A dual element ultrasonic transducer probe for combined imaging of tissue structures and blood flow in real time

摘要

An ultrasonic probe for use in combined and time shared ultrasonic imaging of biological tissue structures together with blood velocity measurements and imaging of blood flow based on the Doppler principle, in which rapid changes of sweep movements of the probe between the respective imaging and measurement modes of operation are performed, said probe having at least two mechanically steerable ultrasonic beams, comprising:- a linear motion electric drive motor having a stationary magnet (201) means and a coil assembly (204) which is linearly moveable with respect to said magnet means (201) by the application of electric current to said coil assembly (204),- at least two ultrasonic transducers (216,219) for emitting respective ultrasonic beams and disposed to be pivotable around separate axes (213,218) within separate angular sectors for sweeping the two ultrasonic beams within the two separate angular sectors, respectively,- mechanical coupling means for connecting the linear drive motor to the pivotable transducer elements, converting the linear motion of the motor coil assembly into a limited rotary motion of the transducer elements within said angular sectors,- said mechanical coupling means comprisingat least three pulleys (212,214,217) mounted at a distance from each other, and at least one flexible pulling element (206) trained about and rotatably connecting said at least three pulleys with each other,- said ultrasonic transducer elements (216,219) being each rotatably connected to a separate one of the pulleys, and- said motor coil assembly (204) being mechanically connected (207) to said at least one pulling element (206) at a portion thereof lying between two pulleys of said at least three pulleys, whereby reciprocating linear movement of the coil assembly causes said angular sweeping of the transducer elements.