Docking station for electrically charging and managing a thermal condition of an ultrasound probe

A method, comprising:

• magnetically coupling a first charging unit of a docking station to an induction unit of an ultrasound probe to charge at least one battery in the ultrasound probe;
• thermally coupling a first cooling unit of the docking station to a thermal unit of the ultrasound probe to dissipate heat from the ultrasound probe;
• and
• replacing the thermal unit in the ultrasound probe with a replaceable thermal unit in a bay assembly of the docking station, and wherein the thermal unit is replaced through a port in the ultrasound probe.

An ultrasound system, comprising:

• an ultrasound probe comprising:
• a housing;
• an induction unit coupled to at least one battery;
• and
• a thermal unit configured to absorb heat generated in the ultrasound probe;
• and
• a docking station comprising:
• a first charging unit magnetically coupled to the induction unit of the ultrasound probe and configured to charge the at least one battery through the induction unit;
• a first cooling unit thermally coupled to the thermal unit of the ultrasound probe and configured to dissipate the absorbed heat from the thermal unit of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• a bay assembly comprising a plurality of collars, wherein each collar is configured to hold at least one of a replaceable thermal unit and a sleeve, and wherein the sleeve comprises at least one of a replaceable cartridge and a replaceable battery.

A docking station for an ultrasound probe, comprising:

• a first charging unit magnetically coupled to an induction unit of the ultrasound probe and configured to charge at least one battery in the ultrasound probe;
• a first cooling unit thermally coupled to a thermal unit of the ultrasound probe and configured to dissipate heat from the ultrasound probe;
• and
• a bay assembly comprising a collar configured to hold a replaceable thermal unit for the ultrasound probe.