Acuson Corporation

Richard A Lyon

Richard W Henderson

John W Sliwa, Jr

Robert Mesaros

William John Park

Vaughn R Marian

Jay Sterling Plugge

Michael G Curley

Randal J Bertuccelli

Kathleen A Ruvolo

Donald R Mullen

Brian S MacInnes

Donald L Van Creveld

Nancy A Cheadle

A needle guide having a semi-compliant shell design and locating means for attachment to an ultrasound transducer. The needle guide improves over the prior art in its reduced complexity, its low-profile formed fit to the transducer, a positive guide locking feature when the needle holding pin is in the closed position, and its ease of attachment over a sterile cover. The improved design is conducive to low-cost manufacturing methods which employ materials that can be autoclaved, gas-sterilized, or liquid disinfected.

Semi-compliant needle guide for use with ultrasound transducers

A hand-held transducer probe is overlapped with elastomeric material for improving the friction and softness of the grip of the probe. The elastomeric material comprises a biocompatible material having a tear strength in excess of 110 pounds per inch and a hardness level less than approximately shore A 80. Also disclosed is a method of producing a hand-held transducer probe having an improved grip comprising the steps of assembling an acoustic array and cable assembly; attaching a handle portion over aid acoustic array and cable assembly; and attaching an elastomeric material over at least a portion of said handle portion.

Ultrasound transducer probe having case handle grip surfaces

A method of encapsulating an ultrasound transducer assembly probe is disclosed. The encapsulation forms a seamless casing around the entire transducer probe assembly resulting in sealed leak-proof probe conducive to sterilization by immersion in a disinfectant liquid. The encapsulation method of the present invention simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating several processing steps such as backpotting, welding, backfilling, and strain relief closing of the multiple component prior art construction. The method provides for device that is less expensive to produce, easily repaired and/or upgraded, more reliable, feels more comfortable to the user, and the patient and lends itself readily for mass production.

Encapsulated ultrasound transducer probe assembly

An ultrasound transducer assembly having a housing, a transducer array mounted in the housing, and active cooling mechanism positioned adjacent to the transducer array for actively removing heat generated by the array by transport of heat energy from the affected site. The active cooling mechanism may comprise a heat exchanger including a closed loop circulating coolant system circulating coolant, or a single-pass flowed coolant, passing through the heat exchanger, a heat pipe, a thermoelectric cooler, an evaporative/condenser system, and/or a phase change material. One or more heat exchangers may be used having gas or liquid coolants flowing therethrough. The heat exchangers and coolant pumps may be located in various components of the transducer assembly, including the array housing, the connector assemblies or the ultrasound console.

Active thermal control of ultrasound transducers

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Richard A Lyon