ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER WITH SEALED, ACTIVE COOLING
First Claim
1. A scan head for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
- a scan head body;
a number of transducer elements disposed within the scan head body;
a number of electronic components that are electrically coupled to the transducer elements;
wherein the electronic components are hermetically sealed within the body of the scan head and the scan head further includesa magnetically controlled fan having motor controlling electronics that are sealed within the body of the scan head and a rotor with a number of fan blades is configured to be moved by the motor controlling electronics in order to remove heat generated by the electronic components that are sealed within the body of the scan head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scan head for an ultrasound imaging device has a body that encloses a number of ultrasound transducers and controlling electronics. The electronics are sealed in the body of the scan head. The scan head has a fan that is configured to remove heat caused by the operation of the electronics. The motor is magnetically controlled and has controlling electronics that are sealed in the body of the scan head. In one embodiment, an airflow channel surrounds the electronics in the scan head and the fan is configured to move air through the airflow channel. In another embodiment, the electronics are thermally coupled to a heat exchanger heat via a conductive substrate and the fan is configured to move air over the heat exchanger.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A scan head for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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a scan head body; a number of transducer elements disposed within the scan head body; a number of electronic components that are electrically coupled to the transducer elements; wherein the electronic components are hermetically sealed within the body of the scan head and the scan head further includes a magnetically controlled fan having motor controlling electronics that are sealed within the body of the scan head and a rotor with a number of fan blades is configured to be moved by the motor controlling electronics in order to remove heat generated by the electronic components that are sealed within the body of the scan head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A scan head for an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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a scan head body; a heat conductive printed circuit board; a number of transducer elements disposed within the scan head body; a number of electronic components that are thermally coupled to the heat conductive printed circuit and are hermetically sealed within the body of the scan head; wherein the scan head further includes a magnetically controlled fan positioned on the heat conductive printed circuit board and motor control electronics that are sealed within the body of the scan head, wherein the fan includes a rotor with a number of fan blades that are configured to be moved by the motor control electronics in order to remove heat generated by the electronic components. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification