Modular transducer system
AssigneeAcuson Corporation
InventorVaughn R. Marian, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular transducer system includes a small, hand held adapter which remains permanently attached to an ultrasound system console and permits the rapid connection and disconnection of individual, sterilizable ultrasound transducers. In a preferred embodiment, the hand held adapter is connected to the system by a retractable cable. In another preferred embodiment, the individual transducers are identifiable by the system using transducer generated binary codes. The individual transducers are submersible in a wide variety of liquids including cleaning solutions and disinfectants. The small transducers are easily stored at the site of the ultrasound examination. Bulky, awkward, time consuming cables and connectors are eliminated.
Claims20
A modular transducer assembly, comprising:
- a hand held receptacle electrically connected to ultrasound system electronics, said receptacle having an opening therein defining a receiving space;
- a compatible ultrasound transducer module, a contact portion of said transducer module being receivable in said receptacle receiving space;
- and
- a mechanism for selectively mechanically and electrically engaging and releasing said transducer module contact portion of said receptacle while said transducer module contact portion is received in said receptacle receiving space.
A modular transducer assembly, comprising:
- a hand held receptacle unit electrically connected to ultrasound system electronics;
- a set of compatible interchangeable ultrasound transducer modules, each having a portion insertable in and engageable in said hand held receptacle unit;
- and
- a mechanism for initiating electrical engagement of said receptacle unit with an inserted transducer module portion after said transducer module portion is inserted in said receptacle unit.
An ultrasound transducer module for use with, and for mechanical and electrical coupling to, a compatible hand held receptacle unit having an opening therein, said ultrasound transducer module comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer portion;
- and
- a printed wiring insert portion, carrying a plurality of contacts coupled to said ultrasound transducer portion, receivable in the opening of a compatible hand held receptacle unit.
A modular transducer assembly, comprising:
- a hand held receptacle having electrical contacts connected to ultrasound system electronics and having an opening therein defining a receiving space;
- a compatible ultrasound transducer module comprising a piezoelectric transducer and electrical contacts connected to said piezoelectric transducer, a portion of said transducer module being receivable in said receptacle receiving space;
- and
- a mechanism for selectively mechanically engaging said transducer module portion in said receptacle and releasing said transducer module portion from said receptacle, and electrically coupling and uncoupling said receptacle electrical contacts with corresponding ones of said ultrasound transducer module contacts, respectively, while said transducer module is received in said receptacle receiving space.
An ultrasound transducer module for use with, and for mechanical and electrical coupling to, a compatible hand held receptacle unit having an opening therein, said ultrasound transducer module comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer comprising a linear array of piezoelectric elements;
- a printed wiring insert portion having an array of electrical contacts disposed thereon, said printed wiring insert portion being receivable in said opening in the receptacle unit;
- and
- an array of electrical conductors for connecting said electrical contacts to respective ones of said piezoelectric elements, whereby an electrical connection is established between the electrical contacts and said piezoelectric elements.
A modular transducer assembly comprising:
- a hand held receptacle electrically connected to ultrasound system electronics, said receptacle having a receptacle receiving space and comprising a cleaning device disposed adjacent said receptacle receiving space;
- and
- a compatible ultrasound transducer module, an insertion portion of said transducer module being receivable in said receptacle receiving space, said insertion portion comprising electrical contacts, said cleaning device in said receptacle acting on said transducer module insertion portion, as said transducer module insertion portion moves within said receptacle receiving space, to effect a cleaning action on said electrical contacts of said transducer module insertion portion.
A receptacle assembly comprising:
- a cable hardwired to an ultrasound machine;
- and
- a receptacle hardwired to said cable and adapted to receive interchangeable transducer modules.
A cableless ultrasound transducer module comprising:
- a body-contacting ultrasound transducer portion;
- an electrical contact portion adapted to be received by a cable hardwired to an ultrasound machine;
- and
- a housing enclosing said ultrasound transducer portion, said housing being attached to and forming a fluid seal with said electrical contact portion, whereby the entire body-contacting portion of said transducer module is submersible in fluids and liquids including cleaning solutions and disinfectants.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.