ULTRASONIC HEAD COMPRISING A PLIABLE COVER WITH A REGULAR PATTERN OF APERTURES

• US 20190328359A1
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Hakkens, Franciscus Johannes Gerardus, Fish, David Andrew, Beckers, Lucas Johannes Anna Maria, Rijken, Antonius Maria
• Granted Patent: US 11,471,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/88 Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings

Abstract

A pliable cover (1) for covering an active area of an ultrasound probe (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (130) is disclosed. The cover comprises a polymer layer (2, 2′) for containing a coupling agent (4) for coupling the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface and a regular pattern of channels (5) extending through the pliable cover. Also disclosed is an ultrasound probe arrangement including the pliable cover, an ultrasound system and method of positioning the ultrasound probe on a body region.

Claims

1. An ultrasound probe assembly comprising

an ultrasound probe including:

a probe body having a mounting area and a flexible lip around said mounting area for sealing a space (110) between the mounting area and a subject contacted by the ultrasound probe; and

an active area comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements mounted in the mounting area; and

a pliable cover adapted to be applied over the active area of the ultrasound probe comprising a polymer layer for containing a coupling agent for coupling the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface of the subject and a regular pattern of channels extending through the pliable cover for evacuating air from between the pliable cover and the body surface,

wherein the channels are positioned such that when the pliable cover is applied over the active area, the channels are arranged in between the ultrasound transducer elements, and

wherein the mounting area if flexible such that it may be deformed to conform to the body surface of the subject.

2. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the pliable cover further comprises the coupling agent.

3. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling agent is contained by opposing polymers layers, wherein at least the polymer layer arranged to face the active area is porous or permeable to the coupling agent.

4. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling agent is dissolved or absorbed in the polymer layer.

5. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling agent is a liquid, an oil, an oil-based emulsion, a wax or a gel.

6. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the pliable cover further comprises a frame affixed to an edge of the cover for mounting the cover onto the ultrasound probe.

7. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the pliable cover further comprises an adhesive edge region for adhering the cover to the ultrasound probe.

8. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the pliable cover has a thickness in a range of 10-1,000 μ

m.

11. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, further comprising affixing means for affixing the pliable cover to the ultrasound probe.

12. The ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting area has a corrugated shape, the ultrasound probe further comprising a support member having pillars engaging with the pliable mounting area, each of said pillars being attached to a mounting portion for mounting an individual transducer element.

13. An ultrasound system comprising the ultrasound probe assembly of claim 1.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

14. A method of applying an ultrasound probe to a body region, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasound probe including a probe body having a mounting area and a flexible lip around said mounting area for sealing a space between the mounting area and a subject contacted by the ultrasound probe, wherein the mounting area is flexible such that it may be deformed to conform to a body surface of the subject; and

an active area comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements mounted in the mounting area;

affixing a pliable cover over the active area of the ultrasound probe to form an ultrasound probe assembly, the pliable cover comprising a polymer layer for containing a coupling agent for coupling the ultrasound transducer elements to the body surface of the subject and a regular pattern of channels extending through the pliable cover for evacuating air from between the pliable cover and the body surface, wherein the channels are positioned such that when the pliable cover is applied over the active area, the channels are arranged in between the ultrasound transducer elements;

positioning the ultrasound probe assembly on the body region; and

evacuating a volume of air from the space to create an underpressure in said space causing the pliable cover to conform to the respective surfaces of the transducer elements.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying a gel to the body region prior to positioning the ultrasound probe assembly thereon.