Wave guide with isolated coupling interface
First Claim
1. A wave-guide assembly comprising:
- a wave-guide;
a structure having a suction channel for removing excess coupling liquid from the area surrounding a distal end of said wave-guide, wherein said wave-guide is moveably disposed within said structure; and
a fluid channel within said structure for supplying a coupling liquid to the distal end of said wave-guide;
wherein said structure comprises a cylindrical lumen and a hollow elongated cylinder positioned within said cylindrical lumen, wherein an inner surface of said cylindrical lumen and an outer surface of said hollow elongated cylinder define said suction channel; and
said wave-guide is moveably disposed within said hollow elongated cylinder, wherein an inner surface of said hollow elongated cylinder and an outer surface of said wave-guide define said fluid channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wave-guide having an isolated coupling interface. In one variation, a constant negative pressure is maintained around the area surrounding the wave-guide. Coupling liquid may be directed to the tip of the wave-guide to provide the coupling interface between the wave-guide and a source fluid container. The suction from the constant negative pressure may remove excess coupling liquid and isolating the coupling liquid to the area around the tip of the wave-guide. The wave-guide assembly may also include mechanisms for adjusting the volume of fluid at the tip of the wave-guide. When the position of the wave-guide is displaced, fluid compensation mechanism may increase or decrease the volume of fluids at the distal end of the wave-guide to maintain proper coupling between the wave-guide and the source fluid container. Methods for utilizing negative pressure around the distal end of the wave-guide to isolate the coupling liquid are also described.
130 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A wave-guide assembly comprising:
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a wave-guide; a structure having a suction channel for removing excess coupling liquid from the area surrounding a distal end of said wave-guide, wherein said wave-guide is moveably disposed within said structure; and a fluid channel within said structure for supplying a coupling liquid to the distal end of said wave-guide; wherein said structure comprises a cylindrical lumen and a hollow elongated cylinder positioned within said cylindrical lumen, wherein an inner surface of said cylindrical lumen and an outer surface of said hollow elongated cylinder define said suction channel; and said wave-guide is moveably disposed within said hollow elongated cylinder, wherein an inner surface of said hollow elongated cylinder and an outer surface of said wave-guide define said fluid channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification