Cable and connector system for an ultrasound probe
OwnerRonald W. Schutz, Scott S. Corbett, III +3inventors
InventorsRonald W. Schutz, Scott S. Corbett, III, Kenneth N. Bates, William McDonough, Albert H. Krause
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Abstract
A finger-mounted ultrasound probe assembly having an ultrasound probe, adapted to be mounted on a finger and a multi-conductor cable, attached to the ultrasound probe. In addition, a forearm unit is connected to the multi-conductor cable and includes a physical connector to bind the forearm unit to a user's forearm. Also, the ultrasound probe and the forearm unit are adapted to cooperatively engage so that the ultrasound probe may be engaged to and retained by the forearm unit, to stow the ultrasound probe when not in immediate use.
Claims32
A finger-mounted ultrasound probe assembly, comprising:
- a) an ultrasound probe, adapted to be mounted on a finger;
- b) a multi-conductor cable, attached to said ultrasound probe;
- c) a forearm unit, connected to said multi-conductor cable and including a physical connector to bind said forearm unit to a user's forearm;
- and
- d) wherein said ultrasound probe and said forearm unit are adapted to cooperatively engage so that said ultrasound probe may be engaged to and retained by said forearm unit, to stow said ultrasound probe when not in immediate use.
A method of use of an image sensor assembly, by a user, and comprising:
- a) providing an image sensor assembly, comprising:
- i. an imaging station assembly, including an imaging station and a station multi-conductor cable assembly connected to said imaging station and terminating in a station-side probe connector-half;
- ii. a probe assembly, having an image-sensor probe and a probe multi-conductor cable assembly, terminating on a first end in a probe-side probe connector-half adapted to mate to said station-side probe connector-half;
- and
- b) attaching said station multi-conductor cable assembly to a forearm of said user;
- c) mating said probe-side probe connector-half to said station-side probe connector-half;
- and
- d) using said probe to examine a subject.
A finger mounted sensor assembly, comprising:
- a) a finger mounted sensor;
- b) an electrical connective assembly, adapted to connect said finger sensor to a display station, and including:
- i. a forearm mount unit, adapted to be mounted to a user's forearm;
- ii. an electrical connective subassembly, extending from said forearm mount to said sensor;
- and
- c) wherein said electrical connective subassembly is thinner than 2.5 mm.
A finger mounted sensor, comprising:
- a) a piece of flex circuit having a first and second end and being more than 5 cm long from said first end to said second end;
- b) an ultrasound transceiver formed on the two centimeters of said piece of flex circuit nearest said first end;
- and
- c) connective lines for said ultrasound transceiver being resident in said flex circuit and extending toward said second end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.