Ultrasound transducer device for continuous imaging of the heart and other body parts
First Claim
1. An ultrasound transducer device for attachment to a surface of the body of a patient, and for providing continuous imaging of organs inside said body surface, said transducer device comprising:
- (a) a transducer assembly includinga transducer enclosure;
supporting means for mounting an ultrasound transducer means inside said enclosure;
ultrasound transducer means mounted on said supporting means for transmitting and receiving ultrasound beams from which to create scan lines forming an image of a surface on an organ inside said body surface; and
conductor means for providing electrical signal connections between said transducer means and externally located transducer scanner and display equipment;
(b) a holding pad defining an opening;
(c) means for attaching said holding pad to a surface of the body of a patient; and
(d) means for movably securing said transducer enclosure to said holding pad such that said transducer enclosure protrudes through said opening, and enabling said transducer enclosure to be rotated to adjust the imaging surface scanned by said ultrasound transducer means while said transducer enclosure is in place against the body surface of a patient, and to provide continuous scanning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound transducer device is disclosed which is intended to be used for continuous imaging of a patient'"'"'s heart or other body organs for diagnosis or monitoring. The device consists of a spherical transducer assembly held by a patch which is coated with adhesive for attaching to the body surface of a patient. Provision is made for the manual adjustment of the orientation of the transducer assembly while in place on a patient to adjust the area scanned by the transducer. An alternate embodiment of the device discloses provision for remote controlled adjustment of the transducer assembly orientation.
80 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transducer device for attachment to a surface of the body of a patient, and for providing continuous imaging of organs inside said body surface, said transducer device comprising:
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(a) a transducer assembly including a transducer enclosure; supporting means for mounting an ultrasound transducer means inside said enclosure; ultrasound transducer means mounted on said supporting means for transmitting and receiving ultrasound beams from which to create scan lines forming an image of a surface on an organ inside said body surface; and conductor means for providing electrical signal connections between said transducer means and externally located transducer scanner and display equipment; (b) a holding pad defining an opening; (c) means for attaching said holding pad to a surface of the body of a patient; and (d) means for movably securing said transducer enclosure to said holding pad such that said transducer enclosure protrudes through said opening, and enabling said transducer enclosure to be rotated to adjust the imaging surface scanned by said ultrasound transducer means while said transducer enclosure is in place against the body surface of a patient, and to provide continuous scanning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ultrasound transducer device for attachment to a surface of the body of a patient, and for providing continuous imaging of organs inside said body surface, said transducer device comprising:
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(a) a transducer assembly including a transducer enclosure; supporting means for mounting an ultrasound transducer means inside said enclosure; ultrasound transducer means, mounted on said supporting means for transmitting and receiving ultrasound beams from which to create scan lines forming an image of a surface on an organ inside said body surface; and conductor means for providing electrical signal connections between said transducer means and externally located transducer scanner and display equipment; (b) a holding pad defining an opening; (c) means for attaching said holding pad to a surface of the body of a patient; (d) means for rotatably securing said transducer enclosure to said holding pad; and (e) means for remotely adjusting the orientation of said transducer enclosure relative to said holding pad; said transducer enclosure protruding through said opening; said means for remotely adjusting the orientation of said transducer enclosure serving to adjust the location of the imaging surface scanned by said ultrasound transducer means while said transducer enclosure is in place against the body surface of a patient and providing continuous imaging of an organ inside said body surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ultrasound transducer holder comprising:
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a holding pad having a surface attachable to a human body, an opening through said pad, and a socket defining a holding space disposed around said opening; and a transducer assembly including an enclosure which houses an ultrasound transducer and is disposed in said holding space and frictionally held by said socket such that the orientation of said enclosure may be adjusted about an axis parallel to said surface; whereby said transducer may be directed to communicate ultrasonically with a body part positioned close to said opening. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification