SLIP RING SPACE AND METHOD FOR ITS USE

• US 20080243003A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Crunkilton, Jeffrey Robert, Bockenstedt, Craig Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An interchangeable transducer for use with an ultrasound medical system having a keyless adaptor and capable of operating in a wet environment. The interchangeable transducer has an adaptor for engaging a medical system, an ultrasound transducer and additional electronics to provide a self-contained insert for easy replacement and usage in a variety of medical applications. A slip ring spacer is also disclosed, the slip ring spacer for use with a pancake slip ring having a base and flange configuration to form one or more channels around each contact ring of the pancake slip ring. The channels provide fluid isolation around each connector to help reduce electronic cross talk and contact corrosion between the connector pads of the slip ring while the slip ring is immersed in a wet environment.

Claims

1. A slip ring spacer comprising:

a base formed from a non-conductive and fluid resistant material;

a plurality of apertures extending through said base, said apertures capable of slidably engaging a plurality of electrical connectors;

one or more flanges (ridges) extending from said base, said flanges arranged so as to isolate said plurality of apertures into a plurality of cells.

2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein said flanges form an enclosed space when pressed against a slip ring, said enclosed space being substantially sealed against fluid flow.

3. The spacer of claim 1, wherein said flanges are arranged to form concentric rings.

11. A method for assembling a slip ring structure, said method comprising:

disposing a slip ring spacer as in claim 1 adjacent to a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the contacts extend through said apertures in the base;

engaging a slip ring against the slip ring spacer such that the slip ring spacer mates to the slip ring to form an assembly having a wet seal; and

exposing the assembly to a wet environment.

4. A slip ring spacer comprising:

a base made from a substantially electrically insulating and fluid resistant material;

a plurality of concentric circular ridges rising from said base, said ridges forming a center ring and one or more concentric channels; and

a plurality of apertures extending there through said base into said center ring and at least one concentric channel.

5. The spacer of claim 4, wherein said plurality of concentric circular ridges are of varying heights extending from said base.

6. The spacer of claim 4, wherein said plurality of concentric circular ridges are of varying thicknesses.

7. The spacer of claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of concentric circular ridges has a gap space to allow connection between two or more concentric channels.

8. The spacer of claim 4, wherein the ridges rising from the base are compressible.

9. A compressible slip ring spacer made of an electrical insulating material comprising:

a web like structure, the web being sufficiently dense to prevent fluid flow through the web strands; and

a sponge like structure, the sponge structure being sufficiently porous to allow fluid flow through the sponge like structure when said sponge like structure is compressed; and

at least one aperture extending there through said sponge like structure, wherein said web like structure has strands which isolate each aperture so as to prevent fluid flow between apertures when said spacer is compressed, but allowing fluid flow through the apertures as the spacer is compressed.

10. An apparatus for electrical communication in a wet environment, the apparatus comprising:

a removable electrical appliance having a docking plug, the docking plug having one or more electrical contacts extending from said appliance to a medical system, the docking plug having a slip ring spacer composed of an electronically insulating material and having one or more apertures for the electrical contacts to extend through the slip ring spacer;

a receptacle on a medical system, said receptacle adapted for removably receiving the docking plug, the receptacle having a pancake slip ring to provide electrical signals to the removable electrical appliance;

wherein the electrical contacts match the radial positions of the slip ring lands, and the slip ring spacer mates to the slip ring to form a substantially wet seal between the docking plug and receptacle.