Ultrasound Imaging Probe

Abstract

An elongate ultrasound probe including a probe head with a transducer array, a handle, a flexor located between and affixed to the probe head and the handle, a flexor actuator configured to flex the flexor, and a probe head motion actuator configured to oscillate the flexor actuator and thereby oscillate the probe head. A method includes electronically vibrating a probe head, which includes a transducer array, of an ultrasound probe in connection with ultrasound elasticity imaging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elongate ultrasound probe, comprising:
 a probe head with a transducer array;   a handle;   a flexor located between and affixed to the probe head and the handle;   a flexor actuator configured to flex the flexor; and   a probe head motion actuator configured to oscillate the flexor actuator and thereby oscillate the probe head.   
     
     
         2 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein probe head motion actuator oscillate the flexor actuator to oscillate the probe head at a frequency for ultrasound elasticity imaging. 
     
     
         3 . The probe of any of  claim 1 , the flexor actuator, comprising:
 at least one cable affixed to at least one side of the flexor, wherein the probe head motion actuator oscillates the at least one cable, which oscillates the cable, oscillating the probe head.   
     
     
         4 . The probe of  claim 3 , the probe head motion actuator, comprising:
 first and second guides which support and are in physical contact with the at least one cable there between; and   a control portion that oscillates the first and second guides, which oscillates the at least one cable.   
     
     
         5 . The probe of  claim 4 , wherein oscillating the first and second guides fluctuates an amount of force applied to the at least one cable by the first and second guides. 
     
     
         6 . The probe of any of  claim 4 , wherein the control portion is activated by at least one of the probe, an ultrasound console, or a remote device. 
     
     
         7 . The probe of any of  claim 4 , wherein the control portion is electronically controlled. 
     
     
         8 . The probe of  claim 3 , the probe head motion actuator, comprising:
 a rotating guide having at least two different length axes, wherein rotating the rotating element fluctuates an amount of force applied by the rotating guide to the at least one cable, thereby oscillating the at least one cable.   
     
     
         9 . The probe of  claim 3 , the probe head motion actuator, comprising:
 a motor;   a rod;   a joint; and   a rocker arm, wherein the motor rotates the rod, which is connected to the joint, which actuates the rocker arm, thereby converting the rotating movement into an up/down movement, which oscillates the at least one cable.   
     
     
         10 . The probe of  claim 3 , the probe head motion actuator, comprising:
 a guide;   a chamber, wherein the chamber supports the guide in physical contact with the at least one cable;   a fluid mover that supplies a fluid to the chamber and removes the fluid from the chamber, which causes the chamber to expand and contract, varying an amount of force applied to the at least one cable by the guide, thereby oscillating the at least one cable.   
     
     
         11 . The probe of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid mover is external to the probe 
     
     
         12 . The probe of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid mover is electronically controlled. 
     
     
         13 . The probe of  claim 3 , the probe head motion actuator, comprising:
 a guide;   a slideable element, wherein the slideable member supports the guide in physical contact with the at least one cable;   wherein depressing and releasing the slideable member causes the guide to varying an amount of force applied to the at least one cable by the guide, thereby oscillating the at least one cable.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 electronically vibrating a probe head, which includes a transducer array, of an ultrasound probe in connection with ultrasound elasticity imaging.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound probe includes an articulating probe head in which two cables are utilized to flex the probe head, and further comprising:
 moving, in response to the signal, at least one guide such that the at least one guide varies an amount of force applied to at least one of the two cable, thereby oscillating the at least one cable, which oscillates the probe head.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide includes two guides which support and are in physical contact with the at least one of the two cables there between; and further comprising:
 oscillating the two guides, which oscillates the at least one of the two cables.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide includes a rotating guide having at least two different length axes, and further comprising:
 rotating the rotating guide which fluctuates an amount of force applied by the rotating guide to the at least one of the two cables, which oscillates the at least one of the two cables.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide is supported by an expandable and contractible chamber, and further comprising:
 expanding and contracting the chamber which causes the chamber to vary an amount of force applied by the at least one guide to the at least one of the two cables.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide is part of a manual pushbutton, depressing and releasing the pushbutton causes the guide to vary an amount of force applied by the at least one guide to the at least one of the two cables. 
     
     
         20 . An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
 an elongate ultrasound probe, including:
 a probe head with a transducer array; 
 a handle; 
 a flexor located between and affixed to the probe head and the handle; 
 a flexor actuator configured to flex the flexor; 
 a probe head motion actuator configured to oscillate the flexor actuator and thereby oscillate the probe head; and 
 electronics, internal to the handle, that controls at least the probe head motion actuator.