3-D Endocavity Ultrasound Probe with a Needle Guide

Abstract

A 3-D endocavity ultrasound probe includes an instrument holder having a channel configured to guide an instrument. The 3-D endocavity ultrasound probe further includes an elongate shaft with a center line, a first side, a second opposing side with a recess configured to receive the instrument holder over the center line, and a drive system disposed in the first side and not over the center line. The 3-D endocavity ultrasound probe further includes a probe head disposed at an end of the shaft. The probe head includes a rotatable support and a transducer array coupled to the rotatable support. The drive system is configured to rotate the rotatable transducer array support thereby rotating the transducer array. The channel extends along the center line thereby providing an instrument path in-plane with a sagittal plane of the elongate shaft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.