Patent ID: 8137279

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe apparatus for use with a mammalian body having a body cavity, the ultrasonic probe apparatus comprising: a housing with a portion configured and arranged to be received within the body cavity of the mammalian body, the housing enclosing an ultrasonic transducer and an assembly for effectuating both linear movement and rotational movement of said ultrasonic transducer for scanning of longitudinal scan planes and transverse scan planes, respectively, wherein the assembly includes: i) an outer drive shaft concentrically mounted about an inner drive shaft; and ii) a scanning subassembly including a transmission that moves a slide member in a linear reciprocating manner in response to rotational movement of the inner drive shaft relative to the outer drive shaft, the scanning subassembly rotatable within the housing in response to rotational movement of the outer drive shaft, wherein the slide member is supported by at least one guide member that guides linear movement of the slide member, and wherein the transmission of said scanning subassembly includes two pulleys and a belt that rotates about said pulleys in a plane offset from said at least one guide member, and a coupler that couples said belt to said slide member such that rotation of said belt causes reciprocating linear movement of said slide member within said housing.