Rapid-heating ultrasound gel warmer

• US 6,575,906 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McCartan, Dermot P., Schembri, Frank M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAULIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/839,614
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 600/459, 600/460, 600/437, 600/461, 600/462
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device

Abstract

An ultrasonic imaging system carries a holder that supports a gel container in an inverted position. The gel container includes a metallic cap including a heat exchanger in good thermal contact with the gel of the container, and the holder includes a heating element in good thermal contact with the cap. When the ultrasound system is powered, power is automatically applied to the heating element of the holder, thereby heating ultrasound coupling gel in the container near the spout.

Claims

1. In an ultrasound imaging system the improvement comprising:

a gel container comprising a body and a dispenser carried by the body;

a gel container holder carried by the imaging system, said container holder configured to hold the container in an inverted orientation with the dispenser below the body;

a heating element included in one of the gel container and the holder;

a voltage source included in the imaging system;

said voltage source connected to the heating element at least when the container is positioned in the container holder.

3. The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein the dispenser comprises a heat exchanger in thermal contact with a gel contained in the container and in thermal contact with the heating element at least when the container is positioned in the holder.

4. The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein the dispenser comprises a gel-dispensing cap.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cap comprises:

a thermally conductive external contact surface; and

a set of protruding elements in good thermal contact (1) with the external contact surface and (2) with a gel contained in the container.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the heating element is in good thermal contact with the external contact surface when the container is positioned in the holder.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the cap comprises a spout, wherein the exterior contact surface extends at least partially around the spout, and wherein the heating element extends at least partially around the spout when the container is positioned in the holder.

9. The invention of claim 1 or 2 further comprising:

a temperature controller coupled with the heating element.

10. The invention of claim 9 further comprising a substrate, wherein the heating element is carried by a first side of the substrate, and wherein the temperature controller is carried by a second side of the substrate, opposite the first side.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

12. The invention of claim 10 further comprising an over-temperature fuse carried by the substrate and coupled with the temperature controller.

2. In an ultrasound imaging system the improvement comprising:

a gel container comprising a body and a dispenser carried by the body;

a gel container holder carried by the imaging system, said container holder configured to hold the container in an inverted orientation with the dispenser below the body; and

a heating element included in the container holder and thermally coupled with the dispenser when the container is positioned in the holder.

8. The invention of claim 2 wherein the dispenser comprises a spout, and wherein the heating element extends at least partially around the spout when the container is positioned in the holder.

13. An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter,

an ultrasonic receiver,

a controller coupled with the transmitter and the receiver;

a power switch operative to selectively apply power to the controller; and

a gel warmer coupled with the power switch such that the gel warmer is automatically activated when the power switch powers the controller.

14. The invention of claim 13 further comprising:

a housing;

a display coupled with the receiver and carried by the housing;

wherein the gel warmer is carried by the housing.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the gel warmer comprises a gel container holder configured to hold a gel container in an inverted position.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein the gel warmer is included in the gel container holder.