Ultrasonic probe for transmission and reception of ultrasonic wave and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including ultrasonic probe

Patent 5377682 Issued on January 3, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 4, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Method for intravascular two-dimensional ultrasonography and recanalization
Patent #: 5000185
Issued on: 03/19/1991
Inventor: Yock

Intracavitary ultrasound probe
Patent #: 5090414
Issued on: 02/25/1992
Inventor: Takano

Intravascular ultrasonic imaging probe and methods of using same
Patent #: 5115814
Issued on: 05/26/1992
Inventor: Griffith, et al.

Vascular catheter having low-profile distal end
Patent #: 5203338
Issued on: 04/20/1993
Inventor: Jang

Intravascular imaging apparatus and methods for use and manufacture Patent #: 5243988
Issued on: 09/14/1993
Inventor: Sieben, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Application

No. 941580 filed on 09/04/1992

US Classes:

600/446, Hand-held unit600/466, Catheter600/585Flexible catheter guide

Examiners

Primary: Jaworski, Francis J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lowe, Price, LeBlanc & Becker

International Class

A61B 008/12

Foreign Application Priority Data

1991-09-05 JP

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe to be used for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic probe comprises a catheter having a hollow tubing structure, a joint having a tubing structure and arranged to be at its one end portion connected to a tip portion of said catheter, a bearing connected to the other end portion of the joint, a rotating shaft inserted into the bearing to be rotatable and arranged so that a portion of the rotating shaft contacts with one end portion of the bearing, and a rotator connected to the rotating shaft and arranged so that one end portion of the rotator contacts with the other end portion of the bearing so that the bearing is interposed and supported between the portion of the rotating shaft and the rotator. An ultrasonic transducer is inserted into the rotator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a torque transmission shaft having a hollow structure is at its one end portion connected to the rotating shaft, and a guide wire is inserted into the hollow of the torque transmission shaft. A rotating force generated by a drive section is applied through the torque transmission shaft to the ultrasonic transducer whereby the ultrasonic transducer rotationally driven to perform a radial scanning operation. This arrangement allows a free movement of the guidewire within the catheter so that the catheter can easily be lead along the guidewire up to a target portion within a blood vessel.