Immersible ultrasound probe and cable

• US 20040111029A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black Tie Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Black Tie Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Bates, Kenneth N., McDonough, William, Schutz, Ronald, Dudik, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4422 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A ultrasound platform is used to generate, process and display ultrasound images using a probe connected via a sterilizable connector. The probe is used to take ultrasound images, and can be a sterilizable finger mounted probe. The sterilizable connector includes a connector housing which has been sealed to prevent moisture from entering it, and a multi-wire cable which is electrically coupled to the probe at a first end and coupled to the connector housing at a second end. The multi-wire cable has its second end sealed with the connector housing to prevent moisture from entering the sealing between the multi-wire cable and the connector housing. A plurality of electrical contacts are formed on at least one surface of the sterilizable connector. A mating connector is used to electrically couple the sterilizable connector to a standard connector for directly connecting to the ultrasound platform. The mating connector has a plurality of mating contacts formed thereon for electrical coupling with the electrical contacts of the sterilizable connector. The sterilizable connector can be separated from the standard connector and the mating connector, such that the probe and the sterilizable connector can be sterilized.

Claims

1. A probe assembly comprising:

a sensor assembly; and

a housing for mounting the sensor assembly, the housing having a finger mountable portion such that the probe can be worn on a finger by a user, and comprising;

an inner housing; and

an outer housing for holding the inner housing and the sensor assembly,

wherein the housing has been sealed such that moisture cannot enter between the inner housing and the outer housing during sterilization of the probe assembly.

2. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly comprises an array of transducers for ultrasound imaging.

3. The probe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a finger cot for wearing on the finger prior to wearing the finger mountable portion on the finger.

4. The probe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit having first and second ends, wherein the first end is connected to the sensor assembly, and the second end extends from the housing between the inner housing and the outer housing.

5. The probe assembly of claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit wraps approximately half way around the inner housing near the first end.

6. The probe assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a cable coupled to the second end of the flexible circuit; and

a strain reliever attached to the housing for holding the second end of the flexible circuit and an end of the cable connected to it, so as to relieve strain on electrical connections between the flexible circuit and the cable.

7. The probe assembly of claim 4, wherein the second end is coupled to a sterilizable connector.

8. The probe assembly of claim 7, wherein the sterilizable connector is mounted on a wrist of a hand that wears the probe.

9. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the probe assembly can be sterilized through immersion in a disinfecting liquid.

10. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the probe assembly can be sterilized through steam autoclaving.

11. A sterilizable connector comprising:

a connector housing which has been sealed to prevent moisture from entering it;

a multi-wire cable which is electrically coupled to a probe at a first end and coupled to the connector housing at a second end, said multi-wire cable having its second end sealed within the connector housing to prevent moisture from entering the sealing between the multi-wire cable and the connector housing; and

a plurality of electrical contacts formed on at least one surface of the sterilizable connector,

wherein the sterilizable connector can be connected to a mating connector of a medical equipment, said mating connector having a plurality of mating contacts formed thereon for electrical coupling with the electrical contacts of the sterilizable connector, and

wherein the sterilizable connector can be separated from the mating connector to be sterilized.

12. The sterilizable connector of claim 11, wherein the medical equipment comprises an ultrasound platform.

13. The sterilizable connector of claim 11, further comprising a flexible circuit board and a backing, wherein the flexible circuit board is at least partially wrapped around said backing, and the backing provides a spring force to keep the electrical contacts in contact with the mating contacts.

14. The sterilizable connector of claim 13, wherein the flexible circuit board includes a plurality of wires formed thereon and the electrical contacts are formed by plating a gold layer over the wires.

15. The sterilizable connector of claim 13, wherein the flexible circuit board is molded to the connector housing so that the sterilizable connector comprises a unitized molded connector.

16. The sterilizable connector of claim 11, wherein an anisotropic conducting contact pad is disposed between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the anisotropic conducting contact pad comprises a polymer matrix and a plurality of parallel wires embedded in the polymer matrix.

18. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the wires between each pair of electrical and mating contacts are deformed upon mating between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector.

19. The sterilizable connector of claim 11, wherein mating surfaces between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector is V-shaped, wherein the electrical contacts make electrical connection with the mating contacts on each of the two surfaces of the V-shaped mating surfaces.

20. The sterilizable connector of claim 19, wherein an anisotropic conducting contact pad is disposed on each mating surface between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector when the connectors are mated so as to form electrical connection.

21. The sterilizable connector of claim 19, wherein the V-shaped mating surfaces provide self-centering during mating between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector.

22. The sterilizable connector of claim 20, wherein each anisotropic conducting contact pad comprises a polymer matrix and a plurality of parallel wires embedded in the polymer matrix.

23. The sterilizable connector of claim 22, wherein the wires between each pair of electrical and mating contacts are deformed upon mating between the sterilizable connector and the mating connector.

24. A connector assembly comprising:

a sterilizable connector comprising;

a connector housing which has been sealed to prevent moisture from entering it;

a multi-wire cable which is electrically coupled to a probe at a first end and coupled to the connector housing at a second end, said multi-wire cable having its second end sealed within the connector housing to prevent moisture from entering the sealing between the multi-wire cable and the connector housing; and

a plurality of electrical contacts formed on at least one surface of the sterilizable connector;

a standard connector for connecting directly to a standard medical equipment connector of a medical equipment;

a mating connector for electrically coupling the sterilizable connector to the standard connector, said mating connector having a plurality of mating contacts formed thereon for electrical coupling with the electrical contacts of the sterilizable connector,

wherein the sterilizable connector can be separated from the standard connector and the mating connector to be sterilized.

25. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein the medical equipment comprises an ultrasound platform.

26. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein the sterilizable connector further comprises a flexible circuit board and a backing, wherein the flexible circuit board is at least partially wrapped around said backing, and the backing provides a spring force to keep the electrical contacts in contact with the mating contacts.

27. The connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit board includes a plurality of wires formed thereon and the electrical contacts are formed by plating a gold layer over the wires.

28. The connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit board is molded to the connector housing so that the sterilizable connector comprises a unitized molded connector.

29. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein a relative motion between the electrical contacts and the mating contacts provide a mechanism for removing contaminants between the contacts, thereby allowing a reliable electrical connection.

30. A medical ultrasound system comprising:

an ultrasound platform that can be used to generate, process and display ultrasound images;

a probe for taking ultrasound images;

a sterilizable connector comprising;

a connector housing which has been sealed to prevent moisture from entering it;

a multi-wire cable which is electrically coupled to the probe at a first end and coupled to the connector housing at a second end, said multi-wire cable having its second end sealed with the connector housing to prevent moisture from entering the sealing between the multi-wire cable and the connector housing; and

a plurality of electrical contacts formed on at least one surface of the sterilizable connector;

a standard connector for connecting directly to the ultrasound platform;

a mating connector for electrically coupling the sterilizable connector to the standard connector, said mating connector having a plurality of mating contacts formed thereon for electrical coupling with the electrical contacts of the sterilizable connector,

wherein the sterilizable connector can be separated from the standard connector and the mating connector, such that the probe and the sterilizable connector can be sterilized.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the sterilization is through one selected from a group consisting of immersion in a disinfecting liquid and steam autoclaving.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the probe is a sterilizable finger mounted probe.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the finger mounted probe includes a sensor array that is rotated with respect to a portion of a finger on which the finger mounted probe is mounted.