초록 ▼

An ultrasonic endoscopic probe tip device which provides signals to an imaging system for transesophageal diagnosis includes a removable housing adapted to be attached to the distal end of an endoscope. A rotatable, ball-bearing-mounted phased array transducer within the housing is rotatable around

An ultrasonic endoscopic probe tip device which provides signals to an imaging system for transesophageal diagnosis includes a removable housing adapted to be attached to the distal end of an endoscope. A rotatable, ball-bearing-mounted phased array transducer within the housing is rotatable around its acoustic propagation axis through multiple turns. The transducer is driven by an immersed micro-motorized drive. A torque limiting gearbox couples the drive to the transducer. A position encoder provides the imaging system with transducer position information over a 360° range. An automatic transducer position locking/unlocking system is used to lock the transducer in a selected rotational position.

대표청구항 ▼

An ultrasonic endoscopic probe tip device which provides signals to an imaging system for transesophageal diagnosis includes a removable housing adapted to be attached to the distal end of an endoscope. A rotatable, ball-bearing-mounted phased array transducer within the housing is rotatable around

An ultrasonic endoscopic probe tip device which provides signals to an imaging system for transesophageal diagnosis includes a removable housing adapted to be attached to the distal end of an endoscope. A rotatable, ball-bearing-mounted phased array transducer within the housing is rotatable around its acoustic propagation axis through multiple turns. The transducer is driven by an immersed micro-motorized drive. A torque limiting gearbox couples the drive to the transducer. A position encoder provides the imaging system with transducer position information over a 360° range. An automatic transducer position locking/unlocking system is used to lock the transducer in a selected rotational position. into the socket cavity.7. The surgical retractor of claim 1 having a first face inwardly oriented relative to the socket cavity having a concave surface.8. The surgical retractor of claim 7 wherein the socket cavity is at least partially bounded by socket walls and the first face has a similar arc of curvature as the socket walls.9. The surgical retractor of claim 1 further comprising a longitudinal recess at a back of the socket cavity.10. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the slide operates along an operation axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis through the connector head.11. The surgical retractor of claim 10 where the operator axis of the slide does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the connector head.12. A surgical retractor comprising: a retractor body having a side loading socket cavity for receiving a connector head; a linearly displaceable slide configured to selectively retain and release a connector head within and from the socket cavity in a locking and a released position; and a tip at end of the slide, and a notch at the tip, said notch configured to at least partially receive a locking pin of the connector head. 13. A surgical retractor comprising: a retractor body having a side loading socket cavity for receiving a connector head; a longitudinal recess a back of the socket cavity; a linearly displaceable slide configured to selectively retain and release a connector head within and from the socket cavity in a locking and a released position; and a notch at a tip of the slide, said notch substantially opposite from the longitudinal recess in the locking position. 14. The surgical retractor of claim 13 wherein the slide retains and releases the connector head from sideways entry and removal.15. A surgical retractor comprising: a socket body having a side loading socket cavity for receiving a connector head; a slot within and surrounded by the socket body except at a slot opening into the socket along an operation axis and a groove communicating the socket with an external portion of the socket body, said groove spaced from the socket opening by a portion of the socket body; and a linearly displacable slide connected to an arm and configured to move at least partially within the slot in a locking and a release position to selectively retain and release a connector head within the socket cavity, said slide moved by the arm extending through the groove into the slot. 16. The surgical retractor of claim 15 wherein the slide has a convex first face outwardly directed from the socket cavity and a concave second face inwardly directed to the socket cavity.