INTERCHANGEABLE HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER

• US 20080243035A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: CRUNKILTON, JEFFREY ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US12/051,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• 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. An insert for use with a medical ultrasound system, the insert comprising:

a housing having an adaptor end and an acoustic end;

a communication port at said adaptor end, the adapter end having two or more orientations for engagement to a receptacle in a medical ultrasound system;

a transducer at said acoustic end, said transducer forming a fluid tight seal with said housing, and

for at least one electrical connector between said communication port and said transducer.

2. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein said connection port further comprises an isolation layer.

3. The insert of claim 2, wherein the isolation layer is a slip ring spacer.

4. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the adapter end has radial freedom to engage a receptacle in any radial orientation.

5. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein said electrical contacts are spring loaded contract pins.

6. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the transducer has two or more discrete focal zones.

7. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the transducer has an imperfect focal region.

8. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the adaptor end is slidably engaged into said medical ultrasound system.

9. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector comprises one or more electrical components.

10. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector are a first set of spring pins frictionally engaged between said communication port and a PCB, and a second set of spring pins frictionally engaged between the PCB and the transducer.

11. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the insert is disposable.

12. An interchangeable transducer apparatus adapted for use with a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) medical system, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid and hollow housing having an axial alignment and having a first end and a second end;

a transducer positioned within the first end of the housing, the transducer being electrically connected to an interface disposed within the housing and forming a fluid tight seal with the housing;

an isolation layer positioned within the second end of the housing, the isolation layer having a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality electrical connectors extending from the interface;

a connector positioned on the exterior surface of the housing, the connector allowing for the removable engagement of the housing with an ultrasound medical system;

wherein the connector and electrical connectors provide releasable mechanical and electrical engagement (respectively) to a receptacle in the medical system in two or more axial alignments between the housing and the ultrasound medical system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said ultrasound medical system is a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) medical system.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the isolation layer is a slip ring spacer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the slip ring spacer has a plurality of concentric rings adapted to is isolate the electrical connectors from one another.

16. The ultrasound medical system of claim 12, wherein the receptacle is a wet environment.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface is a circuit.

18. The circuit of claim 17, further comprising at least one electronic control component for controlling the transducer.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface is a printed circuit board or assembly (PCB or PCBA).

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors are spring loaded contact pins.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transducer has two or more discrete focal zones.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transducer has an imperfect focal region.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is disposable.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors are arranged at a specific radius from the center of the seal so as to match a corresponding set of connection rings in a socket of a medical system.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an inert gas filled interior.