# US 11,998,387 B2 · Multilayer housing seals for ultrasound transducers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,387 B2 - Document ID: US11998387B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/574,265 - Filed: 2022-01-12 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-12 - Assignees: Exo Imaging, Inc. - Applicants: Exo Imaging, Inc. - Inventors: Daniela Marisa Fredrick; Charles Baumgartner; Robert Laduca - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998387B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 2562/18: Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Described are systems, devices, and methods useful in the prevention and/or detection of liquid intrusion into ultrasound equipment. Ultrasound transducers and associated ultrasound circuitry, which can be located in an interior of an ultrasound system or device can be adversely affected by exposure to liquids. As described herein, ultrasound systems and devices can comprise a multilayer seal, for example, wherein the multilayer seal comprises one or more layers for preventing liquid intrusion and one or more layers for detection of liquid intrusion (e.g., wherein the one or more layers for detection of liquid intrusion comprise an indicator material capable of changing color when exposed to a liquid). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound device comprising: an outer barrier surrounding an ultrasound transducer, the outer barrier comprising: a lens, a housing, and a multilayer seal in contact with the lens and the housing, wherein the multilayer seal comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising an indicator material and the second layer comprising a first sealant, the second layer being disposed distal to the first layer relative to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal further comprises a third layer, the third layer comprising a second sealant. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the first sealant has a higher viscosity than the second sealant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second sealant is a silicone-based sealant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second sealant is an adhesive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second layer is in contact with one or more of the housing, the lens, the entirety of a perimeter of the lens, or the entirety of a perimeter of an aperture of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the third layer is disposed proximal to the first layer relative to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the third layer is disposed distal to the first layer relative to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the third layer is in contact with one or more of the entirety of a perimeter of the lens, the entirety of a perimeter of an aperture of the housing, or the entirety of a distal surface of the second layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein an interface of a distal surface of the third layer and a distal surface of the lens is one or more of smooth or flat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the indicator material is disposed between the second layer and the third layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first sealant comprises one or more of a thixotropic material or a silicone-based sealant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the outer barrier is impermeable to liquids. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first sealant is an adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal is disposed within a gap between the lens of the device and the housing of the device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal is in contact with one or more of the entirety of a perimeter of the lens or the entirety of a perimeter of an aperture of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator material comprises a material that undergoes a color change after contacting a liquid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the liquid comprises one or more of a disinfectant or water. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer is coupled to a proximal surface of the lens. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the lens is an ultrasound acoustic lens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) array. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal has a thickness from 1 μm to 1000 μm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal has a thickness that is constant. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal has a thickness that is not constant. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness from 1 μm to 125 μm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness that is constant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness that is not constant. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness from 100 μm to 1000 μm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness less than 750 μm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness that is constant. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness that is not constant. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the multilayer seal has a width from 100 μm to 1000 μm. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a width that is constant. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a width that is not constant. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the lens is coupled to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator material comprises an adhesive. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The device of claim 36, wherein the indicator material is adhered to one or more of a surface of the ultrasound transducer, a surface of an ASIC of the ultrasound device, or a surface of a MEMS wafer of the ultrasound device. ### Claim 38 An ultrasound device comprising: a housing; a lens supported by the housing; an ultrasound transducer disposed within the housing; and a seal disposed between the housing and the lens, the seal comprising an indicator layer for detecting liquid intrusion and a sealant layer for preventing liquid intrusion, the sealant layer disposed distal to the indicator layer relative to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The ultrasound device of claim 38, wherein the seal is disposed within a gap between the lens and the housing. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The ultrasound device of claim 38, wherein the seal is in contact with one or more of the entirety of a perimeter of the lens or the entirety of a perimeter of an aperture of the housing. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The ultrasound device of claim 38, wherein the seal further comprises a secondary sealant layer disposed distal to the sealant layer relative to the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The ultrasound device of claim 38, wherein the seal further comprises a secondary sealant layer disposed proximal to the sealant layer relative to the ultrasound transducer.