Disposable transducer seal

• US 20050154313A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Desilets, Charles S., Barrett, George, Quistgaard, Jens U., Darlington, Gregory Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22045 fixed to the catheter; guiding tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2253 using a coupling gel or liquid
• 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 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A transducer seal designed to seal an open aperture of a transducer housing for a therapeutic ultrasound procedure. The seal has a membrane, a retainer and a mating device for locking in place with the transducer housing. The membrane is essentially transparent to ultrasound energy while being stretched taut about the retainer. The transducer seal may be made in a disposable or re-usable form.

Claims

1. A disposable transducer seal comprising:

a membrane being substantially transparent to ultrasound energy, said membrane being non-porous to water and acoustic coupling fluids;

a retainer having a substantially annular configuration for holding said membrane; and

a means for mating said retainer with a transducer housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a thermo-formable polyimide.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the retainer further comprises an electronic recognition device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for mating with said transducer housing is an interference fit.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for mating with said transducer housing is a locking ring configuration.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for mating with said transducer housing is a clip-on-fastener.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said membrane is resistant to cleaning solutions and/or cleaning procedures.

8. An apparatus for maintaining a barrier between a transducer housing and an outside environment, the apparatus comprising:

a membrane being substantially transparent to ultrasound energy;

a means for sealing said membrane to said transducer housing wherein said sealing means provides for a substantially fluid tight barrier between said transducer housing and said outside environment.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein said membrane is disposable.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein said retainer is disposable.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 8, further comprising a means for product verification.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein the means for product verification is part of said membrane.

13. The apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein the means for product verification is part of said retainer.

14. A method of preparing an ultrasound transducer housing having a coupling fluid chamber for use, the method comprising:

(a) preparing an ultrasound transducer housing for receiving a coupling fluid;

(b) engaging a transducer sealing device to said ultrasound transducer housing that said coupling fluid chamber is sealed; and

(c) filling said chamber with a coupling fluid.

15. The method as described in claim 14, wherein step (a) further comprises:

(a1) draining any coupling fluid from said chamber;

(a2) inverting said ultrasound transducer housing; and

(a3) removing a first transducer sealing device from said ultrasound transducer housing.

16. The method as described in claim 15, wherein step (b) further comprises engaging a second transducer sealing device to said ultrasound transducer housing such that said coupling fluid chamber is sealed.

17. A method of making a transducer sealing device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a retainer having an engaging fitting element;

(b) placing an acoustically transparent material across said retainer; and

(c) securing said material to said retainer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said retainer further comprises an aperture, and wherein step (b) comprises placing an acoustically transparent material across said retainer in a manner to cover said aperture.

19. A method of sealing a transducer housing using a transducer sealing device, the method comprising of:

(a) forming an acoustically transparent material into a shape for fittingly engaging a transducer housing having a fluid chamber; and

(b) securing said shape to said transducer housing such that said fluid chamber is substantially sealed.