Disposable transducer seal
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A disposable transducer seal comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for maintaining a barrier between a transducer housing and an outside environment, the apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of preparing an ultrasound transducer housing having a coupling fluid chamber for use, the method comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of making a transducer sealing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of sealing a transducer housing using a transducer sealing device, the method comprising of:
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(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.
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Specification