PROBES FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising a transducer array that emits acoustical energy and receives return reflections of the acoustical energy, a circuit substrate, a transmitter mounted on the circuit substrate and communicatively coupled to the transducer array, and a housing comprising a backshell and a nosepiece removably attached to the backshell, wherein the housing has an interior volume and the transducer array, the circuit substrate, and the transmitter are positioned in the interior volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of probes for ultrasound imaging systems can be disassembled so that components located within housings of the probes can be re-used.
88 Citations
67 Claims
- 1. A probe for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising a transducer array that emits acoustical energy and receives return reflections of the acoustical energy, a circuit substrate, a transmitter mounted on the circuit substrate and communicatively coupled to the transducer array, and a housing comprising a backshell and a nosepiece removably attached to the backshell, wherein the housing has an interior volume and the transducer array, the circuit substrate, and the transmitter are positioned in the interior volume.
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37. A probe for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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a transducer array positioned within the housing, the transducer array emitting acoustical energy and receiving return reflections of the acoustical energy; a transmitter communicatively coupled to the transducer array; and a housing having a nosepiece and a backshell, wherein the transducer array is potted into the nosepiece, and the nosepiece is attached to the backshell by at least one of;
interlocking joints formed on the nosepiece and the backshell;
an adhesive having a bond strength that is lower than a yield strength of the material or materials from which the nosepiece is formed;
fasteners; and
latches. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for disassembling a probe for an ultrasound imaging system, the probe comprising a transducer array, a circuit board assembly communicatively coupled to the transducer array, and a housing comprising (i) a nosepiece that forms a forward end of the housing and (ii) a backshell attached to the nosepiece, the method comprising:
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cutting the backshell; removing a portion of the backshell aft of the cut; and cutting or breaking a remaining portion of the backshell. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for recovering components from an ultrasound imaging probe, the probe comprising a transducer array, a circuit board assembly communicatively coupled to the transducer array, a transmitter mounted on the circuit board and communicatively coupled to the transducer array, and a housing, the method comprising:
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determining that the probe is at least partially compromised; separating a portion of the housing in a way that renders the portion non-reusable; extracting a component from the probe; and re-using the extracted component. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification