Method for conducting an ultrasound procedure using an ultrasound transmissive pad
First Claim
1. A method for conducting an ultrasound procedure on an object having a target surface, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion;
providing a pad for transmitting acoustical waves between said ultrasound probe and a target surface of an object, said pad comprising;
a first layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining first layer pores therethrough, said first layer pores having a first layer pore dimension;
a second layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining second layer pores therethrough, said second layer attached to said first layer, said first and second layers defining a space therebetween, said second layer pores having a second layer pore dimension, said first porous portion of said first layer overlying said first porous portion of said second layer; and
an ultrasound couplant disposed in said space defined between said first layer and said second layer, said ultrasound couplant having a molecule size, said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said first layer pore dimension, and said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said second layer pore dimension, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said first porous portions of said first and second layers, and whereby acoustical waves can be transmitted from said first layer to said second layer;
placing said first porous portion of said second layer in contact with a target surface;
placing said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe in contact with said first porous portion of said first layer; and
activating said ultrasound probe whereby acoustical waves are emitted from said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe, thereby directing acoustical waves to said target surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for conducting an ultrasound procedure on an object having a target surface. The method includes the step of providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion. A pad for transmitting acoustical waves between the ultrasound probe and a target surface of an object also is provided. The pad includes a first layer having a first porous portion which defines first layer pores therethrough. The first layer pores have a first layer pore dimension. The pad further includes a second layer having a first porous portion which defines second layer pores therethrough. The second layer pores have a second layer pore dimension. The second layer is attached to the first layer so as to define a space therebetween. The first porous portion of the first layer overlies the first porous portion of the layer. An ultrasound couplant is disposed in the space defined between the first layer and the second layer. The ultrasound couplant has a molecule size which is less than or substantially equal to the first layer pore dimension, and which is less than or substantially equal to the second layer pore dimension. The method further includes the steps of placing the first porous portion of the second layer in contact with a target surface and placing the acoustical wave emitting end portion of the ultrasound probe in contact with the first porous portion of the first layer. The ultrasound probe is then activated.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for conducting an ultrasound procedure on an object having a target surface, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion; providing a pad for transmitting acoustical waves between said ultrasound probe and a target surface of an object, said pad comprising; a first layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining first layer pores therethrough, said first layer pores having a first layer pore dimension; a second layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining second layer pores therethrough, said second layer attached to said first layer, said first and second layers defining a space therebetween, said second layer pores having a second layer pore dimension, said first porous portion of said first layer overlying said first porous portion of said second layer; and an ultrasound couplant disposed in said space defined between said first layer and said second layer, said ultrasound couplant having a molecule size, said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said first layer pore dimension, and said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said second layer pore dimension, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said first porous portions of said first and second layers, and whereby acoustical waves can be transmitted from said first layer to said second layer; placing said first porous portion of said second layer in contact with a target surface; placing said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe in contact with said first porous portion of said first layer; and activating said ultrasound probe whereby acoustical waves are emitted from said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe, thereby directing acoustical waves to said target surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for delivering a medical product to a target body tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion; providing a pad for transmitting acoustical waves between said ultrasound probe and a surface of a target body tissue, said pad comprising; a first layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining first layer pores therethrough, said first layer pores having a first layer pore dimension; a second layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining second layer pores therethrough, said second layer attached to said first layer, said first and second layers defining a space therebetween, said second layer pores having a second layer pore dimension, said first porous portion of said first layer overlying said first porous portion of said second layer; and an ultrasound couplant disposed in said space defined between said first layer and said second layer, said ultrasound couplant comprising a medical product, said ultrasound couplant having a molecule size, said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said first layer pore dimension, and said molecule size being less than said second layer pore dimension, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said first porous portion of said first layer, whereby said ultrasound couplant passes through said first porous portion of said second layer, and whereby acoustical waves can be transmitted from said first layer to said second layer; placing said first porous portion of said second layer in contact with a surface of a target body tissue; placing said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe in contact with said first porous portion of said first layer; and activating said ultrasound probe whereby acoustical waves are emitted from said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe, and whereby said acoustical waves disrupt said surface of a target body tissue, thereby facilitating delivery of said couplant to the target body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for delivering a medical product to a target body tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion; providing a pad for transmitting acoustical waves between said ultrasound probe and a surface of a target body tissue, said pad comprising; a first layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining first layer pores therethrough, said first layer pores having a first layer pore dimension; a second layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining second layer pores therethrough, said second layer attached to said first layer, said first and second layers defining a space therebetween, said second layer pores having a second layer pore dimension, said first porous portion of said first layer overlying said first porous portion of said second layer; and an ultrasound couplant disposed in said space defined between said first layer and said second layer, said ultrasound couplant having a molecule size, said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said first layer pore dimension, and said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said second layer pore dimension, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said first porous portions of said first and second layers, and whereby acoustical waves can be transmitted from said first layer to said second layer; placing a medical product in contact with a surface of a target body tissue; placing said first porous portion of said second layer in contact with said medical product; placing said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe in contact with said first porous portion of said first layer; and activating said ultrasound probe, whereby acoustical waves are emitted from said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe, and whereby said acoustical waves disrupt said surface of a target body tissue, thereby facilitating delivery of said medical product to the target body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for conducting an ultrasound procedure on an object having a target surface, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound probe having an acoustical wave emitting end portion; providing a pad for transmitting acoustical waves between said ultrasound probe and a target surface of an object, said pad comprising; a first layer having a first porous portion, said first porous portion defining first layer pores therethrough, said first layer pores having a first layer pore dimension; a second layer having at least one aperture formed therethrough, said at least one aperture having an aperture dimension, said second layer attached to said first layer, said first and second layers defining a space therebetween, said first porous portion of said first layer overlying said at least one aperture formed through said second layer; and an ultrasound couplant disposed in said space defined between said first layer and said second layer, said ultrasound couplant having a molecule size, said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said first layer pore dimension, and said molecule size being less than or substantially equal to said aperture dimension, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said first porous portion of said first layer, whereby said ultrasound couplant becomes entrained in or passes through said at least one aperture formed through said second layer, and whereby acoustical waves can be transmitted from said first layer to said second layer; placing said at least one aperture formed through said second layer in contact with a target surface; placing said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe in contact with said first porous portion of said first layer; and activating said ultrasound probe whereby acoustical waves are emitted from said acoustical wave emitting end portion of said ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification