Connectorized probe for transesophageal echocardiography

An ultrasound probe comprising:

• a first section having a distal end that is configured for insertion into a patient's body, with an ultrasound transducer located in the distal end;
• and
• a second section configured to interface the first section with an ultrasound system,
• wherein the first section is easily attachable and detachable from the second section using a set of sideways-facing connectors,
• wherein the second section includes at least one user-operated actuator, and the first and second sections are configured so that, when the first section is attached to the second section, actuation of the user-operated actuator causes the first section to bend, and
• wherein the first and second sections are configured so that, when the first section is attached to the second section, (a) the ultrasound system can drive the ultrasound transducer by sending drive signals into the first section via the second section and (b) the ultrasound transducer in the first section can send return signals to the ultrasound system via the second section.

A connectorized ultrasound probe for use with an ultrasound system, the connectorized ultrasound probe comprising:

• an actuator assembly including
• a user-operated actuator,
• a first connector including a first electrical interface and an output actuator, wherein the output actuator is operatively linked to the user-operated actuator so that an actuation of the user-operated actuator drives the output actuator, and
• a system interface that is configured to interface with the ultrasound system, wherein the system interface is operatively connected to the first electrical interface, and
• a transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the transducer assembly includes
• an ultrasound transducer disposed in the distal end,
• a second connector located at the proximal end and configured to operatively mate with the first connector, the second connector having (a) a second electrical interface configured to operatively mate with the first electrical interface when the second connector is mated with the first connector and (b) a control actuator configured to operatively interact with the output actuator when the second connector is mated with the first connector so that the control actuator is actuated by the output actuator, wherein the second connector and the first connector are configured to permit easy mating of the second connector to the first connector and to permit easy removal of the second connector from the first connector,
• a flexible shaft positioned distally with respect to the second connector and proximally with respect to the distal end, the flexible shaft having a bending section,
• a circuit that operatively connects the second electrical interface with the ultrasound transducer,
• a bending mechanism that, in response to an actuation of the control actuator, causes the bending section to bend,
• wherein the actuator assembly and the transducer assembly are configured so that when the second connector is mated with the first connector, transducer driving signals applied to the system interface are routed to the ultrasound transducer via the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface, and return signals from the ultrasound transducer are routed to the system interface via the second electrical interface and the first electrical interface, and
• wherein the actuator assembly and the transducer assembly are configured so that when the second connector is mated with the first connector, actuation of the user-operated actuator drives the output actuator, whereby the output actuator actuates the control actuator, which makes the bending mechanism cause the bending section to bend.

A transducer assembly for use with an ultrasound system and an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly having a user-operated actuator and a first connector including (a) a first electrical interface and (b) an output actuator that is operatively linked to the user-operated actuator so that an actuation of the user-operated actuator drives the output actuator, wherein the transducer assembly comprises:

• an ultrasound transducer disposed in a distal end of the transducer assembly;
• a second connector located at a proximal end of the transducer assembly and configured to operatively mate with the first connector, the second connector having (a) a second electrical interface configured to operatively mate with the first electrical interface when the second connector is mated with the first connector and (b) a control actuator configured to operatively interact with the output actuator when the second connector is mated with the first connector so that the control actuator is actuated by the output actuator, wherein the second connector is configured to permit easy mating to the first connector and easy removal from the first connector;
• a flexible shaft positioned distally with respect to the second connector and proximally with respect to the distal end, the flexible shaft having a bending section;
• a circuit that operatively connects the second electrical interface with the ultrasound transducer;
• and
• a bending mechanism that, in response to an actuation of the control actuator, causes the bending section to bend,
• wherein the transducer assembly is configured so that when the second connector is mated with the first connector, transducer driving signals imposed on the first electrical interface are routed to the ultrasound transducer via the second electrical interface, and return signals from the ultrasound transducer are routed to the first electrical interface via the second electrical interface, and
• wherein the transducer assembly is configured so that the control actuator can be driven by the output actuator when the second connector is mated with the first connector.

A transducer assembly for use with an ultrasound system and an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly having a user-operated actuator and at least one first connector including (a) a first electrical interface and (b) an output actuator that is operatively linked to the user-operated actuator so that an actuation of the user-operated actuator drives the output actuator, wherein the transducer assembly comprises:

• an ultrasound transducer disposed in a distal end of the transducer assembly;
• at least one second connector located at a proximal end of the transducer assembly and configured to operatively mate with the at least one first connector, the at least one second connector having (a) a second electrical interface configured to operatively mate with the first electrical interface when the at least one second connector is mated with the at least one first connector and (b) a control actuator configured to operatively interact with the output actuator when the at least one second connector is mated with the at least one first connector so that the control actuator is actuated by the output actuator, wherein the at least one second connector is configured to permit easy mating to the at least one first connector and easy removal from the at least one first connector;
• a flexible shaft positioned distally with respect to the at least one second connector and proximally with respect to the distal end, the flexible shaft having a bending section;
• a circuit that operatively connects the second electrical interface with the ultrasound transducer;
• and
• a bending mechanism that, in response to an actuation of the control actuator, causes the bending section to bend,
• wherein the transducer assembly is configured so that when the at least one second connector is mated with the at least one first connector, transducer driving signals imposed on the first electrical interface are routed to the ultrasound transducer via the second electrical interface, and return signals from the ultrasound transducer are routed to the first electrical interface via the second electrical interface, and
• wherein the transducer assembly is configured so that the control actuator can be driven by the output actuator when the at least one second connector is mated with the at least one first connector.