Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Auxiliary positioning device for ultrasonic apparatus

Auxiliary positioning device for ultrasonic apparatus description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an auxiliary positioning device, and in particular to an auxiliary positioning device for an ultrasonic apparatus.

2. The Prior Arts

In general, an ultrasonic apparatus is often used to scan and inspect a patient's inner organ. The ultrasonic apparatus can receive an echo to conclude the position of the organ and visualize an image of the organ tissue on a screen. Accordingly, the patient can be further diagnosed and treated based on the displayed images. During the operation of the ultrasonic apparatus, it is only requested to clearly display the image if the ultrasonic apparatus is merely used to inspect the physiological structure. However, if a further diagnosis and treatment such as a sample collection or an injection is needed, an accurate position must be determined. Generally, a three dimensional image can be obtained by scanning an interior of the human body. If a certain area in the body is intended to be sample-collected or injected, an auxiliary positioning device is often needed to help the positioning unless it is performed by a skilled operator. Otherwise, it is difficult to insert a needle into a correct position, thereby resulting in the increase in the possibility of failure and in the times of the needle insertion that will increase the mental pressure and physical pains to the patient.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic view showing an injection into a body surface of a patient B by means of the guidance of an ultrasonic probe according to a prior art. Before the injection is performed, an ultrasonic probe P is used to scan the body surface of the patient B until a target position is detected. When the ultrasonic probe P reaches the target position, a needle of a syringe S can be inserted into the body of the patient B. At this time, in order to ensure the position to be injected is correct, the needle of the syringe S and the position to be injected must be fully detected by the ultrasonic probe P and completely displayed on a screen. However, it is difficult for a medical operator to perform. As described above, the image obtained by scanning the interior of the body of the patient is a three dimensional image. Even though a correct position is located, if the syringe S and the area detected by the ultrasonic probe P are not in the same plane but displayed together on the screen in a two dimensional image, the operator still has to insert the needle of the syringe S for several times to reach the correct position based on his/her experiences and feelings. As a result, it will make the patient feel uncomfortable mentally and physically. On the other hand, in order to make the image display on the screen more clearly and brightly, the light is often turned down during performing the diagnosis and treatment on patients. However, under such circumstances, it becomes more difficult to find the correct position for insertion by the needle of the syringe S.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary positioning device for an ultrasonic apparatus, which can generate a fanned light beam by refracting a parallel light beam through a cylindrical lens. The fanned light beam projects a projection line for accurately locating a position on a body surface of a patient to be diagnosed and treated, thereby solving the problem that a conventional ultrasonic probe is unable to locate an accurate position to be diagnosed and treated. Besides, by the means of the projection line, a position to be treated can be accurately located even in a dark condition. Accordingly, a syringe can be adjusted to be in alignment with the ultrasonic probe through the projection line, so that a needle of the syringe can be inserted into the correct position on the body surface of the patient for treatment.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, an auxiliary positioning device for an ultrasonic apparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is installed on an ultrasonic probe, includes a fixing member, an adjusting member being flexible and coupled with the fixing member at one end thereof, a parallel light source coupled with the other end of the adjusting member and having a projection hole for passing a parallel light beam emitted from the parallel light source, and a cylindrical lens mounted on one end of the parallel light source in front of the projection hole, whereby the parallel light beam becomes a fanned light beam after it passes through the cylindrical lens.

According to the present invention, the parallel light source may be a laser light source or other light sources. The fixing member may be a fixing clamp or a clamp that is sleeved on the ultrasonic probe and fastened thereto with screws. There is no limitation to the structure of the fixing member as long as it can fix the auxiliary positioning device to the ultrasonic probe. The adjusting member is used to adjust a desired angle and a range of the projection light emitted from the parallel light source. The adjusting member may be, but not limited to, a flexible member in accordance wit the present invention. Any flexible or bendable adjusting member such as a multiple rod linkage with ball pivot mechanisms is applicable. The cylindrical lens may be a circular, biconvex, biconcave, plano-convex, or plano-concave cylindrical lens.

According to the present invention, the parallel light beam enters into the cylindrical lens and is refracted to a fanned light beam, which can project a projection line on a surface of an object. By means of the projection line, a needle of a syringe can be in alignment with the ultrasonic probe even in a dark condition, so that the needle can be inserted into a correct position to be diagnosed and treated. Accordingly, this can prevent the patient from being inserted many times by a needle, which will cause uncomfortable feeling.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an injection into a body surface of a patient by means of the guidance of an ultrasonic probe according to a prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an auxiliary position device for an ultrasonic apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view showing a parallel light source and a cylindrical lens in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a path of a parallel light beam penetrating through the cylindrical lens.

FIGS. 5A-5E are schematic views showing different types of cylindrical lenses in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a schematic view showing a correction of the auxiliary positioning device installed on an ultrasonic probe in accordance with the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws