Acoustic coupler using an independent water pillow with circulation for cooling a transducer

An acoustic coupler adapted to be disposed between an ultrasound transducer configured to emit acoustic energy and a physical mass, to acoustically couple the ultrasound transducer with the physical mass, said acoustic coupler comprising:

• (a) a liquid chamber, the liquid chamber comprising:
• (i) a liquid inlet configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a supply volume for holding a circulating liquid;
• (ii) a liquid outlet configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a discharge volume for the circulating liquid;
• (iii) a first surface configured to conform to the ultrasound transducer;
• and
• (iv) a second surface configured to conform to the physical mass, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes at least one opening configured to release a portion of liquid from the liquid chamber, to enhance coupling with at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the physical mass.

A system for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer configured to emit acoustic energy with a physical mass, while providing cooling to the ultrasound transducer, the system comprising:

• (a) an acoustic coupler comprising a liquid chamber including:
• (i) a liquid inlet configured to introduce a liquid into the liquid chamber;
• (ii) a liquid outlet configured to remove a liquid from the liquid chamber;
• (iii) a first surface configured to conform to the ultrasound transducer;
• and
• (iv) a second surface configured to conform to the physical mass, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes at least one opening configured to release a portion of liquid from the liquid chamber, to enhance coupling with at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the physical mass;
• (b) a liquid supply coupled in fluid communication with the liquid inlet;
• (c) a pump configured to fill the liquid chamber with the liquid that is used to acoustically couple the ultrasound transducer with the physical mass, and to circulate the liquid through the system;
• and
• (d) a cooling unit coupled in fluid communication with the liquid supply, such that the cooling unit cools the liquid being circulated through the system to cool the ultrasound transducer.

A system for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer configured to emit acoustic energy with a physical mass, while providing cooling to the ultrasound transducer, the system comprising:

• (a) an acoustic coupler comprising a liquid chamber including:
• (i) a liquid inlet configured to introduce a liquid into the liquid chamber;
• (ii) a liquid outlet configured to remove a liquid from the liquid chamber;
• (iii) a first surface configured to conform to the ultrasound transducer;
• and
• (iv) a second surface configured to conform to the physical mass;
• (b) a liquid supply coupled in fluid communication with the liquid inlet;
• (c) a pump configured to fill the liquid chamber with the liquid that is used to acoustically couple the ultrasound transducer with the physical mass, and to circulate the liquid through the system;
• and
• (d) a cooling unit coupled in fluid communication with the liquid supply, such that the cooling unit cools the liquid being circulated through the system to cool the ultrasound transducer.

A method for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer configured to emit acoustic energy with a physical mass, while providing cooling to the ultrasound transducer, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a liquid chamber between the physical mass and the ultrasound transducer;
• (b) introducing a liquid into the liquid chamber, such that a first surface of the liquid chamber conforms to the ultrasound transducer, and a second surface of the liquid chamber conforms to the physical mass;
• and
• (c) introducing a circulating flow of the liquid through the liquid chamber, the flow of liquid absorbing heat from the ultrasound transducer, thus providing cooling to the ultrasound transducer.