Abstract: An ultrasonically actuated medical implement is used in improving medical interventions and in certain instances to the generation of image data, in particular data acquired during a medical intervention or procedure. The medical implement employs a piezoelectric element which causes reciprocation between first and second mass assemblies in order to ultrasonically actuate a probe member and improve the visibility of the probe member to imaging methods. The invention also concerns the visibility of structures in target regions to be imaged and how this may be enhanced using the medical implement of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to improving medical interventions and in certain instances to the generation of image data, in particular data acquired during a medical intervention or procedure. The invention also concerns the visibility of structures in target regions to be imaged and how this may be enhanced.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (10) comprises a pair of one dimensional transducer modules (1, 2) arranged in-line but set apart from each other in a shallow “V” shape. This allows a wide gap for needle manipulation while maintaining the ability to compute a good acoustic image of the target area (4) on an ultrasound scan engine. The ultrasound image is a product of data from both the arrays. The probe (10) is shaped to allow ergonomic manipulation possibilities for the anaesthetist. The probe can be held in a ‘pencil-type’ grip anywhere on the main body, or by pushing directly on the back of arrays. The shape of the probe, means it sits in position better on a patient than a conventional probe.