Ultrasound system with cableless coupling assembly

• US 6,936,008 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Zonare Medical Systems Incorporated (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., McLaughlin, Glen, Xi, Xufeng, Tarakci, Umit
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/039,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,410 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/447, 600/459, 736/25, 736/26, 310334-336, 310/367, 29/253.5
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8981 Discriminating between fixed and moving objects or between objects moving at different speeds, e.g. wall clutter filter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52082 involving a modular construction, e.g. a computer with short range imaging equipment modular ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/4411
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52096 related to power management, e.g. saving power or prolonging life of electronic components details of power supplies for ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging devices A61B8/56

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging device having a cableless coupling for coupling a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers to a signal generating and receiving unit such as a motherboard. The coupling includes an acoustically attenuating and electrically conductive structure, which can include posts that are electrically conductive or electrically insulative having a conductor embedded or mounted on the outer surface. There can also be a high density connector allowing coupling and de-coupling the two dimensional array to and from the motherboard.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system comprising:

a signal generating and receiving unit;

a cableless coupling assembly, the cableless coupling assembly comprising intermediate elements coupled to electrical pads wherein the intermediate elements comprise electrically conductive particles, and is configured to attenuate sound; and

an ultrasound transducing assembly coupled via the cableless coupling assembly to the signal generating and receiving unit wherein the ultrasound transducing assembly comprises;

at least one transducer configured to provide sufficient bandwidth for multiple frequency operation, the at least one transducer configured to be electrically matched to the signal generating and receiving unit.

2. An ultrasound system comprising:

at least one transducer configured to provide sufficient bandwidth for multiple frequency operation, the transducer comprising;

acoustic transducing elements; and

an acoustically isolating assembly connected to the acoustic transducing elements; and

a signal generating and receiving unit connected to the acoustically isolating assembly wherein the transducers are directly connected to the signal generating and receiving unit via a cableless connector and the signal generating and receiving unit is electrically matched to the at least one transducer.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the acoustic transducing elements include at least an acoustically active material between two electrical contacts.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the acoustic transducing elements include an acoustic matching assembly coupled to one of the two electrical contacts and an acoustic window coupled to the acoustic matching assembly.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the signal generating and receiving unit includes a motherboard.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein a filler material is placed within kerfs formed by the acoustically isolating assembly.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the acoustically isolating assembly includes posts of an electrically conductive and acoustically attenuating material.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the posts are anisotropic conductors.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the posts are isotropic conductors.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the acoustically isolating assembly includes insulating posts having conductors for conducting electrical signals.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the conductors are partially embedded within the posts.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the conductors are attached to the outside of the posts.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the conductors have an insulative backing that is coupled with the posts.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the conductors are longer than and extend beyond the posts.

15. An ultrasound system comprising:

circuitry having a signal generating and receiving unit;

acoustic transducing elements configured to provide sufficient bandwidth for multiple frequency operation, and electrically matched to the circuitry, the acoustic transducing elements comprising;

an acoustically active material between two electrical contacts;

an acoustic matching assembly coupled to one of the two electrical contacts; and

an acoustic window coupled to the acoustic matching assembly;

a cableless coupling assembly coupled to the signal generating and receiving unit and the acoustic transducing elements wherein a transducer is directly connected to the signal generating and receiving unit via a connector, the cableless coupling assembly comprising;

an acoustically isolating assembly having posts configured to be electrically conductive and acoustically attenuating, isolating the acoustic transducing elements; and

a filler material placed within kerfs formed by the acoustically isolating assembly.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the posts are anisotropic conductors.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the posts are isotropic conductors.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the acoustically isolating assembly includes conductors for conducting electrical signals coupled to the posts.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the conductors are partially embedded within the posts.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising an acoustical index matching element.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the conductors are attached to the outside of the posts.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the conductors have an insulative backing that is coupled with the posts.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the conductors are longer than and extend beyond the posts.

24. An ultrasound system comprising:

signal generating and receiving means;

ultrasound transducing means configured to provide sufficient bandwidth for multiple frequency operation, and electrically matched to the signal generating and receiving means;

cableless coupling means connected to the signal generating and receiving means and to the ultrasound transducing means wherein the ultrasound transducing means are directly connected to the signal generating and receiving means via connection means, including

means for acoustically isolating the ultrasound transducing means from the signal generating and receiving means, and

means for conducting electricity; and

acoustic backing means for attenuating acoustic reflections.