Probe cover with deformable membrane gel reservoir
First Claim
1. A probe cover for covering at least a transducer portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said probe cover comprising:
- (a) a hollow body portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said hollow body portion defining an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber; and
(b) a deformable membrane within said hollow body portion adjacent said chamber, said deformable membrane bounding a reservoir for containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium, said deformable membrane defining at least one passage therethrough, the at least one passage allowing a portion of the quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium to pass through said deformable membrane, from the reservoir to the chamber, upon deformation of said deformable membrane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A probe cover for an ultrasonic imaging probe, the cover including a reservoir for containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive gel. The reservoir is formed by a deformable membrane having a passage allowing a portion of the gel to flow through the membrane. The membrane deforms upon insertion of the probe into the cover, causing some of the gel to pass through the passage, into contact with the transducer portion of the probe. The remainder of the gel is retained in place within the reservoir to provide ultrasonic contact with the target body to be imaged by the probe. Tie elements can be provided for securing the cover to the probe.
168 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A probe cover for covering at least a transducer portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said probe cover comprising:
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(a) a hollow body portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said hollow body portion defining an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber; and (b) a deformable membrane within said hollow body portion adjacent said chamber, said deformable membrane bounding a reservoir for containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium, said deformable membrane defining at least one passage therethrough, the at least one passage allowing a portion of the quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium to pass through said deformable membrane, from the reservoir to the chamber, upon deformation of said deformable membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A probe cover for covering at least a transducer portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said probe cover comprising:
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(a) a flexible sheath defining a chamber therein for receiving at least the transducer portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe; and (b) a reservoir within said flexible sheath, segregated from said chamber by a deformable membrane having at least one passage therethrough, said reservoir containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of covering an ultrasonic imaging probe with a flexible probe cover, the probe cover having a chamber for receiving a portion of the probe, a reservoir for containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium, and a deformable membrane between the chamber and the reservoir, said method comprising:
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(a) inserting at least a portion of the ultrasonic imaging probe into the chamber; (b) contacting the ultrasonic imaging probe with the deformable membrane; and (c) deforming the deformable membrane due to the contact with the ultrasonic imaging probe so as to cause a portion of the quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium to pass through the deformable membrane, from the reservoir to the chamber, and into ultrasonic contact with the ultrasonic imaging probe. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A probe cover for covering at least a transducer portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said probe cover comprising:
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(a) a hollow body portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a chamber for receiving at least a portion of an ultrasonic imaging probe, said hollow body portion defining an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber; (b) a deformable membrane within said hollow body portion adjacent said chamber, said deformable membrane bounding a reservoir for containing a quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium, said deformable membrane defining at least one passage therethrough, the at least one passage allowing a portion of the quantity of ultrasonically transmissive medium to pass through said deformable membrane upon deformation of said deformable membrane; and (c) an impermeable membrane segregating said reservoir into a dispensing chamber and a non-dispensing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification