Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

David Becker

Jeffrey Scott Hart

Kevin Wickline

Alan Hornberger

Barry Carl Scheirer

Terry Wray

Charles Clark Cruikshank

Mark Harpster

An intracavity ultrasound probe includes a pivotally mounted array transducer which is oscillated to scan a volumetric region from within the body. The transducer is oscillated by a motor located in the probe handle. The array transducer is immersed in a liquid which acoustically couples ultrasonic energy between the elements of the transducer and the body. The acoustic coupling liquid is located in the distal tip of the probe shaft, where only 6 cc of liquid is required. The small amount of liquid reduces the weight of the shaft of the probe so that the center of gravity of the probe is in the handle, making the probe comfortable and easy to manipulate. The majority of parts in the probe shaft are made of aluminum or other low density materials, keeping the overall weight of the probe to about 250 grams.

Ultrasonic intracavity probe for 3D imaging

An ultrasound probe has a transducer array which is moved to scan a patient with ultrasonic energy. The array is located in a fluid chamber () which is enclosed by an acoustic window end cap (). The acoustic window cap is coated with a thin conductive layer () which shields the transducer and its motive mechanism from EFI/RFI emissions. The conductive layer is coupled to a reference potential.

Intracavity probe with continuous shielding of acoustic window

An ultrasound probe includes a transducer which is pivotally mounted inside a fluid chamber for scanning a region outside the probe as the transducer is oscillated. A volume compensation balloon is attached to the fluid chamber and is partially filled with acoustic fluid at nominal (room) temperatures. The balloon is made of a high performance thermoplastic which enables the balloon to have a very thin wall. The thin wall is highly compliant as the volume of the fluid inside the balloon changes, and remains so at low temperatures of transport and use. The thin wall exhibits a low permeability to the acoustic fluid. The balloon is formed of a non elastic material and exhibits good thermal stability and high burst strength.

Ultrasonic probe volume compensation system

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Lewistown, PA, United States of America

David Becker