Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Heather Knowles

Jacquelyn Byron

Michael Peszynski

William J Ossmann

Martha Wilson

Bill Ossmann

An ultrasound probe () having an operational indicator assembly () for indicating operational data relating to the ultrasound probe (), and especially data relating to the sterility of the ultrasound probe (), is provided. The ultrasound probe () has a housing () fabricated from materials suitable for internal and non-internal medical use. At least one ultrasound transducer () is housed by the housing () and positioned to direct ultrasound energy along a propagation path to the patient. The operational indicator assembly () indicates operational data relating to the ultrasound probe () to an operator thereof, and especially data relating to the disinfection status of the ultrasound probe ().

Ultrasound probe having a disinfection status indicator

A third matching layer () affording wide bandwidth for an ultrasound matrix probe is made of polyethylene, and may extend downwardly to surround the array (S) and attach to the housing to seal the array (S).

Wide bandwidth matrix transducer with polyethylene third matching layer

Wide-bandwidth matrix transducer with polyethylene third matching layer

Ultrasound probe () with improved electrical isolation including a housing (), a sensor assembly () arranged in the housing () and including electrically conductive parts () which transmit, receive and process waves and an acoustic matching layer () arranged in the housing () to electrically isolate the electrically conductive parts () from the housing (). The matching layer () serves as a barrier between the electrically conductive parts () and seams () formed between two parts () of the housing () and/or between the housing () and another component connected thereto, e.g., an acoustic window () or a connection member () arranged at a rear of the housing (). The invention thus increases the safety of the probe () in that it substantially reduces the risk to patients of an electrical shock. By using the matching layer () to provide electrical isolation, the acoustics of the sensor assembly () are not interfered with, i.e., the waves being transmitted and received by the sensor assembly () are influenced in a desired manner.

Ultrasound probes with improved electrical isolation

A transesophageal probe shaft has a cover which is formed by a plurality of separate layers joined by a pressure sensitive adhesive. In a preferred embodiment the cover forms the outer cover of an articulating section of the probe. The layers are chosen to be thin enough so that the stiffness of the cover does not significantly restrain the bending of the articulating section. The adhesive viscosity is chosen to enable the joined layers to be able to move relative to each other as the probe is bent, and to be able to flow to fill any small cut in the cover caused by biting through the cover.

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Devens, MA, United States of America

Heather Knowles