Patent ID: 8758256
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for ultrasonic imaging of tissue within a body cavity, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a first elongate portion and a second elongate portion proximal of said first elongate portion, said first elongate portion insertable into the body cavity; an ultrasonic transducer operably disposed within said first elongate portion and capable of emitting acoustic energy therefrom and detecting acoustic backscatter signals; a platform assembly operably disposed within said second elongate portion and supporting a moveable member operably disposed within said second elongate portion, said platform assembly providing guided translation of said moveable member relative to said platform assembly along a linear axis, and said platform assembly together with said moveable member being rotatable relative to said second elongate portion; at least one connector extending between said first elongate portion and said second elongate portion and coupling said ultrasonic transducer to said platform assembly and to said movable member such that rotational movement of said platform assembly within said second elongate portion effectuates rotation of said ultrasonic transducer within said first elongate portion, and translational movement of said moveable member within said second elongate portion effectuates translational movement of said ultrasonic transducer within said first elongate portion; and said housing has a third elongate portion proximal of said second elongate portion, and said apparatus further comprises a drive shaft extending through said third elongate portion of said housing and operably coupled to said platform assembly for effectuating rotation of said ultrasonic transducer relative to said housing in a first mode of operation for transverse scanning of the tissue, and translation of said ultrasonic transducer relative to said housing in a second mode of operation for longitudinal scanning of the tissue; wherein said platform assembly includes a transmission system for converting rotational movement of said drive shaft to translation of said moveable member relative to said platform assembly along said linear axis; said transmission system includes a plurality of gears configured such that continued rotation of said drive shaft in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction causes reciprocating proximal and distal longitudinal translation of said movable member and said ultrasonic transducer relative to said housing; said drive shaft includes an outer drive shaft fixed to said platform assembly and an inner drive shaft extending through said outer drive shaft, selectively rotatable fixed to said outer drive shaft, and mechanically coupled to said plurality of gears of said transmission system, and said inner drive shaft is rotatable fixed to said outer drive shaft and incapable of longitudinally translating said movable member and said ultrasonic transducer relative to said housing in said first mode of operation for transverse scanning of the tissue, and said inner drive shaft is rotatable relative to said outer drive shaft to longitudinally translate said movable member and said ultrasonic transducer relative to said housing in said second mode of operation for longitudinal scanning of the tissue; an electrically controlled clutch is operably disposed within said third elongate portion of said housing, said clutch being configurable to an engaged position to rotatable fix said inner drive shaft to said outer drive shaft for operation of said apparatus in said first mode, and to an unengaged position to allow rotation of said inner drive shaft relative to said outer drive shaft for operation of said apparatus in said second mode; an electrically controlled brake operably is disposed within said third elongate portion of said housing, and said brake is configurable to an engaged position to prevent rotation of said outer drive shaft and said platform assembly relative to said housing when said clutch is unengaged in said second mode of operation, and to an unengaged position to allow rotation of said outer drive shaft and said platform assembly when said clutch is engaged in said first mode of operation; and said at least one connector includes a first connector which rigidly couples said ultrasonic transducer to said movable member, and a second connector which defines a guide slidably coupled to said ultrasonic transducer and a support portion fixed to said platform assembly.