US2006241417A1PendingUtilityA1

Transesophageal ultrasound probe having a rotating endoscope shaft

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 14, 2001Filed: Mar 17, 2006Published: Oct 26, 2006
Est. expiryMar 14, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Stephen EdwardsenDag Jordfald
A61B 8/12A61B 1/00183A61B 8/4461A61B 1/00177A61B 1/273A61B 1/00042
48
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Claims

Abstract

A transesophageal ultrasound probe 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 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. 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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An internal imaging probe including: 
 a control handle;    a rotating endoscope shaft, wherein said rotating endoscope shaft protrudes from said control handle;    an imaging element attached to said rotating endoscope shaft; and    a rotation control operable to rotate said imaging element relative to said control handle about an axis that is common to both said rotating endoscope shaft and said control handle.    
     
     
         2 . The probe of  claim 1 , further including a braking mechanism, wherein said braking mechanism may lock said rotating endoscope shaft into a rotated position.  
     
     
         3 . The probe of  claim 1 , further including a screw, wherein said screw restricts rotation of said rotating endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein said probe is a transesophageal echocardiography probe.  
     
     
         5 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein said rotation control includes a rotation control wheel.  
     
     
         6 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         7 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         8 . An internal imaging probe including: 
 a control handle;    an imaging element; and    a rotation control operable to rotate said imaging element relative to said control handle about a longitudinal axis of said control handle.    
     
     
         9 . The probe of  claim 8 , further including a rotating endoscope shaft protruding from said control handle, wherein said imaging element is attached to said rotating endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The probe of  claim 9 , further including a braking mechanism, wherein said braking mechanism may lock said rotating endoscope shaft into a rotated position.  
     
     
         11 . The probe of  claim 9 , further including a screw, wherein said screw restricts rotation of said rotating endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The probe of  claim 8 , wherein said probe is a transesophageal echocardiography probe.  
     
     
         13 . The probe of  claim 8 , wherein said rotation control includes a rotation control wheel.  
     
     
         14 . The probe of  claim 8 , wherein said imaging element is a transducer.  
     
     
         15 . The probe of  claim 8 , wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.  
     
     
         16 . An internal imaging probe including: 
 a control handle; and    an imaging element, wherein said imaging element is configured to rotate relative to said control handle about a longitudinal axis of said control handle.    
     
     
         17 . The probe of  claim 16 , further including a rotating endoscope shaft protruding from said control handle, wherein said imaging element is attached to said rotating endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The probe of  claim 17 , further including a braking mechanism, wherein said braking mechanism may lock said rotating endoscope shaft into a rotated position.  
     
     
         19 . The probe of  claim 17 , further including a screw, wherein said screw restricts rotation of said rotating endoscope shaft.  
     
     
         20 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein said control handle includes imaging controls for controlling said imaging element.

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