US 12,369,968 B2
Transesophageal transducer to increase patient safety
Dino Francesco Cuscuna, Reading, MA (US); and Steven Michael Tavoletti, Reading, MA (US)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/122,923.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/322,875, filed on Mar. 23, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 22175741 (EP), filed on May 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0301705 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/14 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4483 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transesophageal transducer, comprising:
a transesophageal handle;
a transesophageal probe tip;
a probe tip control cable extending from the transesophageal handle to the transesophageal probe tip, wherein the probe tip control cable controls at least one of the rotation and flexing of the probe tip in one or more directions;
a torque protection mechanism positioned along the probe tip control cable, wherein the torque protection mechanism is configured to prevent rotation or flexing of the transesophageal probe tip at a threshold pressure, wherein the torque protection mechanism is a breakaway torque component.