Substantially acoustically transparent and conductive window

A medical device, comprising:

• a transducer for emitting and/or receiving an ultrasound beam, the ultrasound beam adapted to rotate around at least a region of the device;
• a housing containing the transducer and having an acoustically transparent acoustic window;
• wherein the acoustic window also has at least one property from the group consisting of:
• conductivity sufficient to carry electrical signals to and from the transducer, and
• a variation in acoustic impedance and/or acoustic attenuation sufficient for registration of images obtained by the device;
• the housing having a wall through which at least part of the ultrasound beam passes, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• an ultrasound control system electronically connected to the transducer for receiving and assessing electronic signals from the transducer representing one or more qualities of ultrasound energy that has traveled along a path of the ultrasound beam;
• a first film of conductive material in the acoustic window forming a first conductor, the first conductor being electronically connected to the transducer;
• and
• a second film of conductive material in the acoustic window forming a second conductor, the second conductor being electronically connected to the transducer and electronically insulated from the first conductor, wherein at least a first portion of the first film and at least a second portion of the second film overlap each other with the wall between the first portion and the second portion.

A medical device, comprising:

• a transducer for emitting and/or receiving an ultrasound beam, the ultrasound beam adapted to rotate around at least a portion of the device;
• a housing containing the transducer and having an acoustically transparent acoustic window;
• wherein the acoustic window also has at least one property from the group consisting of:
• conductivity sufficient to carry electrical signals to and from the transducer, and
• a variation in acoustic impedance and/or acoustic attenuation sufficient for registration of images obtained by the device;
• the housing having a wall through which at least part of the ultrasound beam passes, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• an ultrasound control system electronically connected to the transducer for receiving and assessing electronic signals from the transducer representing one or more qualities of ultrasound energy that has traveled along a path of the ultrasound beam;
• a first film of conductive material in the acoustic window forming a first conductor, the first conductor being electronically connected to the transducer;
• and
• a second film of conductive material in the acoustic window forming a second conductor, the second conductor being electronically connected to the transducer and electronically insulated from the first conductor, wherein one of the first and second films is on the inner surface of the wall, and the other of the first and second films is on the outer surface of the wall.