Multi-mode ultrasound scanner

Claim 1

An ultrasound medical scanning apparatus comprising: a hand-holdable housing; a pair of ultrasound transducers having faces together shaped to generally form a circle, said transducers mounted for independent pivotal movement within said housing about a common axis; a motor; coupling means for coupling one of said transducers to said motor for pivoting said transducer in oscillating motion about said axis comprising: a flywheel driven by said motor; an eccentrically mounted pin extending from said flywheel; a pivotally mounted rocker member to which said one transducer is affixed, said member including a curved slot; said pin cooperatively engaging said slot so as to convert the rotational movement of said flywheel into said oscillatory movement; first position detection means coupled to said one transducer for providing signals representative of the position of said one transducer, said first detection means being disposed within said housing; manual positioning means for manually pivoting the other of said transducers about said axis; second position detection means coupled to said other transducer for providing signals representative of the position of said other transducer, said second detection means being disposed within said housing; a fluid chamber within said housing enclosing said transducers; and, a membrane for contacting a body defining a part of said chamber such that ultrasound from said transducers passes through said membrane into the body, whereby a multi-mode, hand-holdable ultrasound apparatus is realized.