EP4626324A1 - Multi-purpose ultrasonic probe having a plurality of single-element transducers with oscillating mechanical scanning - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a probe (1) having a head (2) including a terminal nose (12), the probe comprising a housing (5) with a housing front element (16) formed by a curved housing front wall (18), including a terminal apex (17) that incorporates an acoustic window (19), the outer face (20a) of the apex wall (18a) comprising a skin contact area (8) which includes the outer face (20a) of the acoustic window (19), transducers (4) being supported by a drum (11) mounted so as to rotate about a pivot/stroke shaft (11a), motor/drive means (10) being able to position a selected transducer to face the acoustic window (19) and subject it to oscillating mechanical scanning, these transducers being single-element transducers so as to be able to generate ultrasonic lines of a plurality of different frequencies, the motor/drive means (10) being chosen, arranged and adjusted so as to be able to produce oscillating mechanical scanning over a plurality of different scanning trajectories, the apex (17) and the acoustic window (9) being doubly curved, the size of the acoustic window (9) being chosen so as to allow the passage of the ultrasonic lines of the single-element transducer having the largest range of investigation.

Description

Description

Title of the invention: VERSATILE ULTRASOUND PROBE WITH SEVERAL SINGLE-ELEMENT TRANSDUCERS WITH OSCILLATING MECHANICAL SCANNING

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The invention relates to the field of ultrasound probes, exocavity, 2D, versatile (that is to say suitable for different uses, in different ways, and in different contexts), possibly single-head possibly inseparable, multi-frequency, sectoral , comprising on the same head several single-element ultrasonic transducers subject to oscillating mechanical scanning. It relates more particularly to the head of such probes. Its subject is such a probe and a versatile ultrasound machine comprising such a probe.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0002] Ultrasound is a technique for non-invasive medical examination of an internal anatomical structure located in a part of the body of a subject by imaging, based on the use of ultrasound, using an ultrasound machine. , comprising a movable probe and complementary operating means (analog and digital electronics, signal processing, power supply, control, visualization and image processing, recording, communication, computer processing, etc.). By ellipse, we designate by “probe” an ultrasound probe and by “organ” such a defined and chosen anatomical structure of the body of a subject (human being or animal) which should be examined by ultrasound with implementation of the ultrasound probe. “Desired examination” or “examination” means the exploration of the part of the body where the organ is located and the examination of the organ which is envisaged or carried out.

[0003] The front part of the probe forms a probe head whose free end front part forms a probe nose. The probe includes a housing. The front part of the housing forms a front housing element whose free end front part forms an apex of the housing. The case also has a handle part located at the back of the head. “Forward” describes what is directed towards the body when the probe is in operation and “rear” describes what is directed away from the body. The probe also includes, in particular, ultrasonic line transceiver means (ultrasonic transducer). Such an ultrasonic transducer is characterized in particular by its operating frequency.

[0004] Those skilled in the art know (e.g. US 4773268, FR 2943796) that depending on the depth of the organs to be examined, it is necessary to use transducers having different, adapted frequencies.

[0005] There are several types of probes. Probe for ultrasound use, or for industrial use

(eg WO 9516900). Probe for exocavitary or endocavitary use (eg EP1742580). 2D or 3D probe. Probe in mode B or other mode. Probe with several operating frequencies to choose from, or limited to a single frequency (eg US 4034744, FR 2490481). Probe with several focal lengths or a single focal length (eg US 4269066). Sectoral probe (the ul-lines trasonic probes being divergent and making it possible to explore a disk sector), or linear probe for example (eg EP 2074948). Probes differing by the transducer they include: single-element transducer made of piezoelectric material such as ceramic (eg PZT) well known to those skilled in the art (eg document “ULTRASOUND IMAGING” from the Center for Research and Application in Treatment de l'image et du Signal (CREATIS), published on the Internet https://www.creatis.insa-lyon.fr, and EP 0098202), or several elementary transducer elements combined into a transducer assembly, such as a strip with phased array (known as a “phased-array”), a MEMS matrix such as CMUT (for Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer), or PMUT (for Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducers). Probe with unfocused or on the contrary focused transducer (or also called focusing transducers or focusing transducers). The focusing of a transducer is known to those skilled in the art (eg MAGHLAOUI thesis - April 25, 2015 - https://repository.usthb.dz/bitstream/handle/123456789/3405/TH8127.pdf). Focusing makes it possible to concentrate the energy of the ultrasound beam in a region of space which is the focal zone. It can be obtained, in particular, by means of an acoustic lens or an appropriate shape given to the front face of the piezoelectric transducer. Probe comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, or a single sound transducer (eg US 4515017, FR 2773460). Probe designed and arranged so that (i) for operation, each ultrasonic transducer is moved, or transducer held fixed (eg US 2019/0307422), (ii) the movement of the ultrasonic lines results from mechanical scanning, or an electronic scanning (eg FR 2570837, EP 3865072, US 2022/0240893, US2005/0165312), (iii) back and forth oscillating mechanical scanning, or continuous scanning in the same direction (eg US 4269066, US 4567895). Probe having a plurality of transducers associated with the same active head, or probe requiring two active heads at both front and rear ends of the housing (eg CN 21913238, WO 2022068095). Probe whose head is inseparable from the handle, or whose head must be separated from the handle in order to be able to change the head and use a different transducer (eg FR2943796).

[0006] The invention relates to the family of exocavity ultrasound probes, 2D, possibly single-headed possibly inseparable from the handle, multi-frequency, sectoral, comprising on the same head several single-element ultrasonic transducers, of different frequencies, subject to oscillating mechanical scanning.

[0007] US 4773268 describes a portable probe having a plurality of oscillatingly mounted ultrasonic transducers, which comprises: a housing having a highly convex acoustic window, means for positioning a transducer selected from the plurality of transducers in front of the window, means for oscillating the selected transducer in front of the window, in a single sweep stroke, while activating that transducer to transmit and receive signals for imaging purposes. A unique motor and drive mechanism rotates and oscillates the transducers. The transducers each have an axis of symmetry of oscillation and they are mounted on a drum which can pivot around an axis. The ultrasonic window allows the transfer of ultrasonic rays with a minimum attenuation. It is known that in the case of such a probe, the ultrasonic transducers are placed in a humid front compartment of the housing filled with an acoustic coupling liquid, adjacent to the acoustic window, which is included in the apex of the housing and therefore in the nose of the probe (eg US 4515017, FR 2773460).

[0008] A probe of this type is implemented like this. Depending on the desired examination, the operator determines an appropriate region of the skin of the body (by ellipse appropriate region of the skin) which is a limited defined surface of the skin of the subject's body on which the probe can be placed. contact, oriented, and depressed if necessary, for the desired examination, and this via a “skin contact zone” of the exterior face of the probe including the acoustic window. An acoustic gel is placed on the appropriate region of the skin. Then, the operator grasps the probe by its housing and moves it so as to bring the skin contact zone of the probe into contact with the appropriate region of the skin. The motor/drive means can then be actuated so as, on the one hand, to place one of the previously selected ultrasonic transducers facing the acoustic window and, on the other hand, to ensure the back and forth oscillating mechanical scanning of this transducer over a certain sweeping stroke. The ultrasonic exploration lines of the selected and implemented transducer make it possible to explore the part of the body where the organ is located and to examine the organ, furthermore by means of the scanning stroke. For the purposes of the examination, the operator can move the probe in relation to the body, in order to orient it differently and, if necessary, push it into the body by pushing the housing forward. The other means of the probe and the complementary means of the ultrasound machine are also used to ultimately produce images of the organ examined.

[0009] FR 2409742 relates to a probe with several identical focused transducers, and teaches that the walls of the acoustic window are inclined relative to the transducers to minimize reverberations due to reflection, that the thickness of the acoustic window is substantially half a wavelength at the ultrasound frequency, and finally that the external and internal surfaces of the acoustic window have common centers thanks to which the ultrasonic energy emitted and received is not refracted. US 4567895 describes a spherical transducer.

[0010] Most often, the probe housings have an oblong exterior shape which in its entirety is extended in a rectilinear rear-front axis of extension. However, it is possible for the housing to extend along two perpendicular axes, giving the probe an L shape, with the head on one side and the handle on the other (e.g. US 4149419 and US 4269066).

[0011] EP3705050 describes an arrangement with a probe and a smartphone having a software application. An electrical conductor is provided emerging from the rear section of the housing, this arrangement being conventional (e.g. EP 3884872, US 4515017, US 4567895, US 2022/0240893).

[0012] It is known that there are a number of designs for acoustic windows: rigid (e.g. US 4612809) or deformable (e.g. FR 2773460), flat (e.g. EP 0045265) or curved (e.g. US 4773268), in particular of hemispherical shape (e.g. e.g. US 4269066, US 4567895), or even combining curved shapes and straight shapes, (e.g. US 2022240893).

[0013] It is also known that the nose of the probe and the apex of the housing must be shaped and arranged according in particular to the transducers (for example the frequency, the oscillating scanning stroke) and the acoustic window. Nose or apex of hemispherical shape (eg US 4515017, US 4269066, US 4567895), frustoconical (eg US 4612809, EP 0045265, ), imitation truncated pyramid with rectangular base (eg US 2022240893). Nose or apex having a sort of rounding forming ridges at the periphery (eg US 2022240893, CN 213097979U, EP 3865072). Nose or apex whose transverse end is limited to the acoustic window (eg US 2022240893, EP 3865072) or on the contrary includes an surround around the acoustic window (eg WO 9935969). Nose or apex with simple curvature (eg EP 3865072, EP 3884872).

[0014] Furthermore, it is important that the nose of the probe and the apex of the housing (including the acoustic window) are shaped and arranged so as to be able to be brought into contact with the desired exocavity region of the skin of the body, as well as moved and oriented according to needs and, if necessary, even somewhat embedded in the body, while remaining operational and without generating excessive pain in the subject examined.

[0015] The question then arises of how to conform and arrange the nose of the probe and the apex of the housing (including the acoustic window) to satisfy the preceding conditions, when the probe is not of specific and limited use. , but on the contrary is versatile.

[0016] For exclusively sedentary use, the ultrasound machine typically includes a trolley on wheels connected to the probe by cables (e.g. US 5353354, US 2022240893), which is bulky and heavy. For semi-nomadic use, portable ultrasound machines are known, like laptop computers (e.g. EP 3080778, US 2010234734). And, with a view to completely nomadic use, in any location, we know of lighter ultrasound machines in which the probe is associated with a smart mobile telephone, that is to say a portable digital device capable of executing a programmed application suitable for to the execution of certain functionalities, which perhaps not only a mobile phone but also a tablet or other (e.g. WO 2009149499, US 2003097071).

[0017] Here we qualify as "multipurpose" a probe or an ultrasound machine including a probe, which, intrinsically, of construction, and without the need to carry out one or more dismantling, is suitable for different uses, in different ways, and in different contexts, i.e. is not specific and limited. Thus, is versatile, which can allow different examinations and concern different organs, at different depths and application of the probe on different regions of the skin of the subject's body, through movements, different orientations, and, the if necessary, a certain depression in the body. Is versatile, which can be used both sedentary and nomadic: in a medical center, in a practitioner's office, at a patient's home, or in any other non-medical place (e.g. the street, a public space, a means of transport, etc.). Is versatile, which can be implemented both in a planned and organized way (such as in a medical center), or in any other way (e.g. emergency situation, disaster or gathering, etc.). Is versatile, which concerns a routine examination or a first diagnostic orientation. Is versatile, which is for resident use or is easily transportable for nomadic use.

[0018] A condition for the versatility of the probe - and of the ultrasound machine - is that it can operate with transducers having different frequencies, adapted to the organ to be examined (as taught in particular by US 4773268 and FR 2943796). To satisfy this condition, probes with two front and rear active heads have been proposed (eg CN 21913238, WO 2022068095) and probes whose head is separable from the handle (eg FR2943796). However, these achievements are complex with inherent drawbacks. Multi-frequency, sectoral probes have also been proposed, comprising on the same head several ultrasonic transducers subject to oscillating mechanical scanning (eg US 4773268). The question then arises of how to conform and arrange the nose of the probe and the apex of the housing (including the acoustic window) to take into account that the probe includes several transducers with several different frequencies.

[0019] KR 2010 0047392 relates to a probe for an ultrasound diagnostic system, which comprises: a modular unit comprising a plurality of transducers arranged in different directions and having different frequency bands; a position changing unit that changes the position of the transducer; and a control unit that controls the operation of the position change unit. A first transducer and a second transducer are provided, and the position change unit rotates the first and the second transducer according to the diagnosis area.

[0020] KR 2010 0047393 relates to a probe and associated ultrasonic diagnostic equipment for selectively using a suitable transducer by establishing a plurality of transducers generating an ultrasonic wave which has a different frequency band in a probe. Thus, a probe includes a first transducer, a second transducer and a first transducer selection unit. The first transducer is installed in a housing. The first transducer transmits an ultrasound signal that has a predetermined frequency band to an object. The first transducer receives an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object. The first transducer includes a piezoelectric layer, a matching layer and a lens layer. The second transducer is installed in a housing identical to that of the first transducer. The second transducer is arranged in the first transducer in a row. The first transducer selection unit selects the first transducer and the second transducer.

[0021] US 2009/177088 relates to a short axis scanning type ultrasonic wave probe configured such that: a plurality of strip-shaped piezoelectric elements are arranged in a long axis direction, which is a direction transversal of the piezoelectric elements, so as to form a group of flat piezoelectric elements; the piezoelectric element group is housed in a sealed container filled with a liquid which functions as an ultrasonic wave medium; and the piezoelectric element group is mechanically swept in a short axis direction, which is a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric elements, and the piezoelectric element group is linearly moved in the short axis direction so as to be mechanically swept . Thus, the invention relates to a short-axis mechanical scanning probe in which the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving surface thereof can be easily brought into contact with a protruding section (such as a breast) of a subject human body, while achieving excellent lateral resolution. SUMMARY

[0022] There is a need to have a 2D exocavity probe, capable of operating in mode B, and an ultrasound machine comprising such a probe which are versatile, in the sense in which the term versatile has previously been defined. This versatility means that the probe can work with transducers having different frequencies.

[0023] There is a need to have an exocavity probe which is also robust, reliable, easy to use, of limited cost, and with minimal maintenance requirements.

[0024] For the same purpose, there is a need to have an exocavity probe which provides good image quality, in particular avoiding or reducing negative effects such as acoustic attenuation, echoes, reverberations, and other artifacts. imaging that can bias the information sought by ultrasound and make it impossible to interpret the images obtained or cause errors.

[0025] For the same purpose, there is a need to have an exocavitary probe whose nose can be placed in contact with any appropriate exocavitary region of the skin of the body (including intercostal), moved and oriented according to needs. and, if necessary, even somewhat buried in the body, while remaining operational and without generating excessive pain in the subject examined.

[0026] For the same purpose, there is a need to have an exocavity probe whose nose of the probe and the apex of the housing (including the acoustic window) are adapted to a production with several transducers subject to scanning mechanical oscillating, these transducers having several different frequencies.

[0027] These are the problems to which the invention provides a solution.

[0028] For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an exocavitary ultrasound probe for examining an organ of a subject located in a part of the subject's body at a certain depth and 'a certain width, having a frame of reference with three axes/directions: rear-front axis, right-left direction and bottom-top direction and a frame of reference with three planes: cut-scan plane, contact plane and sagittal plane, the probe having a probe head including a terminal nose and being such that:

- a housing comprises a front housing element formed by a curved front housing wall, the front housing element including a terminal apex incorporating an acoustic window,

- the front wall of the housing comprises an apex wall and a peripheral side wall with a peripheral rear edge delimiting a rear opening, and has a convex exterior face and a concave interior face

- the exterior face of the apex wall comprises a skin contact zone capable of being combined with an appropriate region of the skin of the body for examination, which includes the exterior face of the acoustic window,

- a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, each having a field of vision, carried by a support means rotatably mounted around a pivoting/beating axis of low-high direction BH,

- motor/drive means are capable of positioning a selected transducer opposite the acoustic window and subjecting it to mechanical scanning oscillating over a scanning stroke, so that the ultrasonic lines emitted by this transducer cover an investigation range defined by the field of vision / scanning stroke combination.

This probe is such that:

- the ultrasonic transducers are single-element, each having its own frequency, so as to be able to generate ultrasonic lines of several different frequencies, the selected transducer being chosen to have a frequency adapted, in particular, to the depth and/or width of the part of the body and the organ to be examined,

- the motor/drive means are chosen, arranged and adjusted, so as to be able to produce a mechanical sweep oscillating over several different sweeping strokes, control means setting the sweeping stroke as a function of the selected single-element transducer,

- the head has its largest dimension in the right-left direction DG and its largest dimension in the bottom-top direction BH, in the vicinity of the rear opening, and its overall dimension in the right-left direction DG is greater than its overall dimension in the low-high direction BH,

- the head has its largest dimension in the rear-front direction AA in the vicinity of the axis passing through the centers of the rear opening and the acoustic window,

- the apex and the acoustic window are doubly curved, in the right-left direction DG and in the low-high direction BH,

[0030] the dimension of the acoustic window in the right-left direction DG is chosen so as to be suitable for the passage of the ultrasonic lines of the single-element transducer having the greatest extent of investigation.

[0031] According to embodiments, the single-element ultrasonic transducers are focused. In particular, it is provided with at least two focal lengths between 10 mm and 70 mm, in particular two frequencies among 20 mm +/- 10%, 35 mm +/- 10%, and 60 mm +/- 10%, in particular comprising three focused transducers with three focal lengths being 20mm, 35mm and 60mm.

[0032] According to achievements:

- the overall dimension of the head in the right-left direction is of the order of 2 to 3 times its overall dimension in the bottom-top direction, and/or

- the overall dimension of the head in the rear-front direction is close to its overall dimension in the bottom-top direction, and/or

- the probe includes a single acoustic window and/or

- the dimension of the acoustic window in the right-left direction is larger than its dimension in the bottom-top direction, of the order of 3 to 4 times.

[0033] According to embodiments, the probe comprises two to five single-element transducers, capable of generating ultrasonic lines with at least two different frequencies between 2 MHz and 10 MHz, in particular two frequencies among 3.5 +/- 10% MHz, 5 +/- 10% MHz, and 7.5 +/- 10% MHz, specifically comprising three transducers with three different frequencies being 3.5 +/- 10% MHz, 5 +/- 10% MHz , and 7.5 +/- 10% MHz.

[0034] According to embodiments, the probe comprises at least two different scanning strokes, in particular two scanning strokes of 60° +/- 10% and 90° +/- 10%, the control means setting the scanning stroke being provided so that the sweeping stroke of 60° +/- 10% is that of the single element transducer having the lowest frequency and that the sweeping stroke of 90° +/- 10% is that of the single element transducer having the greatest frequency.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the acoustic window is made of a material chosen to have an acoustic impedance close to that of water, in particular polymethylpentene, the acoustic coupling liquid is chosen to have an acoustic impedance close to that of the water, in particular mono-propylene glycol, the thickness of the acoustic window, greater than half the wavelength in the material at the smallest frequency of the transducers, is determined so that the acoustic window is, on the one hand, sufficiently rigid not to be deformed when it is in contact with the appropriate region of the skin, depressed if necessary, and, on the other hand, capable of allowing the passage of ultrasonic lines.

[0036] According to embodiments, the acoustic window has a thickness which, within +/- 10%, is the same over its entire extent, in particular has a thickness of 2.20 mm +/- 20%.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the interior face and the exterior face of the acoustic window are inclined on the ultrasonic lines emitted by the selected transducer, if not the ultrasonic line passing through the rear-front axis.

[0038] According to embodiments, the apex wall and the peripheral side wall of the front wall of the housing form a single one-piece, single-material wall, produced by molding, with a thickness (e) smaller for the acoustic window and a greater thickness (E) outside the acoustic window, in particular the thickness e of the acoustic window is between 0.5 and 0.9 the thickness E outside the acoustic window.

[0039] According to embodiments, the exterior face of the apex wall and the peripheral side wall of the front wall of the housing is flat in the sense of being devoid of hollows or pronounced reliefs such as roundings forming edges, the exterior face and the interior face of the apex wall being either textured or untextured.

According to one characteristic, the apex wall has a shape resembling that of a torus portion.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the acoustic window has an oblong shape projected onto the contact plane, the long side of which is in the sweep-cut plane, in particular an oblong shape with two terminal roundings.

[0042] According to the embodiments, the skin contact zone comprises the exterior face of the acoustic window and, where appropriate, the exterior face of a window surround forming part of the apex.

[0043] According to one characteristic, the exterior face of the acoustic window has, in the cut-scan plane PB, a parametric polynomial curve profile, like a curve Bézier or similar to a Bézier curve.

[0044] According to one characteristic, the exterior face of the acoustic window has, in the sweep plane, a curved arcuate profile, symmetrical with respect to the rear-front axis, and comprising a median curved section. In particular, in the cut-scan plane, the exterior face of the acoustic window has a curved arc profile comprising, in addition to the middle section, on either side and tangentially adjacent, two collateral curved sections tangentially adjacent to the wall peripheral side of the housing, the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section being greater than the radius of curvature in the right or left terminal end zone of each collateral section.

According to one characteristic, the center of the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section is spaced towards the rear of the pivot/beat axis of the plurality of single-element transducers. In particular, the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section is between 1.8 times and 2.4 times the radius of curvature in the right or left terminal end zone of each collateral section. The arc length of the middle section is between 2.4 times and 2.9 times the arc length of each collateral section. The opening angle of the middle section is equal, to within ± 10%, to the opening angle of each collateral section. The angle opening of the middle section is between 11° and 13°. The radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the middle section is between 90 mm and 110 mm, in particular equal to 100 mm ± 10%. The length of the arc of the middle section is between 22 mm and 30 mm, more particularly between 24.5 mm and 28.5 mm. The radius of curvature of the middle section decreases from its center, on both sides. The angle opening of each collateral section is between 11° and 13°. The radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of each collateral section is between 40 mm and 55 mm, in particular equal to 48 mm ± 10%. The length of the arc of each collateral section is between 8.5 mm and 11.5 mm, more particularly between 9.5 mm and 11 mm.

[0046] According to one characteristic, the exterior face of the front wall of the housing has, in the sweep plane, a curved profile comprising the profile of the exterior face of the acoustic window and on either side two sections of curved side of peripheral side wall sweep profile inclined relative to each other, being more mutually spaced towards the peripheral rear edge and less mutually spaced towards the acoustic window. In particular, the two curved side sections of the peripheral side wall sweep profile are inclined relative to each other, with a spacing towards the peripheral rear edge of 1.9 times to 2.4 times the distance towards the acoustic window.

[0047] According to one characteristic, in the sagittal plane of the probe, the exterior face of the acoustic window has a sagittal profile curved in an arc adjacent tangentially on either side, to two curved side sections of sagittal side wall profile peripheral inclined relative to each other, being more mutually spaced towards the peripheral rear edge and less mutually spaced towards the acoustic window. In particular, the center of the radius of curvature in the central zone of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window is spaced rearwardly from the pivot/beat axis of the plurality of single-element transducers. The radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window is between 22 mm and 28 mm. The arc length of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window is between 16mm and 20mm. The radius of curvature of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window decreases from its center, on both sides.

[0048] According to embodiments, the single-element ultrasonic transducers have a transverse contour of several different diameters, between 7 mm +/- 20% and 15 mm +/- 20%, the diameter of the transducer having the largest diameter being less than 0 .6 times the arc length of the acoustic window.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the transmitter/receiver faces of the plurality of transducers are located at similar distances from the pivot/beat axis, and in which there is a spacing between the front face of the selected transducer and the interior face of the acoustic window sufficient for the presence between these faces of acoustic coupling liquid.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the pivot/beat axis of the transducers is spaced from the exterior face of the acoustic window by a distance of around 18 mm to 22 mm.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the support means for the plurality of single-element ultrasonic transducers is a drum on which the transducers are fixed adjacently, and in which the motor/drive means comprise a single motor, in particular a stepper motor. or a brushless motor. In particular, with defects in the motor/drive means, there is an angular offset between the forward ultrasonic lines and the return ultrasonic lines and in which the probe includes a means for correcting the offset.

According to one embodiment, means capable of varying the scanning speed are associated with the motor/drive means.

[0053] According to one characteristic, the housing comprises a rear housing section having an extreme rear, outer face, forming a forward thrust zone of the probe, designed not to include any substantially projecting member, such as typically a permanent connection cable.

[0054] According to a second aspect, the subject of the invention is an ultrasound scanner, comprising a probe as described and complementary operating means, such as analog and digital electronic means, signal processing means, power supply means, control means, image display and processing means, recording means, communication means, computer processing means. In particular, the probe is functionally associated and without a connection cable with a portable digital device capable of executing a programmed application suitable for the execution of certain functionalities, such as in particular a mobile phone or a tablet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] [Fig. 1] is a perspective representation, from the outside, of a possible embodiment of a probe conforming to the invention in a situation where it can be brought onto the body of a subject for an ultrasound examination. In this figure, the probe head and its nose are located at the bottom while the rear section of the housing with its extreme rear face is located at the top. This figure shows more particularly the assembled elements of the case, including the front element, a middle section of the case and a rear section of the case with its extreme rear face.

[0056] [Fig. 2] is a representation, in substantially vertical plane, of the probe of fig. 1 laid flat on a substantially horizontal plane. This figure shows a frame of reference with three perpendicular axes/directions and a frame of reference with three perpendicular planes, namely a rear-front axis (arranged in the plane of fig. 2) which is the main extension axis of the probe , a right-left direction (arranged perpendicular to the plane of fig. 2) which is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the rear-front axis, a low-top direction (arranged in the plane of fig. 2) which is substantially vertical, a cut-sweep plane (arranged perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2) which is defined by the rear-front axis and the right-left direction, a contact plane (arranged perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2) which is defined by the right-left direction and the down-up direction, and a sagittal plane (which is in the plane of fig. 2) which is defined by the back-front axis and the down-up direction.

[0057] [Fig. 3] is a representation, in perspective and in use, of an ultrasound machine according to the invention, comprising a probe such as that of fig. 1. This figure shows the probe, a mobile phone forming part of the ultrasound machine, the hands of the operating practitioner holding the mobile phone and the probe respectively, the skin of the subject with which is in contact, with a slight depression, the head of the the probe.

[0058] [Fig. 4] is an elevation representation of the front housing element (corresponding to the probe head), with the housing apex (corresponding to the probe nose), showing the elevation part of the exterior face of the front wall of housing (apex wall and peripheral side wall). This figure shows the acoustic window and the rear edge of the front enclosure element.

[0059] [Fig. 5] is a side representation of the front housing element of fig. 4, showing the side part of the exterior face of the front wall of the housing (apex wall and peripheral side wall). This figure shows the acoustic window and the rear edge of the front enclosure element.

[0060] [Fig. 6] is a representation, in the forward direction of the probe, of the front housing element of fig. 4 showing the outer face and the inner face of the front housing wall, the inner face of the apex wall and the peripheral side wall, the acoustic window and the rear edge of the front housing element

[0061] [Fig. 7] is a representation, in the rear direction of the probe, of the front housing element of fig. 4 showing the exterior face of the front casing wall (apex wall and peripheral side wall), the acoustic window and the rear edge of the front casing element.

[0062] [Fig. 8] is a sectional representation according to the cut-scan plane and the line VIII-VIII of fig. 7, of the front housing element of fig. 4 showing the exterior face and the interior face of the front wall of the housing, namely its apex wall and its side wall peripheral, the acoustic window, the peripheral side wall of the housing, and the rear edge of the front housing element.

[0063] [Fig. 9] is a partial representation of fig. 8, on a larger scale. This figure illustrates that the acoustic window and the peripheral side wall of the front wall of the housing form a single one-piece wall having a thickness e smaller for the acoustic window and a thickness E greater outside the acoustic window, than the exterior face of the apex wall and the peripheral side wall of the front wall of the housing do not have any hollows or pronounced reliefs such as rounded edges forming edges, that the interior and exterior faces of the acoustic window are substantially parallel, and that the exterior face of the acoustic window has, in the cut-scan plane, a curved arc profile, comprising a median curved section and a collateral curved section tangentially adjacent to the peripheral side wall of the housing, of different radii of curvature.

[0064] [Fig. 10] is a sectional representation along the sagittal plane of the probe and the line X-X of fig. 4, of the front casing element showing the outer face and the inner face of the front casing wall, namely its apex wall and its peripheral side wall, the acoustic window and the rear edge of the element front of the case.

[0065] [Fig. 11] is a schematic representation in section according to the scan-cut plan illustrating the acoustic window, the adjoining parts of the apex of the front wall of the housing, the wet compartment of the probe with its watertight separation wall, filled with an acoustic coupling liquid, the drum carrying three focused single-element transducers of different frequencies and different focal lengths, with its pivot/beat axis. In this figure are illustrated the smallest sweeping stroke which is that of the transducer with the lowest frequency and the largest sweeping stroke which is that of the transducer with the highest frequency, the two sweeps intercepting the acoustic window.

[0066] [Fig. 12] is a schematic representation derived from that of fig. 11 showing the start of scanning of the selected focused single-element transducer activated at higher frequency and longer sweep stroke for shallow surface examination.

[0067] [Fig. 13] is a schematic representation similar to fig. 12 illustrating after the start of the scan.

[0068] [Fig. 14] is a schematic representation similar to Figs. 12 and 13 illustrating the end of the scan.

[0069] [Fig. 15] is a schematic representation derived from that of fig. 11 illustrating the start of the scan of the selected single element transducer, activated with a lower frequency and a smaller scanning stroke for a fairly deep examination.

[0070] [Fig. 16] is a schematic representation similar to fig. 15 illustrating after the start of the scan.

[0071] [Fig. 17] is a schematic representation similar to Figs. 15 and 16 illustrating the end of the scan.

[0072] [Fig. 18] is a schematic representation in section along the sagittal plane of the probe illustrating the acoustic window, the adjoining parts of the apex of the front wall of the housing, and a focused single-element transducer carried by a rotating drum. [0073] [Fig. 19] is a perspective representation which illustrates the relative movements of translation and rotation of the probe in relation to the body of the subject examined.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0074] The following description is made with reference to the drawings of the figures. The terms used must be understood and interpreted in light of the field of the invention, general knowledge and the state of the art presented previously and the definitions given subsequently.

[0075] A probe 1, according to the invention is an exocavitary ultrasound probe, which is versatile in the sense previously defined, that is to say suitable for different uses, in different ways, and in different contexts. The probe 1 comprises, on the one hand, a part forming a head 2 via which it can be made operational for a 2D ultrasound examination, in mode B, and on the other hand, a part forming a handle 3 through which it can be moved. Probe 1 is multi-frequency. It is sectoral. It comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 4 (subsequently transducers 4), of several frequencies, subject to an oscillating mechanical sweep, one of the transducers (referenced 4s) appropriate to the examination envisaged being selected according to the examination and activated . By “selected” applied to the transducer 4s, it should be understood that this particular transducer 4s, and it alone, was chosen, at the time considered and among the plurality of transducers 4, with a view to carrying out the ultrasound examination. By “activated” qualifying the 4s transducer, it must be understood that this transducer, which has been previously selected, emits and receives ultrasonic lines and thus participates in the desired ultrasound examination. The probe 1 comprises a probe housing 5 which encloses its other constituent elements (ultrasonic transducers, support means, motor/drive means, electronic means, communication means, power supply, etc.).

[0076] The probe 1 is intended to be integrated into an ultrasound machine further comprising, and in particular, complementary means such as analog and digital electronic means, signal processing, power supply, control, visualization and image processing, recording, communication, computer processing, etc. In this case (fig. 3), the ultrasound machine comprises, in addition to the probe 1, a portable digital device 6 including means for executing a programmed application adapted to the execution of a functionality, such as for example a smart mobile telephone or a digital tablet. The probe 1 and the portable digital device 6 comprise reciprocal communication means which, once implemented, can operate in particular by the WI-FI or Bluetooth protocol or even the Internet protocol, so as to be functionally associated, but without cable connection between the probe 1 and the portable digital device 6. The preceding constructive arrangements allow nomadic use of the probe 1 and contribute to its versatile character and that of the ultrasound machine.

[0077] The detailed description relates to a probe 1 with a single head 2 inseparable from the handle 3. The plurality of transducers 4 is then associated with a single and same active head 2 which, normally, cannot and must not be dissociated of the handle 3. In other embodiments not shown, the probe comprises 1 two heads provided with transducers and/or the head(s) can be separated from the handle 3. [0078] The probe 1, and the ultrasound machine which includes it, is intended to carry out a medical examination of an organ OR (eg heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, subcutaneous tissues, etc.) of the body CO of a subject (human being or animal), located in a part of the body CO located at a certain depth (depth variable depending on the organs, and which can be between a few millimeters and around twenty centimeters) in relation to the skin PE , and having a certain width, and this by imaging using ultrasound using transducers. For this purpose, depending on the desired examination, an operator OP determines an appropriate region of the skin of the body RAP (by ellipse appropriate region of the skin) which is a limited defined surface of the skin PE on which the operator OP can then put the probe 1 in contact, orient it, and if necessary push it in moderately a little, so as to be able to carry out the desired examination. Fig. 3 shows a hand of the operator OP manipulating the probe 1 and holding the portable digital device 6 by his other hand.

[0079] The probe 1 is moved by the operator OP so as to be brought into contact with the appropriate region of the skin RAP, by the head 2, more precisely via a limited part of the exterior face 7 of the housing 5 called skin contact zone 8, which zone includes the exterior face 7a of an acoustic window 9. A GE ultrasound gel is previously deposited on the appropriate region of the RAP skin (fig. 3, 12 - 17). Such a GE ultrasound gel, known or within the reach of those skilled in the art, is a hypoallergenic water-soluble aqueous gel whose acoustic impedance is close to the acoustic impedance of water, itself close to the impedance PE skin acoustics. “Skin contact” must be understood to mean that the probe 1 is in contact with the skin PE through the presence between them - with contact on both sides - of the GE ultrasound gel previously deposited.

[0080] Motor/drive means 10, forming part of the probe 1, are arranged, can be controlled, and operate, to ensure pivoting and/or beating, respectively as needed, in the cutting plane only. -PB scanning, of the plurality of transducers 4 (including the beat of the selected and activated transducer 4s), carried by and fixed to a rotating drum 11 (or barrel, and more generally a rotary support means), rotatably mounted around a pivoting/beating axis lia (fig. 11 - 18). In a possible, but not exclusive, embodiment, the motor/drive means 10 comprise a single motor - and in particular a stepper motor or a brushless motor (called brushless) - in direct drive or in indirect drive through the intermediary pulleys, belts, gears, etc. with the drum 11. The motor/drive means 10 provide a pivoting function and a scanning function. By “pivoting”, it is necessary to understand ensuring a rotation of the selected transducer 4s (and consecutively that of the plurality of transducers 4), the angular amplitude of which is suitable for placing this selected transducer 4s facing the acoustic window 9. beat", it is necessary to understand ensuring a rotation of the selected transducer 4s (and consecutively that of the plurality of transducers 4) specific to the selected transducer 4s ensuring a mechanical oscillating back and forth scanning, facing the acoustic window 9, on a certain angular scanning stroke, so that, activated, this 4s transducer participates, during the oscillating mechanical scanning, in the examination envisaged (fig. 12 - 17). “Oscillating mechanical sweep” must be understood here as relating to an arrangement and a mode of operation in which the motor/drive means 10 ensure the rotational movement of the drum 11 and the plurality of transducers 4 which it carries, and therefore in particular of the transducer ultrasound selected 4s, oscillating alternately in one direction and the other on the scanning stroke, in the only scanning cut plane PB, around the pivoting/beating axis lia, with regard to of a 2D probe. “Scanning stroke” of an ultrasonic transducer 4i designates the surface field covered by the transducer 4i during its scanning movement around the pivoting/beating axis lia, that is to say the angle of the sector from the transducer 4i, in which the transducer 4i is moved. Appropriate control means (control, start of rotation, end of rotation) of the motor/drive means 10 are provided, so that the motor/drive means 10 begin and end the appropriate rotation (pivot rotation and beating rotation, respectively, with the respective amplitude and stroke), so that the drum 11 is positioned, and rotated (pivoting and beating) as appropriate for the selected transducer (namely its positioning facing the window acoustic 9 and its oscillating beat in front of it). With the motor/drive means 10 envisaged, there may be, during scanning, an angular offset between the forward ultrasonic lines and the return ultrasonic lines. To overcome this, the probe 1 can then include a means of correcting such an offset. For the purposes of the examination (fig. 19), the operator OP can move the probe 1 in relation to the body CO, i.e. slide it on the skin PE (arrows GL), orient it in relation to the body CO (arrows PI), and if necessary push it into the body CO (arrow EN), by pushing the housing 5 forward, by means of a local deformation DE of the skin PE, where the probe 1 is supported. The other means of probe 1 and the complementary means of the ultrasound machine are also used to ultimately produce images of the OR organ examined. By sectoral probe 1, it is necessary to understand an arrangement and a mode of operation in which the ultrasonic exploration lines of an ultrasonic transducer are divergent, and a sector of a circle explored.

[0081] It is not excluded that during the envisaged examination, the operator OP wishes to implement one (or more) other transducers which is then selected and brought next to the acoustic window 9 by a pivoting of the drum 11 making it possible to move from one transducer to another. This operation can be carried out without dismantling or moving the probe nose in contact with the skin and by a simple command. This possibility offered by probe 1 contributes to its versatility and that of the ultrasound machine.

[0082] By acoustic window 9, we designate here the element of the housing 5 structurally designed and arranged so that, on the one hand, it can be crossed by the ultrasonic lines from the activated ultrasonic transducer 4s towards the organ OR to be examined and returning to the activated transducer 4s (fig. 12 - 17), on the other hand, by means of the skin contact zone 8, be brought into contact, oriented, pressed if necessary, relative to the appropriate region of the skin RAP ( Fig. 3, 19). The exterior face 20a of the acoustic window 9 is included in the skin contact zone 8 which, where appropriate, also includes an exterior face of peripheral surrounding 9a around the acoustic window 9 (fig. 7, 8, 10, 12 - 17). Probe 1 includes a single and unique acoustic window 9. An acoustic window 9 as it has just been defined should not be confused with what is sometimes called “window” (and even acoustic window in certain prior art documents ) and which, from an anatomical point of view, is a region of the body free of obstacles such as bones, hard cartilage, etc. which could hinder the examination of the desired organ.

[0083] Referring to fig. 2, we can define for the probe 1 and its constituent elements (such as in particular the housing 5), a frame of reference with three perpendicular axes/directions and a frame of reference with three perpendicular planes. The axes/directions of the three-axis/direction frame of reference are designated by considering probe 1 lying flat on a horizontal plane, which is typically the position where probe 1 is not in use, but waiting for use. A rear-front axis AA, substantially horizontal, is the main extension axis of probe 1 (and of housing 5), passing through its elongated central part. “Front” describes what is directed towards the CO body when probe 1 is in operation and “rear” describes what is directed away from the CO body. A right-left direction DG is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the axis AA. A low-high direction BH is substantially vertical, the pivoting/beating axis lia having the low-high direction BH. Of course, the probe 1 can be found in space in any position other than placed flat on a horizontal plane and, in fact, it is during its operation (fig. 3). Consequently, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are not limiting. The planes of the three-plane reference frame are designated in particular by considering the operation of the probe 1. It is a cut-scan plane PB, a contact plane PC and a plane called here, relative to probe 1, sagittal plane PS. The cut-sweep plane PB is defined by the rear-front axis AA and the right-left direction DG. The PC contact plane is defined by the right-left direction DG and the bottom-top direction BH. The sagittal plane PS is defined by the rear-front axis AA and the low-high direction BH. The term “cut-scan plane” refers to the plane in which the ultrasonic lines propagate and move. Since this is a 2D probe, there is one and only one cut-scan plane. The expression "contact plane" refers to the cutaneous plane of contact between the appropriate region of the RAP skin and the skin contact zone 8. The term "sagittal" refers to the median and longitudinal character of the plane thus called, virtually separating the probe 1 on a right side and a left side.

[0084] Concerning the probe 1, we distinguish the probe head 2 and a probe nose 12 (fig. 1, 3, 11 - 18). The probe head 2 (or by ellipse head 2) is - and designates - the front part of the probe 1 where the drum 11 and the plurality of transducers 4 are housed in particular. The probe nose 12 (or by ellipse nose 12) is - and designates more precisely - the extreme free front part of the head 2 where the acoustic window 9 and the skin contact zone 8 are located. The probe nose 12 is therefore part of the probe head 2. The probe 1 comprises, in addition to the head 8, a middle probe part 13 and a rear probe part 14 (fig. 1 - 3). The probe housing 5 (or ellipse housing 5) is a self-supporting element of the probe 1 formed by a rigid body as a whole, for example made of plastic material, hollow so as to delimit an interior space 15, sealed. This box 5 is movable (in particular is portable), and structurally designed and arranged to, on the one hand, support, house, protect the interior elements of the probe 1 and, on the other hand, by means of an ergonomic shape of the handle 3, be grasped, by the hand of the operator OP, moved, positioned (by contact, orientation, if necessary depression ) - by the skin contact zone 8 - in relation to the appropriate region of the skin RAP (fig. 3). “Interior” relating to an element of the probe 1 qualifies that this element is located in the interior space 15. “Exterior” relating to an element of the probe qualifies that this element is located outside the interior space 15. operator OP is a person but could also be a robot comprising an input interface for the housing 5. The detailed description relates to a probe 1 having a housing 5 of generally oblong shape extending entirely along the rear-front axis AA . In other embodiments not shown, the housing 5 has a general L-shaped bent shape with on one side the head which extends along the rear-front axis AA and on the other side, the handle which extends perpendicular to the rear-front axis AA.

[0086] Concerning the housing 5, we first distinguish a front housing element 16 and an apex of the housing 17 (fig. 4 - 10). The front housing element 16 (or by ellipse front element 16) is - and designates - the part of the housing 5 disposed at the front thereof, and corresponding to the head 2. The apex of the housing 17 (or by ellipse apex 17) is - and designates more precisely - the front free end part of the front element 16, corresponding to the nose 12. Thus, the apex 17 is part of the front element 16. The front housing element 16 comprises and more precisely is formed by a front wall of the housing 18, curved so as, firstly, to form an interior cavity to support, house and protect the elements of the probe 1 arranged inside the front element of housing 16, secondly, to create a passage for the ultrasonic lines (acoustic window 9), and, thirdly, to form the skin contact zone 8. A part of the front wall of housing 18, towards the front end, is an apex wall 18a of the apex 17 and another part extending from the apex 17 towards the rear is a peripheral side wall 18b. The apex wall 18a and the peripheral side wall 18b are a continuous extension of one another and are distinguished here for the purposes of the description. The front housing element 16, like its peripheral side wall 18b, extends rearwardly to a peripheral rear edge 19, more or less located in a plane parallel to a contact plane PC, which delimits a rear opening 19a. The front wall of the housing 18 has a convex exterior face 20a and a concave interior face 20b. Thus, the apex wall 18a, which has a shape resembling that of a torus portion, comprises an exterior face 20a and an interior face 20b and, likewise, the peripheral side wall 18b comprises an exterior face 20a and a inner face 20b. The exterior face 20a of the apex wall 18a comprises the skin contact zone 8 capable of being combined with the appropriate region of the skin RAP of the body CO for examination, which skin contact zone 8 includes the exterior face 20a of the acoustic window 9. The skin contact zone 8 may include, in addition to the exterior face 20a of the acoustic window 9, the exterior face of a peripheral surround 9a arranged around the acoustic window 9 and forming part of the apex 17. This outer face of peripheral surroundings 9a extends in some way the outer face 20a of the acoustic window 9, so that the skin contact zone 8 has a sufficient area to ensure suitable skin contact. [0087] Referring to FIGS. 1 - 5, 8, 10, 11 which show that the exterior face 20b of the apex wall 18a and the peripheral side wall 18b is flat. Here, “flat” has the meaning of being devoid of hollows or pronounced reliefs such as roundings forming edges of the type of those typically found in the front elements of housings and the apices designed to match the shape of transducer strips. electronic scanning. Such roundings forming edges can also be defined by a transverse radius of curvature of the order of a few millimeters. Such rounding forming edges would in fact have the effect of hollowing out or creasing the PE skin at the location of application of the probe 1, with inconvenience for the subject. This constructive arrangement does not exclude the exterior face 20a and/or the interior face 20b of the apex wall 18a, and more particularly of the acoustic window 9, from being textured. Consequently, the probe 1 is such that, depending on the embodiments, the exterior face 20a and/or the interior face 20b of the apex wall 18a, more particularly of the acoustic window 9, are textured or not textured, such texturing having a very low relief, much lower than a rounded edge, as it has just been exposed. The low texturing relief, if provided, does not have the effect of hollowing or wrinkling the PE skin at the location of application of the probe 1, and does not result in any inconvenience for the subject.

[0088] In the embodiment shown in the drawings of the figures, the apex wall 18a, and therefore the acoustic window 9, and the peripheral side wall 18b of the front wall of the housing 18 (including, where appropriate, the peripheral surround 9a) form a single single-piece, single-material wall, produced by molding, with a thickness e for the smaller acoustic window 9 and a greater thickness E outside the acoustic window (i.e. the peripheral side wall 18b and, where applicable, the peripheral surroundings 9a). For example, the thickness e of the acoustic window 9 is between 0.5 and 0.9 the thickness E outside the acoustic window 9.

The housing 5 is composed of several assembled elements, including the front element 16. These housing elements are rigid, hollow, and provided with means of rigid and waterproof reciprocal association, in particular towards their free edges, such as projections , grooves, glue, welding, or other. These housing elements are in the form of a solid wall. The design of these housing elements and their arrangement can be the subject of different embodiments. For example - and in a non-limiting manner - it can be provided, in addition to the front element 16, a single complementary element in the general shape of a closed pseudo-cylinder at the rear, or several complementary elements arranged along the rear axis -before AA, in a general pseudo-annular shape (fig. 1 - 3) or several complementary elements arranged on either side of the cutting plane PB, in a general pseudo-shell shape. Whatever the embodiment, we can define with regard to the housing 5, in addition to the front element 16, a middle section of the housing 21 and a rear section of the housing 22 comprising an extreme rear face 23, exterior, arranged in the rear part of probe 14, at the end opposite that of the apex 17 (fig. 1 - 3). The housing 5 has an ergonomic external shape so that it can be easily manipulated by the operator OP, in particular by its narrowed middle section 21, which is interposed between the front element 16 and the rear section 22, bulged (fig. 1 - 3). In the embodiment shown (fig. 3), the face extreme rear 23, exterior is curved and convex, and does not include any part or member protruding substantially, such as typically a permanently connecting cable, which would be an obstacle to this extreme rear face 23 forming a zone capable of allowing the probe 1 to be pushed forward, and on which the operator OP can press with the palm of the hand (arrow AP fig. 3), to push the probe 1 into the body CO, or to move it. This constructive arrangement does not exclude the presence in the extreme rear face 20 of one (or more) USB ports (for Universal Serial Bus) which, being recessed and of limited size, does not form a projection capable of hindering the support.

[0090] The probe 1 comprises several transducers 4a, 4b, etc., (that is to say the plurality of transducers 4), the reference 4i designating one (or more) transducer generically. In the probe 1 according to the invention, the transducers 4i are of the single-element type made of piezoelectric material, such as ceramic (eg PZT). In the description of the invention, the term “transducer” must be understood to specifically mean such an ultrasonic transducer of the piezoelectric single-element type. In itself, this type of transducer is known to those skilled in the art, both with regard to its nature, its function, the results it provides and the arrangement which concerns it. Such a 4i transducer can have a lateral shape resembling a cylinder with a transverse contour of several different diameters, between 7mm +/- 20% and 15 mm +/- 20%, depending on its focal length. In one embodiment, the diameter of the transducer having the largest diameter is less than 0.6 times the length of the arc of the acoustic window 9, in the cut-scan plane PB. The probe 1 comprises two to five transducers 4i, at least several of which have different characteristics (such as frequency). The probe 1 comprises in particular three transducers 4a, 4b and 4c (fig. 11 - 17). A 4i transducer has a certain field of vision, which is its ultrasonic field, that is to say the angle of the sector from the transducer - considered here stationary - in which the exploration lines are located (fig. 12, 15). This field of vision forms a narrow beam, which is why we can speak of an LU ultrasonic line. Each 4i transducer has its own operating frequency. The plurality of transducers 4 of the probe 1 therefore has the characteristic of having several different operating frequencies, in the frequency range between 2 MHz and 10 MHz, with in particular two frequencies among 3.5 +/- 10% MHz , 5 +/- 10% MHz, and 7.5 +/- 10% MHz. Thus, the transducers 4 can generate LU ultrasonic lines of several different frequencies. In the case of three transducers 4a, 4b and 4c, these can have three different frequencies, one specific to each transducer, being respectively 3.5 +/- 10% MHz, 5 +/- 10% MHz, and 7, 5 +/- 10% MHz. The transducers 4a, 4b and 4c are then different from each other. In the embodiment shown in the drawings of the figures (fig. 11 - 18), each of the transducers 4a, 4b and 4c is of the focused transducer type, as illustrated and symbolized by the concave front face 24 of the transducer. In itself, a focused transducer (or focusing or focusing) is known to those skilled in the art. We designate by focal distance the spacing between the front face of the transducer and the focal zone which is the region of space where the ultrasonic energy is concentrated. For example, at least two focal lengths may be provided between 10 mm and 70 mm, in particular two focal lengths among 20 mm +/- 10%, 35 mm +/- 10%, and 60 mm +/- 10%. With the probe 1 with three focused transducers 4a, 4b and 4c, shown in the drawings of the figures (fig. 11 - 17), three focal lengths are provided being 20 mm for the transducer 4c, 35 mm for the transducer 4b and 60 mm for transducer 4a. The smaller the frequency of the transducer, i.e. 3.5 MHz for the 4a transducer, the greater the focal length, i.e. 60mm, and the smaller the scanning stroke, i.e. 60°. The greater the frequency of the transducer, i.e. 7.5 MHz for the 4c transducer, the smaller the focal length, i.e. 20mm, and the greater the scanning stroke, i.e. 90°. With the achievements which have just been described, the plurality of transducers 4 also has the characteristic of having several different focal lengths. The probe 1 therefore comprises a plurality of transducers 4 with several frequencies and several focal lengths, which allows a medical examination in parts of the body CO of different depths and different widths, which thus contributes to the versatility of the probe 1.

The transducers 4i of the plurality of transducers 4 (including the selected and activated transducer 4s) are carried by the support drum 11 and rigidly fixed to it by any suitable means (screws, glue, etc.). The drum 11 is rotatably mounted around the pivot/beating axis lia of low-high direction BH (fig. 11 - 18). The drum 11 and its axis lia are housed in the front housing element 16, so that the selected transducer 4s is located in the apex 17 towards the acoustic window 9. More precisely, the drum 11 and the plurality of transducers 4 that it carries are housed in a wet compartment 25 of the probe 1, placed towards the front, in the rear-front axis AA, filled with an acoustic coupling liquid 25a typically chosen as it is known to man of the trade, to have an acoustic impedance close to that of water, in particular mono-propylene glycol (fig. 11 - 17). As is represented symbolically in the drawings of Figs. 11 - 17, a separation wall 25b is provided between the wet compartment 25 and a dry compartment 26 of the probe 1 enclosing in particular its electronic means. The separation wall 25b is in sealed contact with the interior face 20b of the front wall of the housing 18, so as to surround the apex wall 18a. Thus, the acoustic window 9 is located to the right of the wet compartment 25, its interior face 20b being in the wet compartment 25. The plane of the drum 11 is located in the sweep cut plane PB, or adjacent to it, so that the scan carried out by the transducers 4i is in the scan-cut plane PB. The pivot/beating axis lia of the drum 11 is fixed directly or indirectly to the housing 5. The transducers 4a, 4b and 4c are carried and fixed towards the periphery 11b of the drum 11, which is relatively flat, and whose thickness in the low-high direction BH is combined with the largest diameter of the transducers 4, in this case with the transducer 4c (fig. 11), so that the transducers 4 are substantially integrated into the drum 11, the axes of the transducers 4i passing substantially through the pivoting/beating axis lia and being substantially orthogonal to the low-high direction BH, the concave front faces 24 of the transducers being peripheral. The front emitting/receiving faces 24 of the transducers 4 are located at similar distances from the pivot/beating axis 11. A spacing 32 is provided between the front face 24 of the selected transducer 4s and the interior face 20b of the window acoustic 9. This spacing 32 is li- mited, so as to allow the rotation of the transducers 4, the presence of acoustic coupling liquid between the faces 24 and 20b, of acoustic coupling liquid, and to ensure proximity, in particular high proximity, such as the highest possible, between the front face 24 of the selected active transducer 4s and the interior face 20b of the acoustic window 9. For example, this spacing 32 is of the order of 6 mm. On the other hand, according to one embodiment, the pivoting/beating axis lia of the transducers 4 is spaced, along the rear-front axis AA, from the exterior face of the acoustic window by a distance of the order of 18 mm to 22 mm.

[0092] In the production of the drawings of the figures (fig. 11), the transducers 4a, 4b and 4c are carried and fixed to the periphery 11b of the drum 11 with adjacency, that is to say slightly spaced apart peripherally each of the one (or those) located next to it, the three 4a, 4b and 4c occupying around half of the periphery 11b of the drum 11, while around half of the periphery 11b of the drum 11 is devoid of 4i transducers. Reference made to fig. 11, and by rotating counterclockwise, the transducer 4a (of intermediate diameter) is followed alongside by the transducer 4b (of smaller diameter), itself followed alongside by the transducer 4c (largest diameter). This constructive arrangement has the effect of limiting the extent of the pivoting movement of the drum 11 which is necessary to select a transducer 4s other than that which was previously selected. With the motor/drive means 10, the drum 11 (and with it the transducers) can, on the one hand, be pivoted by the angular amplitude between two transducers 4b-4c, or 4b-4a, or 4c-4a , or vice versa, so as to arrange the selected transducer 4s opposite the acoustic window 9, arrangement in which the selected transducer 4s is activated (e.g. fig. 15 vs. fig. 12). And the drum 11 can, on the other hand, be pivoted, in one direction and the opposite direction, over a certain stroke or amplitude, so that the selected transducer 4s, activated, is subject and driven to a forward oscillating mechanical sweep ( fig. 12 -14 and 15 - 17) and return, the ultrasonic lines LU ensuring scanning in the cutting plane PB. Subsequently, the LU ultrasonic lines emitted by the selected transducer 4s, activated, cover an investigation range defined by the combination of the field of view and the scanning path. This is how the selected and activated transducer, 4s, ensures the ultrasound examination (fig. 12 - 17). The other unselected transducers are also moved, but have not been activated.

[0093] The plurality of transducers 4 of the probe 1 also has the characteristic of having several different scanning strokes. For this purpose, the motor/drive means 10 are chosen, arranged, adjusted and controlled, so as to be able to produce these different scanning strokes. In the embodiment shown in the drawings of the figures, the probe 1 comprises at least two different scanning strokes, in particular two scanning strokes of respectively 90° +/- 10% (fig. 12 - 14) and 60° +/ - 10% (fig. 15 - 17). The means for controlling the motor/drive means 10 are designed and arranged so that the scanning stroke of 90° +/- 10% is that of the transducer having the highest frequency and that the scanning stroke of 60° + /- 10% i.e. that of the transducer having the lowest frequency. Thus, the control means set the scanning stroke as a function of the selected transducer 4s.

[0094] With the plurality of transducers 4, the different frequencies, the focal lengths and finally the different scanning strokes, it is possible to carry out medical examinations at different depths and according to several investigation widths. The selected transducer 4s is chosen to have a frequency adapted, in particular, to the depth and/or width of the part of the body CO and the organ OR to be examined. The ultrasound machine and more especially the probe 1 includes an “on-off” control 27 (fig. 1) and a control 28 for the desired setting and therefore the selected transducer 4s. For example, it may involve controlling one of the possible frequencies Fp, Fi, Fs on the portable digital device (fig. 3), or else controlling one of the central examination depths. In addition, the probe 1 may include means capable of varying the scanning speed which are associated with the motor/drive means 10.

[0095] The acoustic window 9, the apex wall 18a, and the peripheral side wall 18b are made of a material chosen to have an acoustic impedance close to that of water, in particular polymethylpentene. The thickness of the acoustic window 9 is greater than half the wavelength in the material at the lowest frequency of the transducers 4 and it is determined so that the acoustic window 9 is, on the one hand, sufficiently rigid so as not to be deformed when in contact with the appropriate region of the RAP skin, depressed if necessary, and, on the other hand, capable of allowing the passage of the LU ultrasonic lines. The acoustic window 9 has a thickness e which, within +/- 10%, is the same over its entire extent, in particular has a thickness of 2.20 mm +/- 20%.

[0096] The characteristics of shape, dimensions and arrangement of the front housing element 16 with its housing apex 17, including the acoustic window 9, are adapted to the existence of the plurality of transducers 4 of different frequencies, of different focal lengths, with several scanning strokes, mounted movable with pivoting and mechanical scanning, as has just been exposed and to the versatility objective previously exposed. They are also adapted so that the probe 1 is robust, reliable, easy to use, of limited cost, and with minimal maintenance requirements. They are also adapted so that the probe 1 provides good image quality, in particular avoiding or reducing negative effects such as acoustic attenuation, echoes, reverberations, and other imaging artifacts which may bias the information sought by the ultrasound and make it impossible to interpret the images obtained or cause errors. They are also adapted so that the nose can be brought into contact with any appropriate exocavitary region of the PE skin of the body CO (including intercostal, fig. 15 - 17), moved and oriented as needed and, where appropriate , even somewhat buried in the body, while remaining operational and without generating excessive pain in the subject examined. These characteristics of shape, dimensions and arrangement emerge from - and are illustrated by - the schematic drawings, in particular figs. 4 - 10.

[0097] Thus, in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 4, 5), the head 2, and more particularly the front housing element 16, has its largest dimension LOT in the right-left direction DG. It presents its largest LOT dimension in the direction right-left DG and its largest dimension LAT in the bottom-top direction BH, in the vicinity of the rear opening 19a, the peripheral rear edge of which may include a re-entrant recess 19b (fig. 1, 4, 8). Its overall dimension LOT in the right-left direction DG is larger than its overall dimension LAT in the bottom-top direction BH, for example by around 2 to 3 times (fig. 4, 5). The head 2, and more particularly the front housing element 16, has its largest dimension HAT in the rear-front direction AA in the vicinity of Axe passing through the centers of the rear opening 19a and the acoustic window 9. This overall dimension HAT is close to its overall dimension LAT in the low-high direction BH.

[0098] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 - 18), the apex 17 and the acoustic window 9, namely more precisely the wall of apex 18a which includes the acoustic window 9, are doubly curved, in the right-left direction DG and in the bottom-top direction BH, which gives a shape resembling that of a portion of a torus.

[0099] The acoustic window 9 has an oblong shape projected onto the contact plane PC, with two long sides 29a, rectilinear, parallel to the sweep plane PB, and two short sides 29b, forming two terminal roundings. The acoustic window 9 is arranged so that it is cut by the cut-scan plane PB, which is also the scanning plane of the ultrasonic lines LU of the selected transducer 4s. The LOF dimension of the unique acoustic window 9 in the right-left direction DG is chosen so as to be suitable for the passage of the ultrasonic lines LU of the transducer 4 having the greatest extent of investigation, in particular the greatest scanning stroke, namely the transducer 4b (fig. 12 - 14). This LOF dimension of the acoustic window 9 is larger than its LAF dimension in the low-high direction BH, of the order for example of 3 to 4 times (fig. 7).

[0100] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 12 - 18), the interior face 20b and the exterior face 20a of the acoustic window 9, parallel to each other, are inclined on the ultrasonic lines LU emitted by the selected transducer 4s, if not the ultrasonic line passing through the rear-front axis AA. Where appropriate, the acoustic window 9 has exterior and interior faces 20a, 20b which are textured.

[0101] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 8, 9), the exterior 20a and interior 20b faces of the acoustic window 9 present, in the sweep plane PB, a polynomial curve profile parametric, such as a Bézier curve or similar to a Bézier curve. This profile is curved in an arc, arranged symmetrically with respect to the rear-front axis AA, and comprises a median curved section 30 and, in addition, on either side and tangentially adjacent, two collateral curved sections 31, which are tangentially adjacent to the peripheral side wall 18b of the housing. The radius of curvature in the central zone 30a of the middle section 30 is greater than the radius of curvature in the terminal end zone 31a, right or left, of each collateral section 31.

[0102] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 11), the center 33 of the radius of curvature in the central zone 30a (towards the rear-front axis AA) of the middle section 30 is spread towards the rear of the pivot/beating axis lia of the drum 11 and transducers 4. For example, the radius of curvature in the central zone 30a of the middle section 30 is between 1.8 times and 2.4 times the radius of curvature in the terminal end zone 31a of a collateral section 31 In one embodiment, the length of the arc of the middle section 30 can be between 22 mm and 30 mm, more particularly between 24.5 mm and 28.5 mm while the length of the arc of each collateral section 31. can be between 8.5 mm and 11.5 mm, more particularly between 9.5 mm and 11 mm. Furthermore, the length of the arc of the middle section 30 can be between 2.4 times and 2.9 times the arc length of each collateral section 31. The corner opening of the middle section 30 can be included between 11° and 13° while the angle opening of each collateral section 31 can be between 11° and 13°. Furthermore, the opening angle of the middle section 30 can be equal, to within ± 10%, to the opening angle of each collateral section 31. The radius of curvature of the window 9, and in particular of the middle section 30, decreases from its center (rear-front axis AA), on both sides, to the right and to the left. The radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the middle section 30 can be between 90 mm and 110 mm, in particular equal to 100 mm ± 10% while the radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of each collateral section 31 can be between 40 mm and 55 mm, in particular equal to 48 mm ± 10%.

[0103] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 1, 4, 19), the exterior face of the front wall of the housing 18 presents, in the sweep cutting plane PB, a curved profile comprising the profile of the exterior face 20b of the acoustic window 9 and on either side two side sections 34, being two curved sections of sweep-cut profile of peripheral side wall 18b, inclined relative to each other, being more mutually spaced towards the peripheral rear edge 19 and less mutually spaced towards the acoustic window 9. For example, the two side sections 34 are inclined relative to each other, with a spacing towards the peripheral rear edge 19 of the order of 1.9 times to 2.4 times the spacing towards the acoustic window 9.

[0104] Thus, still in the production of the schematic drawings of the figures (fig. 5, 18), in the sagittal plane PS of the probe 1, the exterior face 20a of the acoustic window 9 has a sagittal profile curved in an arc tangentially adjacent on either side, with two side sections 35, being two curved sections of sagittal profile of peripheral side wall 18b inclined relative to each other, being more spaced apart from each other towards the peripheral rear edge 19 and less spaced apart mutually towards the acoustic window 9. For example, the center of the radius of curvature in the central zone of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window 9 is moved towards the rear of the pivot/beat axis lia. The radius of curvature of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window 9 decreases from its center, on both sides. For example, the radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window 9 is between 22 mm and 28 mm and the length of the arc of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window 9 is between 16mm and 20mm.

Claims

Claims [Claim 1] Exocavitary ultrasound probe (1) for examining an organ (OR) of a subject located in a part of the body (CO) thereof at a certain depth and of a certain width, having a frame of reference with three axes/directions: rear-front axis (AA), right-left direction (DG) and direction down-up (BH) and a frame of reference with three planes: cut-sweep plane (PB), contact plane (PC) and sagittal plane (PS), the probe (1) having a probe head (2) including a terminal nose (12) and being such that: - a housing (5) comprises a front housing element (16) formed by a curved front housing wall (18), the front housing element (16) including a terminal apex (17) incorporating an acoustic window (9) ), - the front wall of the housing (18) comprises an apex wall (18a) and a peripheral side wall (18b) with a peripheral rear edge (19) delimiting a rear opening (19a), and has an exterior face (20a) convex and a concave interior face (20b), - the exterior face (20a) of the apex wall (18a) comprises a skin contact zone (8) capable of being combined with an appropriate region of the skin (RAP) of the body (CO) for examination , which includes the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9), - a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (4), each having a field of vision, carried by a support means (11) rotatably mounted around a pivoting/beating axis (l ia) of low-high direction (BH) , - motor/drive means (10) are capable of positioning a selected transducer (4s) facing the acoustic window (9) and subjecting it to mechanical scanning oscillating over a scanning stroke, so that the ultrasonic lines (LU) emitted by this transducer (4s) cover an investigation area defined by the field of vision / scanning stroke combination, characterized in that: - the ultrasonic transducers (4) are single-element, each having its own frequency, so as to be able to generate ultrasonic lines (LU) of several different frequencies, the selected transducer (4s) being chosen to have a frequency adapted, in particular, to the depth and/or width of the body part (CO) and organ (OR) to be examined, - the motor/drive means (10) are chosen, arranged and adjusted, so as to be able to produce a mechanical sweep oscillating over several different sweeping strokes, control means setting the sweeping stroke as a function of the selected single-element transducer ( 4s), - the head (2) has its largest dimension in the right-left direction (DG) and its largest dimension in the bottom-top direction (BH), in the vicinity of the rear opening (19a), and its overall dimension in the right-left direction (DG) is larger than its overall dimension in the bottom-up direction (BH), - the head (2) has its largest dimension in the rear-front direction (AA) in the vicinity of the axis passing through the centers of the rear opening (19a) and the acoustic window (9), - the apex (17) and the acoustic window (9) are doubly curved, in the right-left direction (DG) and in the down-up direction (BH), - the dimension of the acoustic window (9) in the right-left direction (DG) is chosen so as to be suitable for the passage of the ultrasonic lines (LU) of the single-element transducer having the greatest investigation range. [Claim 2] Probe (1) according to claim 1, wherein the single-element ultrasonic transducers (4) are focused. [Claim 3] Probe (1) according to claim 2, with at least two focal lengths between 10 mm and 70 mm, in particular two frequencies among 20 mm +/- 10%, 35 mm +/- 10%, and 60 mm +/- 10%, in particular comprising three focused transducers (4a), (4b) and (4c), with three focal lengths being 60 mm, 35 mm and 20 mm. [Claim 4] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which: - the overall dimension of the head (2) in the right-left direction (DG) is of the order of 2 to 3 times its overall dimension in the bottom-top direction (BH), and/or - the overall dimension of the head (2) in the rear-front direction (AA) is close to its overall dimension in the bottom-top direction (BH), and/or - the probe (1) comprises a single acoustic window (9) and/or - the dimension of the acoustic window (9) in the right-left direction (DG) is larger than its dimension in the bottom-top direction (BH), of the order of 3 to 4 times. [Claim 5] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising two to five single-element transducers, capable of generating ultrasonic lines (LU) with at least two different frequencies between 2 MHz and 10 MHz, in particular two frequencies among 3.5 +/- 10% MHz, 5 +/- 10% MHz, and 7.5 +/- 10% MHz, specifically comprising three transducers (4a), (4b) and (4c) with three different frequencies being 3.5 +/- 10% MHz, 5 +/- 10% MHz, and 7.5 +/- 10% MHz. [Claim 6] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, with at least two different scanning strokes, in particular two scanning strokes of 60° +/- 10% and 90° +/- 10%, the control means setting the sweeping stroke being provided so that the sweeping stroke of 60° +/- 10% is that of the single-element transducer (4i) having the lowest frequency and that the sweeping stroke of 90° +/ - 10%, i.e. that of the single-element transducer (4i) having the highest frequency. [Claim 7] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the acoustic window (9) is made of a material chosen to have an acoustic impedance close to that of water, in particular polymethylpentene, acoustic coupling liquid is chosen to have an acoustic impedance close to that of water, in particular mono-propylene glycol, the thickness of the acoustic window (9), greater than half the wavelength in the material at the lowest frequency of the transducers (4), is determined so that the acoustic window (9) is, on the one hand, sufficiently rigid not to be deformed when it is in contact with the appropriate region of the skin (RAP), pressed if necessary, and, on the other hand, capable of allowing the passage of the ultrasonic lines (LU). [Claim 8] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the acoustic window (9) has a thickness which, within +/- 10%, is the same over its entire extent, in particular a a thickness of 2.20 mm +/- 20%. [Claim 9] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the interior face (20b) and the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) are inclined on the ultrasonic lines (LU) emitted by the selected transducer (4s), if not the ultrasonic line passing through the rear-front axis. [Claim 10] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the apex wall (18a) and the peripheral side wall (18b) of the front wall of the housing (18) form a single one-piece wall and mono-material, made by molding, with a smaller thickness (e) for the acoustic window (9) and a greater thickness (E) outside the acoustic window (9), in particular the thickness e of the acoustic window (9) is between 0.5 and 0.9 the thickness E outside the acoustic window (9). [Claim 11] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the exterior face (20a) of the apex wall (18a) and the peripheral side wall (18b) of the front wall of the housing ( 18) is flat in the sense of being devoid of hollows or pronounced reliefs such as roundings forming edges, the exterior face (20a) and the interior face (20b) of the apex wall (18a) being either textured or non-textured . [Claim 12] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the apex wall (18a) has the shape of a torus portion. [Claim 13] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which the acoustic window (9) has an oblong shape projected onto the contact plane, the long side (29a) of which is in the plane of sweep cutter (PB), in particular an oblong shape with two terminal roundings (29b). [Claim 14] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which the skin contact zone (8) comprises the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) and where appropriate the exterior face ( 20a) of a window surround (9a) forming part of the apex (17). [Claim 15] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, in which the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) has, in the scanning cut plane PB, a parametric polynomial curve profile , like a Bézier curve or similar to a Bézier curve. [Claim 16] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) has, in the sweep plane (PB), a curved profile in arc, symmetrical with respect to the rear-front axis (AA), and comprising a central curved section (30). [Claim 17] Probe (1) according to claim 16, in which, in the cutting-scanning plane PB, the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) has a curved arc profile comprising, in addition to the middle section (30), on either side and tangentially adjacent, two collateral curved sections (31) tangentially adjacent to the peripheral side wall (18b) of the housing (5), the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section (30) ) being greater than the radius of curvature in the right or left terminal end zone of each collateral section (31). [Claim 18] Probe (1) according to one of claims 16 and 17, in which the center of the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section (30) is spaced towards the rear of the pivot/beating axis (11a) of the plurality of single-element transducers (4). [Claim 19] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 and 18, in which the radius of curvature in the central zone of the middle section (30) is between 1.8 times and 2.4 times the radius of curvature in the right or left terminal end zone of each collateral section (31). [Claim 20] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 to 19, in which the arc length of the middle section (30) is between 2.4 times and 2.9 times the arc length of each collateral section (31). [Claim 21] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 to 20, in which the opening angle of the middle section (30) is equal, to within ± 10%, to the opening angle of each collateral section (31). [Claim 22] Probe (1) according to one of claims 16 to 21, in which the angle opening of the middle section (30) is between 11° and 13°. [Claim 23] Probe (1) according to one of claims 16 to 22, in which the radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the median section (30) is between 90 mm and 110 mm, in particular equal at 100 mm ± 10%. [Claim 24] Probe (1) according to one of claims 16 to 23, in which the length of the arc of the middle section (30) is between 22 mm and 30 mm, more particularly between 24.5 mm and 28 .5mm. [Claim 25] Probe (1) according to one of claims 16 to 24, in which the radius of curvature of the middle section (30) decreases from its center, on either side. [Claim 26] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 to 25, in which the angle opening of each collateral section (31) is between 11° and 13°. [Claim 27] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 to 26, in which the radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of each collateral section (31) is between 40 mm and 55 mm, in particular equal to 48 mm ± 10%. [Claim 28] Probe (1) according to one of claims 17 to 27, in which the length of the arc of each collateral section (31) is between 8.5 mm and 11.5 mm, more particularly between 9 .5mm and 11mm. [Claim 29] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 28, in which the exterior face (20a) of the front wall of the housing (18) has, in the sweep plane PB, a curved profile comprising the profile of the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) and on either side two curved side sections (34) of sweep-cut profile of peripheral side wall (18b) inclined relative to each other the other, being more mutually spaced towards the peripheral rear edge (19) and less mutually spaced towards the acoustic window (9). [Claim 30] Probe (1) according to claim 29, in which the two curved side sections (34) of sweep-cut profile of peripheral side wall (18b) are inclined relative to each other, with a spacing towards the peripheral rear edge (19) from 1.9 times to 2.4 times the spacing towards the acoustic window (9). [Claim 31] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 30, in which, in the sagittal plane PS of the probe (1), the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9) has a sagittal profile curved in an arc adjacent tangentially on either side, with two side sections (35) curved in sagittal profile of peripheral side wall (18b) inclined relative to each other, being more spaced apart mutually towards the rear edge peripheral (19) and less mutually spaced towards the acoustic window (9). [Claim 32] Probe (1) according to claim 31, in which, in the sagittal plane (PS) of the probe (1), the center of the radius of curvature in the central zone of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window (9) is spaced rearwardly from the pivot/beat axis (11a) of the plurality of single-element transducers (4). [Claim 33] Probe (1) according to one of claims 31 and 32, in which, in the sagittal plane (PS) of the probe (1), the radius of curvature over at least 80% of the arc of the profile sagittal of the acoustic window (9) is between 22 mm and 28 mm. [Claim 34] Probe (1) according to one of claims 31 to 33, in which, in the sagittal plane (PS) of the probe (1), the length of the arc of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window (9 ) is between 16 mm and 20 mm. [Claim 35] Probe (1) according to one of claims 31 to 34, in which, in the sagittal plane (PS) of the probe (1), the radius of curvature of the sagittal profile of the acoustic window (9) decreases from its center, on either side. [Claim 36] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 35 in which the single-element ultrasonic transducers (4) have a transverse contour of several different diameters, between 7mm +/- 20% and 15 mm +/- 20 %, the diameter of the transducer (4i) having the largest diameter being less than 0.6 times the arc length of the acoustic window (9). [Claim 37] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 36, in which the transmitting/receiving faces (24) of the plurality of transducers (4) are located at similar distances from the pivot/beat axis (lia), and in which there is a spacing (32) between the front face (24) of the selected transducer (4s) and the interior face (20b) of the acoustic window (9) sufficient for the presence between these faces of liquid acoustic coupling (25a). [Claim 38] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 37, in which the pivoting/beating axis (11a) of the transducers (4) is spaced from the exterior face (20a) of the acoustic window (9 ) with a distance of around 18 mm to 22 mm. [Claim 39] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 38, in which the support means (11) of the plurality of single-element ultrasonic transducers (4) is a drum (11) on which the transducers are fixed so adjacent, and in which the motor/drive means (10) comprise a single motor, in particular a stepper motor or a brushless motor. [Claim 40] Probe (1) according to claim 39, in which with the defects of the motor/drive means (10), there is an angular offset between the forward ultrasonic lines (LU) and the return ultrasonic lines (LU) and in which the probe (1) comprises means for correcting the offset. [Claim 41] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 40, in which means capable of varying the scanning speed are associated with the motor/drive means (10). [Claim 42] Probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 41, in which the housing (5) comprises a rear housing section (5) having an extreme rear, outer face (23) forming a thrust zone towards the front of the probe (1), designed not to include any substantially projecting member, such as typically a permanent connection cable. [Claim 43] Ultrasound scanner, comprising a probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 42 and complementary operating means, such as analog and digital electronic means, signal processing means, electrical power supply means, control means, image display and processing means, recording means, communication means, computer processing means. [Claim 44] Ultrasound device according to claim 43, in which the probe (1) is functionally associated and without a connecting cable with a portable digital device (6) capable of executing a programmed application suitable for the execution of certain functionalities, such as in particular a cell phone, a tablet.