Patent ID: 8568324
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: A61B,G01S,G10K

Abstract:
1. A transvaginal ultrasonic transducer assembly, comprising: an elongated housing having a principal axis and that includes a tip portion, an intermediate portion, and a base portion; a transducer assembly comprising a two-dimensional phased array of transducer elements extending in an azimuth dimension and an elevation dimension perpendicular to said azimuth dimension which is mounted on a transducer mount having a translation axis oriented generally perpendicular to the principal axis of the housing, said transducer mount and two-dimensional phased array of transducer elements disposed within the tip portion of said elongated housing, the two-dimensional phased array of transducer elements configured to transmit and receive sound waves within a three-dimensional volumetric region positioned in front of the tip portion in a direction opposite a direction of the base portion and which can be pivoted about the translation axis; and a translation mechanism configured for physically translating said transducer mount about the translation axis within the elongated housing while the elongated housing remains substantially rigid, so as to translate the three-dimensional volumetric region in which the two-dimensional phase array transmits and receives sound waves so as to sweep out a clinically desirable field of view in a first direction relative to the principal axis; and an articulation control mechanism configured to cause the transducer assembly to move along an articulation path extending in a second direction relative to the principal axis, wherein the movement along the articulation path is done by flexing the intermediate portion which allows the tip portion to move relative to the base portion.