Patent ID: 6468220
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: A61B,G10K

Abstract:
A scanning probe apparatus for scanning an anatomical region comprising:a tubular body having a main chamber and a secondary chamber; an ultrasonic wave means positioned in said main chamber for emitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, said ultrasonic wave means comprising an acoustic microtransducer, said ultrasonic wave means affixed to a mount; a drive means mounted in said secondary chamber, said drive means for driving said mount in a back-and-forth movement in said main chamber; a partitioning element affixed in said tubular body and separating said main chamber from said secondary chamber; a probe tip blocking said main chamber in an airtight manner, said probe tip being of a solid material and having an acoustic slot, said solid material being permeable to the ultrasonic wave emitted by said acoustic microtransducer toward the anatomical region and permeable to the ultrasonic wave reflected by the anatomical region back toward said acoustic micro transducer; and an acoustic coupling liquid contained in said main chamber, said solid material of said probe tip being impermeable to said acoustic coupling liquid, the back-and-forth movement being in parallel translation to said acoustic slot of said probe tip, said ultrasonic wave being normal to said acoustic slot.