Integral auto-selecting yoke/transducer connector for ultrasound transducer probe

• US 5,615,678 A
• Filed: 11/25/1994
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hall, Michael L., Phillips, William H. Jr., Wallace, Edward S., Kirkham, Thomas R., Laconte, Kirsten N., Petersen, Robert L. Jr., Snyder, Jonathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/344,920
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.01, 128/660.07, 128/660.04-660.05, 128/661.01, 128/660.1, 128/662.03
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4433 involving a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00

Abstract

An integral yoke/transducer connector has built-in probe switches for detecting when a transducer probe has been removed from its yoke. Based on the status of the probe switch and other feedback information, a system controller activates the out-of-holder probe if it has priority. In this manner, a probe can be automatically activated when it is lifted out of its yoke, thereby eliminating the need to trace a desired probe to its connector/port via the cable. Once a probe/port is auto-selected, it remains the only active probe/port until the probe is placed back in the yoke (or its transducer connector is disconnected from the port on the imaging unit). Placement of the probe in its corresponding yoke opens the probe switch which is built into the yoke/connector assembly. The imaging system can be provided with a plurality of interchangeable probe assemblies, each probe assembly consisting of a transducer probe, a coaxial cable, a transducer connector and a yoke, all four components being integrally attached to each other for installation and removal as an integral unit.

Claims

1. An integral probe assembly comprising:

an ultrasound transducer probe;

a transducer connector;

a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector; and

a yoke secured to said transducer connector,

wherein said probe is configured to seat snugly within a center space of said yoke, and said yoke is supported by only said connector.

2. The integral probe assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a switch having a first state when said probe is snugly seated in said yoke and having a second state when said probe is removed from said yoke.

3. The integral probe assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said transducer connector comprises connection circuitry located inside a connector housing, said switch being mounted in said connector housing and electrically connected to said connection circuitry.

4. The integral probe assembly as defined in claim 2, further comprising a switch actuator pivotably mounted in said connector housing, wherein said yoke has an opening through which said switch actuator protrudes into said center space.

5. The integral probe assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said probe and said yoke have mutually form-fitting contours which cooperate to guide said probe into contact with said actuator during entry of said probe into said center space of said yoke from above, whereby said switch is changed from said second state to said first state.

6. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a main unit having a plurality of ports and a plurality of ultrasound probe assemblies, wherein each of said probe assemblies comprises:

an ultrasound transducer probe;

a transducer connector which can be plugged into any one of said plurality of ports;

a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector;

a yoke secured to said transducer connector;

a switch having a first state when said probe is snugly seated in said yoke and having a second state when said probe is removed from said yoke; and

a switch actuator pivotably mounted in said connector housing, wherein said yoke has an opening through which said switch actuator protrudes into said center space.

7. The ultrasound imaging system as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said transducer connectors comprises connection circuitry located inside a connector housing, said switch being mounted in said connector housing and electrically connected to said connection circuitry.

8. The ultrasound imaging system as defined in claim 7, further comprising an operator console, wherein said ports are arranged at a height above said operator console.

9. The ultrasound imaging system as defined in claim 8, further comprising means for supporting said main unit on a floor, wherein said cables do not reach the floor when said probes are seated in said respective yokes.

10. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a main unit having a plurality of ports and a plurality of ultrasound probe assemblies, wherein each of said probe assemblies comprises:

an ultrasound transducer probe;

a transducer connector which can be plugged into any one of said plurality of ports;

a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector;

a yoke secured to said transducer connector; and

a switch having a first state when said probe is snugly seated in said yoke and having a second state when said probe is removed from said yoke; and

wherein said probe and said yoke of each of said probe assemblies have mutually form-fitting contours which cooperate to guide said probe into contact with said switch actuator during entry of said probe into said center space of said yoke from above, whereby said switch is changed from said second state to said first state.

11. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a main unit having a plurality of ports and a plurality of ultrasound probe assemblies, wherein each of said probe assemblies comprises:

an ultrasound transducer probe;

a transducer connector which can be plugged into any one of said plurality of ports;

a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector;

a yoke secured to said transducer connector; and

a switch having a first state when said probe is snugly seated in said yoke and having a second state when said probe is removed from said yoke; and

wherein said probe is configured to seat snugly within a center space of said yoke, and said yoke is supported by only said connector.

12. A yoke/connector assembly for holding an ultrasound transducer probe, comprising:

a transducer connector housing having a front wall with an opening;

a yoke body having a central opening for receiving a probe and having a back wall with an opening, said yoke body being secured to said transducer connector housing such that said opening of said back wall of said yoke body is aligned with said opening in said front wall of said transducer connector housing;

an electrical switch having a pivotable arm which is pivotable between first and second angular positions, said switch being open when said arm is in one of said first and second angular positions and being closed when said arm is in the other of said first and second angular positions;

an actuator which is movable between first and second positions, said actuator comprising means for engaging said arm of said electrical switch such that said arm pivots from said first to said second angular position as said actuator moves from said first to said second position, and means for engaging a transducer probe as the transducer probe is lowered into said central opening such that said actuator moves from said first to said second position as the transducer probe is lowered from a first elevation to a second elevation, said probe engaging means projecting through said aligned openings; and

a support plate comprising first means for supporting said switch and second means for supporting said actuator inside said transducer connector housing.

13. The yoke/connector assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said actuator further comprises pivoting means and said support plate comprises means for pivotably supporting said pivoting means, whereby movement of said actuator between said first and second positions is performed by pivoting on said pivoting means.

14. The yoke/connector assembly as defined in claim 13, further comprising a spring which urges said actuator to pivot in a direction opposite to the direction said actuator pivots to cause said arm to pivot from said first angular position to said second angular position, wherein said support plate further comprises third means for supporting said spring.

15. The yoke/connector assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said actuator further comprises means for blocking entry of acoustic coupling gel into said connector.

16. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a main unit having an operator console, a display monitor, means for supporting said main unit on a floor, a plurality of ports located at a height above said operator console, a plurality of spacers arranged at an elevation below said ports, each of said spacers being displaced relative to a vertical center plane passing through a respective port, and a plurality of interchangeable ultrasound probe assemblies, each of said probe assemblies comprising an ultrasound transducer probe, a transducer connector, a yoke secured to said transducer connector, and a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector, wherein each of said transducer connectors can be plugged into any one of said plurality of ports and each of said cables does not reach the floor when said probes are seated in said respective yokes.

17. The ultrasound imaging system as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said probes is configured to seat snugly within a center space of a respective one of said yokes, and each of said yokes is supported by only a respective one of said connectors.

18. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a main unit having an operator console, a display monitor, means for supporting said main unit on a floor, a plurality of ports located at a height above said operator console, and a plurality of interchangeable ultrasound probe assemblies, each of said probe assemblies comprising an ultrasound transducer probe, a transducer connector, a yoke secured to said transducer connector, and a coaxial cable having one end secured to said probe and another end secured to said transducer connector, wherein each of said transducer connectors can be plugged into any one of said plurality of ports and each of said cables does not reach the floor when said probes are seated in said respective yokes,

wherein said probe and said yoke have mutually form-fitting contours which cooperate to guide said probe into a position whereat said probe is snugly seated in said yoke.