Probe support apparatus

Abstract

Employed is a probe support apparatus having: a base stand; an arm connected to an upper end of the base stand so that the arm can be tilted and rotated in a horizontal direction; and a probe support section connected to a distal end of the arm at a side opposite that of a portion connected to the base stand. The probe support section is constituted by a deformable section and a non-deformable section, and the non-deformable section is connected to a distal end of the arm so that the non-deformable section can rotate about an axis parallel to a rotation axis about which the arm is tilted.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A photoacoustic probe support apparatus comprising:
 an arm configured to be connected to a base stand in a circumferentially rotatable manner and a vertically tiltable manner;   a probe support member having a non-deformable section connected to said arm and a deformable section connected to said non-deformable section and configured to be secured to a probe; and   an optical fiber extending along the probe support member and configured to be optically connected to the probe,   wherein said deformable section has an internal tubular space such through which said optical fiber may be inserted.   
     
     
         3 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising the probe,
 wherein said probe is connected to a distal end of said deformable section on a side opposite that of a portion connected to said non-deformable section.   
     
     
         4 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said non-deformable section has an alternative internal tubular space through which said optical fiber may be inserted. 
     
     
         5 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said arm has an another internal tubular space through which said optical fiber may be inserted. 
     
     
         6 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said probe has a light irradiating portion optically connected to said optical fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical cable connected to said probe,
 wherein said electrical cable is inserted through said internal tubular space and configured to be connected to said probe after insertion of said cable therethrough.   
     
     
         8 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said probe has a transducer electrically connected to said electrical cable. 
     
     
         9 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said non-deformable section is connected to a distal end of said arm so that said non-deformable section can rotate about an axis parallel to a rotation axis about which said arm is tilted, and
 said rotation axis has a vertical rotation axis extending vertically.   
     
     
         10 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising the base stand. 
     
     
         11 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a horizontal rotation member having a circumferential rotation axis extending vertically, configured to rotate circumferentially with respect to said base stand and connected to said base stand; and   a tilting-rotation member having a tilt axis extending in a horizontal direction, configured to tilt with respect to said base stand and connected to said horizontal rotation member,   wherein said arm is connected to said base stand via said horizontal rotation member and said tilting-rotation member so as to rotate circumferentially in a horizontal direction and tilt in a vertical plane.   
     
     
         12 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said base stand includes a receive portion configured to receive said horizontal rotation member. 
     
     
         13 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said arm has an alternative tilt axis extending in said horizontal direction at a far side far from said tilting-rotation member. 
     
     
         14 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said non-deformable section is tiltably connected to said arm via said alternative tilt axis so that said non-deformable section can tilt around said alternative tilt axis parallel to said tilt axis. 
     
     
         15 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said deformable section is in a state of hanging down in a vertical direction from a portion connected to said non-deformable section. 
     
     
         16 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein when a user lifts said probe through a distance equal to or greater than a predetermined value, said arm is lifted due to rigidity of said probe support member. 
     
     
         17 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said probe support member transmits a force to said arm when a force equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to said probe support member. 
     
     
         18 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said base stand extends or contracts according to the tilting of said arm. 
     
     
         19 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said deformable section has a structure such that bending at a predetermined angle or more is restricted. 
     
     
         20 . A photoacoustic probe support apparatus comprising:
 an arm configured to be connected to a base stand in a circumferentially rotatable manner and a vertically tiltable manner;   a probe support member having a non-deformable section connected to said arm and a deformable section connected to said non-deformable section and connected to be secured to a probe; and   an optical fiber extending along said probe support member and configured to be optically connected to the probe,   wherein said deformable section is in a state of hanging down in a vertical direction from a portion connected to said non-deformable section.   
     
     
         21 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising the probe,
 wherein said probe is connected to a distal end of said deformable section on a side opposite that of a portion connected to said non-deformable section.   
     
     
         22 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising an electrical cable, wherein
 said electrical cable is connected extending along said probe support member, and said electrical cable is electrically connected to said probe, and   said deformable section has an internal tubular space through which said optical fiber and said electrical cable are inserted.   
     
     
         23 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said non-deformable section has an alternative internal tubular space through which said optical fiber may be inserted. 
     
     
         24 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said arm has another internal tubular space through which said optical fiber may be inserted. 
     
     
         25 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said probe has a light irradiating portion optically connected to said optical fiber. 
     
     
         26 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said probe has a transducer electrically connected to said electrical cable. 
     
     
         27 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein said non-deformable section is connected to a distal end of said arm so that said non-deformable section can rotate about an axis parallel to a rotation axis about which said arm is tilted, and   wherein said rotation axis has a vertical rotation axis extending vertically.   
     
     
         28 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising the base stand. 
     
     
         29 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a horizontal rotation member having a circumferential rotation axis extending vertically, configured to rotate circumferentially with respect to said base stand and connected to said base stand; and   a tilting-rotation member having a tilt axis extending in a horizontal direction, configured to tilt with respect to said base stand and connected to said horizontal rotation member,   wherein said arm is connected to said base stand via said horizontal rotation member and said tilting-rotation member so as to rotate circumferentially in a horizontal direction and tilt in a vertical plane.   
     
     
         30 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said base stand includes a receive portion configured to receive said horizontal rotation member. 
     
     
         31 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said arm has an alternative tilt axis extending in said horizontal direction at a far side far from said tilting-rotation member. 
     
     
         32 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said non-deformable section is tiltably connected to said arm via said alternative tilt axis so that said non-deformable section can tilt around said alternative tilt axis parallel to said tilt axis. 
     
     
         33 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein when a user lifts said probe through a distance equal to or greater than a predetermined value, said arm is lifted due to rigidity of said probe support member. 
     
     
         34 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said probe support member transmits a force to said arm when a force equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to said probe support member. 
     
     
         35 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein said base stand extends or contracts according to the tilting of said arm. 
     
     
         36 . The photoacoustic probe support apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said deformable section has a structure such that bending at a predetermined angle or more is restricted.