Apparatus for obtaining a three-dimensional reconstruction of anatomic structures through the acquisition of echographic images

An apparatus for obtaining three dimensional echographic images of an anatomic structure from a series of successively produced two dimensional echographic images comprising

• an echographic probe having an ultrasound transducer contained as part of said probe;
• means to produce, according to a predetermined scanning plane, two dimensional echographic images through real-time processing of signals reflected and scattered by the anatomic structure when the structure is hit by a beam of ultrasound, connected to said ultrasound transducer;
• scanning control means connected to said probe,
• said means to produce two dimensional images including
• means for processing of received echographic signals and for the display of a two dimensional image from said signals;
• means for rotating the scanning plane, connected to said ultrasound transducer, wherein said ultrasound transducer produces said ultrasound beam through an overall angle by intermediate angular increments, having predetermined amplitude and frequency, around the longitudinal axis of said probe, while said probe remains stationary with respect to the anatomic structure;
• means for the actuation and control of a scanning sequence connected to said means for rotating the scanning plane;
• said ultrasound transducer having an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said probe;
• motor means connected to a rotatable support upon which said ultrasound transducer is mounted to transmit to said support angular displacements having a predetermined amplitude up to an overall rotation of 180 degrees;
• motion transmission means connected to said motor means to provide a rotating movement, having a predetermined amplitude along the scanning plane, around said axis of said transducer as a center of rotation;
• clutch means between said transmission means and said rotatable support for said probe for imparting to said rotatable support an angular displacement having the predetermined amplitude;
• means for control of said means to produce the two dimensional images, said means to provide rotating movement, and detection of the angular position of the said means to provide rotating movement.

An apparatus for obtaining three dimensional echographic images of an anatomic structure from a series of successively produced two dimensional echographic images comprising

• an echographic probe having a transducer contained as part of said probe;
• means to produce, according to a predetermined scanning lane, two dimensional echographic images through real-time processing of signals reflected and scattered by the anatomic structure when the structure is hit by a beam of ultrasound, connected to said transducer;
• scanning control means connected to said probe,
• said means to produce two dimensional images including
• means for processing of received echographic signals and for the display of a two dimensional image from said signals;
• means for rotating the scanning plane, connected to said transducer, wherein said transducer produces said ultrasound beam through an overall angle by intermediate angular increments, having predetermined amplitude and frequency, around the longitudinal axis of said probe, while said probe remains stationary with respect to the anatomic structure;
• means for the actuation and control of a scanning sequence connected to said means for rotating the scanning plane;
• and delay means for an electrocardiographic signal for starting acquisition of scans with presettable delays in order to record a three dimensional block of information in selected phases during a whole cardiac cycle.