaging element relative to said control handle.  
     
     
         2 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein said probe is a transesophageal echocardiography probe.  
     
     
         3 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein said rotation control includes a rotation control wheel.  
     
     
         4 . The probe of  claim 1  further including: 
 a rotating tube extending through said rotating shaft into said control handle; and  
 a rotation control wheel, wherein said rotation control wheel is fastened to said rotating tube.  
 
     
     
         5 . The probe of  claim 4  further including at least one washer located between said rotating tube and said control handle for decreasing friction between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         6 . The probe of  claim 4  further including at least one O-ring forming a seal between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         7 . The probe of  claim 1  further including: 
 a fixed endoscope shaft;  
 a rotating shaft;  
 a motor fixed to said fixed endoscope shaft;  
 a driving cog wheel attached to said motor; and  
 a driven cog wheel attached to said rotating shaft,  
 said driving cog wheel operatively engaging said driven cog wheel to rotate said rotating shaft relative to said control handle.  
 
     
     
         8 . The probe of  claim 7  further including a bearing for decreasing the friction between said fixed endoscope shaft and said rotating shaft.  
     
     
         9 . The probe of  claim 7  further including an O-ring forming a seal between said rotating shaft and said fixed endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         11 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         12 . The probe of  claim 1  further including a braking mechanism, wherein said braking mechanism may lock said rotating shaft into a rotated position.  
     
     
         13 . A medical imaging system including a probe for imaging internal structures of a patient, said probe including: 
 a rotating shaft having an imaging element and a rotation control; and    a control handle, said rotation control for rotating said imaging element relative to said control handle.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said probe is a transesophageal echocardiography probe.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said rotation control includes a rotation control wheel.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  further including: 
 a rotating tube extending through said rotating shaft into said control handle; and  
 a rotation control wheel, wherein said rotation control wheel is fastened to said rotating tube.  
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further including at least one washer located between said rotating tube and said control handle for decreasing friction between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further including an O-ring forming a seal between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further including: 
 a fixed endoscope shaft;  
 a rotating endoscope shaft,  
 a motor fixed to said fixed endscope shaft;  
 a driving cog wheel attached to said motor; and  
 a driven cog wheel attached to said rotating shaft,  
 said driving cog wheel operatively engaging said driven cog wheel to rotate said rotating shaft relative to said fixed endoscope shaft.  
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further including a bearing for decreasing the friction between said control handle and said fixed endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  further including an O-ring forming a seal between said rotating shaft and said fixed endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said rotating shaft may be locked in a preconfigured rotated position.  
     
     
         25 . A system for imaging internal structures of a patient including an internal imaging probe including: 
 a rotating shaft having an imaging element and a rotation control;    a control handle connected to said rotating shaft, said rotation control located at the distal end of said control handle, and said rotation control operable to rotate said imaging element relative to said control handle.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said probe is a transesophageal echocardography probe.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  further including at least one washer located between said rotating tube and said control handle for decreasing the friction between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  further including an O-ring forming a seal between said rotating tube and said control handle.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  further including a braking mechanism, said braking mechanism including: 
 a brake;  
 a brake handle threadably fastened to said brake; and  
 a brake limit restricting said brake handle, said brake handle rotating to linearly move said brake towards said rotation control.  
 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25  further including a braking mechanism having a screw, said braking mechanism threading said screw into a rotation tube of said rotating shaft to restrict the rotation of said rotating shaft.  
     
     
         33 . An internal imaging system including: 
 a rotating shaft having an imaging element;    a fixed endoscope shaft;    a motor fixed to said fixed endscope shaft;    a driving cog wheel attached to said motor; and    a driven cog wheel attached to said rotating shaft, said driving cog wheel operatively engaging said driven cog wheel to rotate said rotating shaft relative to said fixed endoscope shaft.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  further including a bearing located between said fixed endoscope shaft and said rotating shaft for decreasing the friction between said fixed endoscope shaft and said rotating shaft.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33  further including an O-ring forming a seal between said rotating shaft and said control handle.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         38 . In a probe including a control handle and an imaging element, a method for positioning the imaging element of said probe relative to said control handle including the step of rotating said imaging element relative to said control handle.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  further including the step of imaging an internal structure via said imaging element.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said rotating step includes rotating said imaging element to image an internal structure from a different perspective.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said rotating step includes rotating said imaging element to image a different internal structure.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said rotating step includes rotating said imaging element relative to said control handle for optimal comfort.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said rotating step includes the step of rotating an imaging element located on a distal end of a rotating endoscope shaft relative to said control handle.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further including the step of rotating said rotating endoscope shaft via a rotation control.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said rotating step includes rotating said imaging element automatically via a motor attached to said control handle.