Systems and devices for coupling ultrasound energy to a body
First Claim
1. A system for coupling ultrasound energy to a subject, the system comprising:
- a couplant assembly having a proximal surface shaped to contact an ultrasound transducer and a distal surface, the couplant assembly including a conformable solid couplant material between the proximal and distal surfaces, wherein the conformable solid couplant material has a Shore D durometer hardness value of less than 60 D, wherein the conformable solid couplant material includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the proximal surface of the couplant assembly comprises the first surface of the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the distal surface of the couplant assembly comprises the second surface of the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the first surface of the conformable solid couplant material is configured to physically contact the ultrasound transducer, wherein the second surface of the conformable solid couplant material is capable of deflecting at least partially in response to contact with skin or hair of the subject when placed on the subject in order to couple the ultrasound transducer in contact with the proximal surface to the subject, and wherein the conformable solid couplant material fully contains an enclosed reservoir that contains a liquid or gel material, the couplant assembly comprising;
a housing containing one or more structures of the couplant assembly, the housing comprising;
a chassis; and
a retaining ring dimensioned to attach to the chassis to hold the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the housing is configured to hold the proximal surface of the couplant assembly in contact with the ultrasound transducer.
5 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for coupling ultrasound to the body, including to the head, are disclosed. The system is optionally configured to transmit ultrasound energy for transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation. Couplant assemblies are described that incorporate a semi-solid component that interfaces directly to the user'"'"'s body and face of the ultrasound transducer. These couplant assemblies can be shaped, molded, or otherwise machined and, in some embodiments, contain one or more liquid, gel, or other non-solid component in an enclosed reservoir of the couplant assembly. Beneficial embodiments of ultrasound coupling assemblies described herein include those that conform to the contour of the user'"'"'s body (e.g. the user'"'"'s head for transcranial applications) and can easily be removed without leaving a messy residue. By having solid materials physically contacting the body, no residue is left that requires cleanup.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for coupling ultrasound energy to a subject, the system comprising:
a couplant assembly having a proximal surface shaped to contact an ultrasound transducer and a distal surface, the couplant assembly including a conformable solid couplant material between the proximal and distal surfaces, wherein the conformable solid couplant material has a Shore D durometer hardness value of less than 60 D, wherein the conformable solid couplant material includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the proximal surface of the couplant assembly comprises the first surface of the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the distal surface of the couplant assembly comprises the second surface of the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the first surface of the conformable solid couplant material is configured to physically contact the ultrasound transducer, wherein the second surface of the conformable solid couplant material is capable of deflecting at least partially in response to contact with skin or hair of the subject when placed on the subject in order to couple the ultrasound transducer in contact with the proximal surface to the subject, and wherein the conformable solid couplant material fully contains an enclosed reservoir that contains a liquid or gel material, the couplant assembly comprising; a housing containing one or more structures of the couplant assembly, the housing comprising; a chassis; and a retaining ring dimensioned to attach to the chassis to hold the conformable solid couplant material, wherein the housing is configured to hold the proximal surface of the couplant assembly in contact with the ultrasound transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification