US 6,659,955 B1Granted

Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system transmitter control in a modular transducer system

AssigneeAcuson Corporation

InventorVaughn R. Marian, Jr.

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Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein provide medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system transmitter control in a modular transducer system. With these preferred embodiments, transmitters in a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system are enabled only when contacts in a scan head are electrically coupled with contacts in a receptacle assembly of a modular transducer system. This prevents high voltages from developing in the receptacle assembly when the scan head is removed from or is not fully engaged with the receptacle assembly. In one preferred embodiment, a detector is used to detect movement of a member comprising the contacts in the receptacle assembly. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A modular transducer system comprising:

a scan head comprising:
a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements;
a plurality of conductors, each electrically coupled with a respective transducer element of the transducer array;
and
a first plurality of contacts, each electrically coupled with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors;
a receptacle assembly forming an opening sized to receive part of the scan head that comprises the first plurality of contacts, wherein the receptacle assembly comprises:
a second plurality of contacts that mate with the first plurality of contacts;
a member carrying the second plurality of contacts, the member movable between first and second positions, wherein the first and second plurality of contacts are electrically coupled when the member is in the second position;
and
a detector operative to detect when the member is in the second position;
and
a cable assembly electrically coupling the receptacle assembly with a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system;
wherein the detector in the receptacle assembly sends a signal to the medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system when the member is in the second position, and wherein the medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system enables a set of transmitters in response to the signal.

10 more elements

A method for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system transmitter control in a modular transducer system, the method comprising:

(a) providing a scan head comprising a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements;
a plurality of conductors, each electrically coupled with a respective transducer element of the transducer array;
and a first plurality of contacts, each electrically coupled with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors;
(b) providing a receptacle assembly forming an opening sized to receive part of the scan head that comprises the first plurality of contacts, the receptacle assembly comprising a second plurality of contacts that mate with the first plurality of contacts;
and
(c) enabling a set of transmitters in a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system electrically coupled with the receptacle assembly only if the first plurality of contacts in the scan head are electrically coupled with the second plurality of contacts in the receptacle assembly.

3 more elements

A modular transducer system comprising:

a scan head comprising:
a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements;
a plurality of conductors, each electrically coupled with a respective transducer element of the transducer array;
and
a first plurality of contacts, each electrically coupled with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors;
a receptacle assembly forming an opening sized to receive part of the scan head that comprises the first plurality of contacts, wherein the receptacle assembly comprises:
a second plurality of contacts that mate with the first plurality of contacts;
and
a detector operative to detect when the first and second plurality of contacts are electrically coupled;
and
a cable assembly electrically coupling the receptacle assembly with a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system;
wherein the detector in the receptacle assembly sends a signal to the medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system when the detector detects that the first and second plurality of contacts are electrically coupled, and wherein the medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system enables a set of transmitters in response to the signal.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.