Systems and methods for shock absorbing in ultrasound probes
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsChristian Heinrich, Christian Holl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for shock absorbing in ultrasound probes are provided. One ultrasound probe has a housing and a scan head within the housing, wherein the scan head includes a transducer array. The ultrasound provide further includes an axle coupled to the scan head allowing rotation of the scan head and a shock absorbing member within the scan head coupled between the transducer array and the axle. The shock absorbing member is configured to allow relative movement between the axle and the transducer array.
Claims20
An ultrasound probe comprising:
- a housing;
- a scan head within the housing, the scan head including a transducer array;
- an axle coupled to the scan head allowing rotation of the scan head;
- and
- a shock absorbing member within the scan head coupled between the transducer array and the axle, the shock absorbing member configured to allow relative movement between the axle and the transducer array.
An ultrasound probe comprising:
- a housing;
- a transducer array within the housing;
- a mechanically movable scan head supporting the transducer array and having an axle coupled thereto;
- a shock absorber coupled within at least one side wall of the scan head, the shock absorber compressible to allow relative movement between the axle and the transducer array;
- and
- a motor for driving the axle to rotate the scan head.
A method for absorbing shock in an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
- providing probe a housing;
- positioning a scan head within the probe housing, the scan head including a transducer array and having an axle coupled to the scan head allowing rotation of the scan head;
- and
- coupling a shock absorbing member within the scan head between the transducer array and the axle, the shock absorbing member configured to allow relative movement between the axle and the transducer array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.