An intraluminal imaging device includes a flexible elongate shaft including a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the flexible elongate shaft is configured for insertion into a patient body; a distal tip that comprises an imaging element and is operably associated with the distal portion of the flexible elongate shaft; and a control handle coupled to the proximal portion of the flexible elongate shaft, wherein the control handle includes: a first actuator configured to position the imaging element within the patient body; and a first frictional member coupled to the first actuator and arranged to contact the first actuator to control positioning of the imaging element. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope. The assembly includes an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, including a communications cable connected to an ultrasound imaging head and an imaging head movement sub-assembly, including a conduit, holding a tension member that is attached to the ultrasound imaging head. Further included are connective elements, adapted to permit the endoscope add-on assembly to be attached to the target endoscope. Finally, the imaging head movement sub-assembly is detachable from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, thereby permitting the imaging head movement subassembly to be processed separately from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, after use.

An ultrasound endoscope includes: a transducer unit arranged on a distal end side in an insertion direction to an inside of a subject and configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave; a bendable tube arranged on a proximal end side relative to the transducer unit, the bendable tube including a plurality of ring-shaped members that are joined with each other along the insertion direction and bendable in at least two directions; a flexible tube arranged to be continuous to the proximal end side of the bendable tube; and a flexible board inserted to an inside of the bendable tube and configured to electrically connect the transducer unit. The flexible board includes a helical portion that is formed in a helical shape following an inner surface of the bendable tube, and that is fixed to the inner surface of the bendable tube at a part.

The present disclosure relates generally to a simplified transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe mid-handle assembly for actuating the pull cables that control the flexion of the distal end of the gastroscope portion of a TEE probe. The assembly includes a containment frame, two control wheels, two coaxial shafts each coupled to one of the control wheels, with an elongated flexible member wrapped around each shaft. The elongated flexible members may be friction belts, timing ladders, pulley cables, timing belts, or drive tapes to translate the rotational motion of the control wheels into linear motion of the gastroscope pull cables. The assembly may also include a brake switch that, when engaged, applies a resistance to rotation of the shafts and control wheels. In some embodiments, control wheels and containment frame are made of molded plastic, and the elongated flexible members are made of elastomeric compounds moulded over Kevlar, nylon, or metal reinforcement members to reduce stretch and increase life.

A muscle imaging system that uses an ultrasound probe to image one or more muscles of a subject. A processing unit controls a driving mechanism to set a position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the subject. A position of the ultrasound probe, during an imaging process, is at least partly based upon a shape of the subject detected by a shape sensor.

A medical diagnostic-imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires three-dimensional medical image data in which a subject is imaged. The processing circuitry extracts a movable range of a probe based on a structure of the subject shown in the three-dimensional medical image data. The processing circuitry sets a target scan region to be a subject to scanning by the probe based on the extracted movable range. The processing circuitry displays the target scan region in the three-dimensional medical image data.

Disclosed is an ultrasonic probe having an improved heat radiation capability. The ultrasonic probe includes a transducer module configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, a housing configured to accommodate the transducer module, a cable connected to the transducer module inside the housing and drawn from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing through an end of the housing, a bending device configured to cover the cable and connected to the end of the housing to receive heat, a strain relief configured to surround the bending device and including a heat radiation groove extending along a circumferential direction of the cable, and a heat radiation fin inserted into the heat radiation groove such that one end thereof is in contact with the bending device and the other end thereof is in contact with outside air.

An actuator for moving an ultrasound transducer has a main body configured to be positioned adjacent to a target region of interest to be examined; and, a motor mounted on the main body. The motor is configured to have an ultrasound transducer connected thereto to simultaneously translate and rotate the ultrasound transducer to perform a compound scan of the target region of interest when the ultrasound transducer is connected to the motor. An ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer movably mounted on the actuator. The actuator requires only single motor to effect both translation and rotation of the transducer thereby simplifying operation and providing a more compact device.

At least one embodiment of a method for a method of detecting an abnormality along a portion of a dental arch using scanning material comprising an ultrasonic periodontal probe configured for emitting ultrasound signals within at least one emitting cone and for receiving corresponding echoed ultrasound signals, the method comprising moving the probe along a portion of the dental arch, while moving the probe along the portion of the dental arch: emitting an ultrasound signal within the emitting cone; measuring echoed ultrasound signals; detecting at least one anatomical structure to be investigated; measuring at least one predetermined feature of the at least one detected anatomical structure to obtain a value of the measurement of the at least one predetermined feature characterizing the detected anatomical structure; detecting an abnormality as a function of a threshold and the value of the measurement of the predetermined feature of the at least one detected anatomical structure.

At least one embodiment of a method for scanning material using a dental ultrasonic imaging probe comprising an ultrasonic device configured for emitting ultrasound signals within at least two emitting cones and for receiving corresponding echoed ultrasound signals, the at least two emitting cones extending in different directions, the method comprising: receiving an item of information relating to a direction for emitting an ultrasound signal; selecting one of the received corresponding echoed ultrasound signals or the ultrasound signals to be emitted as a function of the received item of information.