Coupling pad for use with medical ultrasound devices
First Claim
1. An ultrasound coupling assembly, comprising:
- a thin pad adapted for coupling of ultrasound signals between an ultrasound probe and a human body;
a support member on which said pad is positioned prior to use, wherein the support member includes an upper surface which is configured and arranged to have a surface tension which is lower between it and the pad than that between the ultrasound probe and the pad, so that when the probe is pressed against the pad and then lifted, the pad remains with the probe, wherein the probe can then be positioned adjacent a desired skin area of the body, the pad being between the probe and the desired skin area; and
a receptacle for the pad and the support member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pad assembly for coupling ultrasound from a transducer probe into the human body includes a shallow receptacle 20 with a removable cover 22 on the upper portion thereof. Within the receptacle are a foam section 14, a gel pad 12 and a thin net section 18. The net section 18 is bonded to the cover 22. The gel pad 12 is impregnated with a mixture of glycerin and water. The upper surface of foam section 14 is convoluted or ribbed so that there is a substantially lower surface tension between the foam section 14 and the gel pad than between the probe and the gel pad. There is also a substantially lower surface tension between net section 18 and the gel pad than between the gel pad and the foam section.
128 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An ultrasound coupling assembly, comprising:
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a thin pad adapted for coupling of ultrasound signals between an ultrasound probe and a human body; a support member on which said pad is positioned prior to use, wherein the support member includes an upper surface which is configured and arranged to have a surface tension which is lower between it and the pad than that between the ultrasound probe and the pad, so that when the probe is pressed against the pad and then lifted, the pad remains with the probe, wherein the probe can then be positioned adjacent a desired skin area of the body, the pad being between the probe and the desired skin area; and a receptacle for the pad and the support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pad for use with an ultrasound probe for coupling ultrasound signals into a human body, comprising:
a pad member, impregnated with an ultrasound conducting liquid, capable of conducting ultrasound signals from a probe source thereof into a skin area of the human body, the pad being pliable and wet at its respective opposed surfaces so that any air between the pad and, respectively, the probe and the skin area is displaced when the pad is positioned between the probe and the skin area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
Specification