Ultrasonic transducer probe assembly
AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Ultrasound Inc.
InventorsJulian Dow, Paul F. Meyers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer probe is provided, in which the transducer is oscillated by a crank shaft for sector scanning. The crank shaft is driven by a motor having a moving magnet stack assembly in a tubular set of electromagnetic coils. The motor also moves a bimetallic pin through a position sensor coil so that the position of the transducer is represented by the detected inductance change of the coil.
Claims10
In an ultrasonic transducer probe, in which an ultrasonic transducer is to be arcuately moved through translation of reciprocal motion;
- a motor for providing said reciprocal motion comprising:
- an electromagnet assembly, including a plurality of axially aligned coils, and each coil having a central aperture;
- a magnet stack assembly, generally located within said electromagnet assembly aperture, and including a plurality of magnet pairs with like poles opposing and separated by a ferrous spacer, ones of said magnet pairs with spacers being correspondingly disposed with respect to ones of said coils;
- bearing means for allowing said magnet stack assembly to slideably move in a reciprocating manner within said electromagnet assembly;
- and
- means for connecting said magnet stack assembly to said ultrasonic transducer so that motion of said magnet stack assembly is translated into motion of said transducer.
In an ultrasonic transducer probe, including a housing, and a pivotally mounted transducer located within said housing;
- a motor, located within said housing for producing a reciprocating motion comprising:
- an electromagnetic coil assembly, fixedly mounted within said housing, for producing a changing magnetic field;
- and
- a permanent magnet assembly, slideably located within said coil assembly, and exhibiting a magnetic field for interaction with said changing magnetic field;
- wherein said probe further includes means, coupled between said magnet assembly and said transducer, for translating reciprocating motion of said magnet assembly into pivoting motion of said transducer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.