Transducer cartridge for an ultrasound therapy head
First Claim
1. A cartridge connectable to a body to form a therapy head, the body including a driver, said cartridge comprising:
- an acoustic coupling liquid;
a sealed enclosure comprising a wall, an interior filled with the acoustic coupling fluid, and an exterior surface, the wall including an acoustic window and an opening sealed to prevent loss of the acoustic coupling liquid from the interior;
a high intensity ultrasound transducer within the sealed enclosure and having an output surface generally aligned with the acoustic window;
a bearing member passing through the opening in the wall and coupled to the high intensity ultrasonic transducer, said bearing member being attachable to the driver in the body to orient the direction of acoustic energy delivered through the acoustic window by the high intensity ultrasonic transducer; and
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to draw heat from the acoustic coupling liquid without removing said acoustic coupling liquid from the sealed enclosure, the heat exchanger including a conduit disposed within the interior of the sealed enclosure and connected to inlet and outlet ports formed through the wall, the conduit of the heat exchanger coiled to surround a central space defined inside the interior of the sealed enclosure, and the conduit configured to receive a cooling liquid for circulation through the conduit to cool the acoustic coupling liquid while the acoustic coupling liquid remains isolated from the cooling liquid wherein the high intensity ultrasound transducer is disposed in the central space.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A cartridge connectable to a body to form a therapy head, the body including a driver, said cartridge comprising:
-
an acoustic coupling liquid; a sealed enclosure comprising a wall, an interior filled with the acoustic coupling fluid, and an exterior surface, the wall including an acoustic window and an opening sealed to prevent loss of the acoustic coupling liquid from the interior; a high intensity ultrasound transducer within the sealed enclosure and having an output surface generally aligned with the acoustic window; a bearing member passing through the opening in the wall and coupled to the high intensity ultrasonic transducer, said bearing member being attachable to the driver in the body to orient the direction of acoustic energy delivered through the acoustic window by the high intensity ultrasonic transducer; and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to draw heat from the acoustic coupling liquid without removing said acoustic coupling liquid from the sealed enclosure, the heat exchanger including a conduit disposed within the interior of the sealed enclosure and connected to inlet and outlet ports formed through the wall, the conduit of the heat exchanger coiled to surround a central space defined inside the interior of the sealed enclosure, and the conduit configured to receive a cooling liquid for circulation through the conduit to cool the acoustic coupling liquid while the acoustic coupling liquid remains isolated from the cooling liquid wherein the high intensity ultrasound transducer is disposed in the central space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification