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US 12,714,884 B2Granted
Ultrasound coupling patch with gel capture feature
AssigneeZetrOZ Systems LLC
InventorGeorge K. Lewis, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to, inter alia, an ultrasound coupling patch for use with ultrasound transducers, and more particularly to ultrasound coupling patches having a gel capture feature.
Claims22
An ultrasound coupling device comprising:
- a gel component comprising a gel material effective to conduct acoustic energy;
- and
- a coupling compartment effective for holding the gel component in place, wherein said coupling compartment comprises a wall structure having a sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom portion, a top seal removably integrated to the top portion of the wall structure, and a bottom seal removably integrated to the bottom portion of the wall structure,
- wherein said bottom seal is preformed to hold a desired volume of the gel material between an ultrasound transducer and the bottom seal and wherein the bottom seal is made of foil which is folded, partially folded, or crinkled, or the bottom seal is made of a flexible material in a flat form factor which is able to expand outward while allowing no gel material to escape from the bottom seal and the ultrasound coupling device when said ultrasound transducer is attached at the top portion of the wall structure, wherein said gel component is contained at least within a portion of a sidewall of the wall structure of the coupling compartment and at least a portion outside of the wall structure, and
- wherein said gel material is provided so as to have a thickness of between 0.25 mm and about 10 mm, a shape of the preformed seal to accommodate the ultrasound transducer, and to protrude beyond the bottom portion of the wall structure.
2 more elements
An ultrasound coupling device comprising:
- a gel component comprising a gel material effective to conduct acoustic energy;
- and
- a coupling compartment effective for holding the gel component in place, wherein said coupling compartment comprises a wall structure having a sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom portion, a top seal removably integrated to the top portion of the wall structure, and a bottom seal removably integrated to the bottom portion of the wall structure,
- wherein a bottom seal is expandable to hold a desired volume of the gel material between an ultrasound transducer and the bottom seal and wherein the bottom seal is made of foil which is folded, partially folded, or crinkled, or the bottom seal is made of a flexible material in a flat form factor which is able to expand outward while allowing no gel material to escape from the bottom seal and the ultrasound coupling device when said ultrasound transducer is attached at the top portion of the wall structure, wherein said gel component is contained at least within a portion of a sidewall of the wall structure of the coupling compartment and at least a portion outside of the wall structure, and
- wherein said gel material is provided so as to have a thickness of between 0.25 mm and about 10 mm, a shape of the expandable bottom seal to accommodate the ultrasound transducer, and to protrude beyond the bottom portion of the wall structure when the ultrasound transducer is inserted.
2 more elements
An ultrasound coupling device comprising:
- a gel component comprising a gel material effective to conduct acoustic energy;
- and
- a coupling compartment effective for holding the gel component in place, wherein said coupling compartment comprises a wall structure having a sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom portion, a top seal removably integrated to the top portion of the wall structure, and a bottom seal removably integrated to the bottom portion of the wall structure,
- wherein the top and bottom seals are formed to hold a known volume of gel in a defined location within the coupling compartment,
- wherein a bottom seal is expandable to hold a desired volume of the gel material between an ultrasound transducer and the bottom seal and wherein the bottom seal is made of foil which is folded, partially folded, or crinkled, or the bottom seal is made of a flexible material in a flat form factor which is able to expand outward while allowing no gel material to escape from the bottom seal and the ultrasound coupling device when said ultrasound transducer is attached at the top portion of the wall structure, wherein said gel component is contained at least within a portion of a sidewall of the wall structure of the coupling compartment and at least a portion outside of the wall structure, and
- wherein said gel material is provided so as to have a thickness of between 0.25 mm and about 10 mm, a shape of the bottom seal to accommodate an ultrasound transducer, and to protrude beyond the bottom portion of the wall structure.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.