Hewlett-packard Company

Avco Corporation

Robert W King

Rodney J Solomon

James N Chen

Gregory G Vogel

Susan Williams

John W Duffy

A shaft for a probe, especially suited for TEE and nasogastric applications, with superior bite-through resistance in the outermost probe layer. The probe shaft includes a crush-proof monocoil surrounded by coiled sheathing and an outermost layer of heat shrinkable polymer tubing. The heatshrinkable polymer provides superior resistance to lacerations from sharp objects such as patients teeth. Moreover, in an embodiment using clear polymer over darker inner layers marked with light colored depth markings, the depth markings are protected from wearing off. The preparation method includes inserting a monocoil and sheath into a tube of heatshrinkable material and applying heat sufficient to cause the heatshrinkable material to mechanically adhere to the sheath.

Method and apparatus for prevention of fluid intrusion in a probe shaft

An electroacoustic transducer having a base formed of a transducer backing material for use in supporting an array of active elements. The backing material is formed as a composite of a preform, preferably selected according to a fiber architecture, and an acoustically-attenuating matrix. Preferred embodiments of the preform include linear, planar, and integrated fiber systems. A particularly preferred embodiment includes a macroporous mesh structure provided in the form of stacked sheets, or an integrated fiber system, having therein fibers arranged in spaced relationship. The fibers define a plurality of openings which in turn provide voids that may be filled by the matrix via techniques such as vacuum-impregnation.

Transducer backing material

An ultrasound transducer assembly includes an ultrasound transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound energy and one or more interface elements for conducting transmitted ultrasound energy from the transducer to a patient's body and for conducting received ultrasound energy from the patient's body to the transducer. At least one ultrasound-transmissive interface element is fabricated of a polymeric material. The material preferably has a sound speed that approximately matches the speed of sound in human tissue. The material comprises at least one primary rigid component material and at least one secondary component material, and has a Shore D durometer hardness value of greater than about 60D, and a sound speed of between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second. The ultrasound-transmissive element fabricated of a polymeric material can be a protective lens cover, an ultrasound lens or lens element, an ultrasound-transmissive window or a sound pipe.

Interface element for medical ultrasound transducer

A shaft for an invasive bodily probe which includes a central core, a metal sheath surrounding the core and an outer elastomeric coating. A membrane formed of a textile layer disposed between two layers of a flexible, tough film is disposed between the sheath and the outer elastomeric coating. The membrane typically is formed of a woven material whose interstices have been completely filled by two layers of a urethane material. The membrane completely seals the sheath and core to protect the patient from electrical currents carried by wires within the core, and to prevent bacteria and fluids from being trapped in cuts in the shaft. The wires are also protected from damage from bodily fluids and cleaning solutions, since the core is sealed from the environment. A method for preparation of such a shaft includes the formation of a laminate comprised of a layer of a textile encapsulated between two layers of a flexible film, formation of a tube of this laminate, and the sliding of the tube over the existing core and sheath. Adhesive may be used to bond the membrane to the outer elastomeric coating.

A shaft for an invasive probe used for medical applications which includes a central core, a metal sheath surrounding the core and an outer elastomeric coating. A dielectric sleeve is disposed between the core and sheath for electrically isolating the core from the sheath. A dielectric spacer used in conjunction with a fitting disposed at the end of the shaft completely seals the core from other portions of the probe to protect the patient from electrical currents carried by wires within the core. The wires are also protected from damage from bodily fluids and cleaning solutions by the dielectric sleeve and spacer, since the core is sealed from the environment.

Transesophageal probe shaft

This invention provides an ultrasonic transducer probe for medical scanning and a lens assembly for use therein. The probe has a housing in which an ultrasonic transducer array is mounted, there being an opening in the housing adjacent the transducer array. A first lens subassembly is mounted to the transducer and moves therewith if the transducer is rotated. A second lens subassembly is mounted to the housing to fill the opening therein, and includes, for example, a thin plastic film covering the opening and bonded to the housing to seal the opening and a film backing lens or layer. The first lens subassembly is preferably a compound lens. The lens subassemblies are formed of materials having relative acoustic properties, and having mating surfaces which are shaped, to selectively focus ultrasonic signals from the transducers.

Ultrasound probe and lens assembly for use therein

The invention is directed to a method and machine for making 3-D structures. Briefly, the 3-D structure is formed by piercing layers of over-lying fabric with needles and then threading filamentary reinforcement through the passages formed in the layers of fabric by the needles to form the 3-D structure.

Method for making 3-D structures

Three-dimensional impregnated filamentary materials and methods for making the same.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

Robert W King