Ultrasound interface element and method
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsMark Thomas Johnson, Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens, Cornelis Petrus Hendriks, Daan Anton van den Ende
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Abstract
An ultrasound interface element (10) is for establishing interface with an incident tissue surface (32) for the purpose of transfer of ultrasound waves. An ultrasound-transmissive active layer (14) is provided comprising one or more responsive material elements (16) deformable in response to an electromagnetic stimulus. The one or more elements are controlled to deform in a manner such as to progressively establish with the tissue surface (32) an outwardly expanding interface, starting from an initial point or line of contact and spreading outwards to a wider area.
Claims20
An ultrasound interface element, comprising:
- an ultrasound-transmissive active layer comprising one or more responsive material elements comprising an electroactive material (EAM) and adapted to deform in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, and the ultrasound-transmissive active layer having an upper contact surface adapted for application to an incident tissue surface, the ultrasound-transmissive active layer being configurable in a first state in which an initial line or area portion of the upper contact surface of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer is raised relative to a surrounding area portion;
- and
- a controller adapted to control the one or more responsive material elements to deform out-of-plane of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer such as to cause the initial line or area portion to expand smoothly outwards to form a final, larger area portion to thereby establish between the ultrasound-transmissive active layer and the incident tissue surface a progressively expanding interface, wherein the control comprises either controlling an array of responsive material elements comprised by the ultrasound-transmissive active layer to deform in a first sequential pattern outward from the initial line or area portion and across the larger area portion.
A method of establishing interface between an ultrasound interface element and an incident tissue surface to which the ultrasound interface element is adapted to be applied, the ultrasound interface element comprising an ultrasound-transmissive active layer, the ultrasound-transmissive active layer comprising one or more responsive material elements comprising an electroactive material (EAM) and adapted to deform in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, and
- wherein the ultrasound-transmissive active layer is configurable in a first state in which an initial line or area portion of an upper contact surface of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer is raised relative to a surrounding area portion;
- and the method comprising:
- controlling the one or more elements to deform out-of-plane of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer such as to cause the initial line or area portion to expand smoothly outwards to form a final, larger area portion to thereby progressively establish an interface between the ultrasound-transmissive active layer and an incident tissue surface,
- the control comprising either controlling an array of responsive material elements comprised by the ultrasound-transmissive active layer to deform in a first sequential pattern outward from the initial line or area portion and across the larger area portion.
An ultrasound interface element, comprising:
- an ultrasound-transmissive active layer comprising one or more responsive material elements adapted to deform in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, and the ultrasound-transmissive active layer having an upper contact surface adapted for application to an incident tissue surface, the ultrasound-transmissive active layer being configurable in a first state in which an initial line or area portion of the upper contact surface of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer is raised relative to a surrounding area portion;
- and
- a controller is adapted to control the one or more responsive material elements to deform out-of-plane of the ultrasound-transmissive active layer such as to cause the initial line or area portion to expand smoothly outwards to form a final, larger area portion to thereby establish between the ultrasound-transmissive active layer and the incident tissue surface a progressively expanding interface, wherein the control comprises either controlling an array of responsive material elements comprised by the ultrasound-transmissive active layer to deform in a first sequential pattern outward from the initial line or area portion and across the larger area portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.