Ultrasound probe hanger and method for suspending a wireless ultrasound transducer within a chamber of an ultrasound transducer high-level disinfection (HLD) system

An ultrasound probe hanger configured to suspend a wireless ultrasound probe in a chamber of an ultrasound transducer high-level disinfection (HLD) system during a disinfection process, the HLD system comprising a housing having an opening at a top side of the housing, the chamber disposed within the housing and accessible from the top side via the opening, the ultrasound probe hanger comprising:

• a stem having a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the distal end of the stem comprises an enlarged portion that is larger than the opening, and wherein the stem portion is configured to extend through the opening when the hanger is positioned for the disinfection process with the enlarged portion positioned above the top side of the housing adjacent the opening;
• and
• a lower hanger portion coupled to the proximal end of the stem, the lower hanger portion configured to hold the wireless ultrasound probe within the chamber during the disinfection process,
• wherein:
• a width of a cross-section of the of the enlarged portion taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem is 1.2-2.0 centimeters, and
• a width of a cross-section of the stem portion taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem is 0.8-1.2 centimeters.

A system comprising:

• an ultrasound transducer high-level disinfection (HLD) system comprising:
• a housing;
• a chamber disposed within the housing;
• and
• an opening in a top side of the housing providing access to the chamber, the opening comprising an attachment mechanism;
• and
• an ultrasound probe hanger comprising:
• a stem having a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein:
• the distal end of the stem comprises an enlarged portion that is larger than the opening,
• the enlarged portion is configured to be positioned above the top side of the housing adjacent the opening,
• the stem portion is smaller than the opening and configured to extend through the opening into the chamber, and
• the stem portion is configured to be received by the attachment mechanism;
• and
• a lower hanger portion coupled to the proximal end of the stem, the lower hanger portion configured to securely suspend the wireless ultrasound probe in the chamber, wherein the lower hanger portion comprises a probe holder comprising:
• outer side portions,
• a rear portion extending between and connecting the outer side portions,
• a front portion comprising outer front portions each extending from a different one of the outer side portions, and
• four protrusions arranged in a rectangle on an inside surface of the rear portion and the front portion, the four protrusions configured to contact corner portions of the wireless ultrasound probe to hold the wireless ultrasound probe within the probe holder.

A system comprising:

• an ultrasound transducer high-level disinfection (HLD) system comprising:
• a housing;
• a chamber disposed within the housing;
• and
• an opening in a top side of the housing providing access to the chamber, the opening comprising an attachment mechanism;
• and
• an ultrasound probe hanger comprising:
• a stem having a distal end, a proximal end, and a stem portion extending along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein:
• the distal end of the stem comprises an enlarged portion that is larger than the opening,
• the enlarged portion is configured to be positioned above the top side of the housing adjacent the opening,
• the stem portion is smaller than the opening and configured to extend through the opening into the chamber, and
• the stem portion is configured to be received by the attachment mechanism;
• and
• a lower hanger portion coupled to the proximal end of the stem, the lower hanger portion configured to securely suspend the wireless ultrasound probe in the chamber,
• wherein:
• a width of a cross-section of the of the enlarged portion taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem is 1.2-2.0 centimeters, and
• a width of a cross-section of the stem portion taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem is 0.8-1.2 centimeters.