Apparatus, systems and methods for proper transesophageal echocardiography probe positioning by using camera for ultrasound imaging

(canceled)

An apparatus, comprising:

• an imager configured to be removably coupled to an imager head of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, and inserted into an esophagus of a patient when removably coupled to the imager head of the TEE device;
• an elongate retriever coupled to a sleeve of the imager and configured to extend from the imager through the esophagus and out the patient when (1) the imager is removably coupled to the TEE device, and (2) the TEE device is disposed within the esophagus,
• the sleeve configured to (1) entirely circumscribe the TEE ultrasound probe device and (2), in response to a proximal force applied at a proximal portion of the elongate retriever, radially expand relative to and overcome a friction fit with the imager head of the TEE device to thereby slide proximally along the TEE device.

(canceled)

An apparatus, comprising:

• an imager configured to be removably coupled to an imager head of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, and inserted into an esophagus of a patient when removably coupled to the imager head of the TEE device;
• an elongate retriever coupled to the imager and configured to extend from the imager through the esophagus and out the patient when (1) the imager is removably coupled intra-procedure to the TEE device, and (2) the TEE device is disposed within a target imaging location of the esophagus in which the TEE device can capture ultrasound images of the heart of the patient, such that by proximally withdrawing the elongate retriever from outside the patient the imager is withdrawn from the imager head of the TEE device after both the imager and the imager head have reached the target imaging location, thereby leaving the imager head in the target imaging location to capture the ultrasound images of the heart.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an imager configured to be removably coupled to an imager head of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, and inserted into an esophagus of a patient when removably coupled to the imager head of the TEE device;
• an elongate retriever coupled to the imager and configured to extend from the imager through the esophagus and out the patient when (1) the imager is removably coupled to the TEE device, and (2) the TEE device is disposed within a target imaging location of the esophagus in which the TEE device can capture ultrasound images of the heart of the patient, the imager and elongate retriever configured to be passively removably coupled to the TEE device such that articulation of the imager is driven by articulation of the imager head of the TEE device caused by an operator outside the patient.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an imager configured to be removably coupled to an imager head of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, and inserted into an esophagus of a patient when removably coupled to the imager head of the TEE device;
• an elongate retriever coupled to a sleeve of the imager and configured to extend from the imager through the esophagus and out the patient when (1) the imager is removably coupled to the TEE device, and (2) the TEE device is disposed within the esophagus,
• the sleeve configured to (1) entirely circumscribe the TEE ultrasound probe device, and (2), in response to a proximal force applied at a proximal portion of the elongate retriever, radially expand relative to and overcome a friction fit with the imager head of the TEE device to thereby slide proximally along the TEE device.