# US 10,765,404 B2 · Medical probe for ultrasound imaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,404 B2 - Document ID: US10765404B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/768,575 - Filed: 2016-10-25 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-27 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Godefridus Antoniuss Harks; Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens; Roland Alexander Van De Molengraaf; Cornelis Petrus Hendriks; Alexander Franciscus Kolen; Franciscus Reinier Antonius Van Der Linde - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765404B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 8/483: {involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data} - A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals} - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - G01S 7/52079: {Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44)} - G01S 15/8936: {using transducers mounted for mechanical movement in three dimensions} - G01S 15/895: {characterised by the transmitted frequency spectrum} - G01S 15/8988: {Colour Doppler imaging} - G01S 15/8993: {Three dimensional imaging systems} - A61B 2090/3929: {Active markers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A probe device comprising: an elongate body; a plurality of electro-active polymer actuators mounted at the surface of the elongate body; and a controller circuit, wherein the controller circuit is arranged to control a vibration of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators, wherein the vibration frequency is less than or equal to 5 kHz. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration is induced locally in a radial direction in at least two of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration is induced locally in an axial direction in at least two of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first sub-set of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators are at one angular position around the elongate body and a second sub-set of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators are at another angular position around the elongate body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration frequency is greater than a resonance frequency of the elongate body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators is covered by a vibration dampening layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is arranged to apply a different vibration frequency to at least two different electro-active polymer actuators of the plurality of electro-active polymers actuators. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is arranged to apply a coded vibration sequence to at least one of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is arranged to control the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators to induce steering of a tip of the probe device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The probe device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a first sub-set of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators are arranged for steering control and a second sub-set of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators are arranged for providing the vibration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The probe device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators is arranged to provide steering and the vibration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A catheter comprising the probe device as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An imaging system, comprising: a probe device, for insertion into the body of a subject, as claimed in claim 1; and an ultrasound scanner, wherein the ultrasound scanner is arranged to operate in a 3D Doppler mode, wherein the ultrasound scanner is arranged to generate 3D Doppler data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The imaging system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system for imaging a part of a human or animal body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The probe device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration is induced locally in a tangential direction in at least two of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators. ### Claim 16 A probe device, comprising: an elongate body; a plurality of electro-active polymer actuators integrated into an outer wall of the probe device; and a controller circuit, wherein the controller circuit is arranged to control a vibration of the plurality of electro-active polymer actuators, and wherein the vibration frequency is less than or equal to 5 kHz.